Haunting Season

With leaves changing to their beautiful hues of orange and red, and the cooling air, that we keep at bay by closing the window's at night, it can only mean that the time for indoor entertaining can not be far away.

As the smell of summer BBQ's become part of our summer memories, it is time to think about some of our
favorite indoor things. I've always enjoyed the savory smells of chilli cooking on the stove top for hours,
freshly baked cookies and pie's wafting through the house. As the days become shorter and the nights become longer, cooking seems to take on a new dimension.

I have always enjoyed the holidays as they bring friends and family together for special moments and celebrations.

One of my favorite fun holidays is Halloween.  This year as it will fall on a Wednesday which  (play on words haha) means that the evening festivities will be a bit more home based.

Below you will find a seasonal family friendly brew with a touch of scariness.

Witches Brew

Ingredients

1 (10 ounce) package frozen raspberries thawed

2 ½ cups of cranberry juice

2 envelopes unflavored gelatin

2 liters ginger ale

2 liters sparkling apple cider

6 gummi snakes candy

1 Latex free rubber glove

Directions (a day or two in advance)

To make the frozen hand: Wash and rinse the out outside of the rubber glove. Turn glove inside out and set aside. In a 4 cup measuring cup, combine the thawed raspberries and cranberry juice.

        Pour 2 cups of the raspberry mixture into a small saucepan. Sprinkle the gelatin over and let stand 2 minutes. Warm over low heat, stirring constantly, just until gelatin dissolves. Mix back into the reserved raspberry mixture in the measuring cup.

       Pour raspberry mixture into the inverted glove. Gather up the top of the glove and tie securely with kitchen twine. Freeze until solid, or several days if possible.

     

       To serve (the day of)

       Carefully cut glove away from frozen hand. Place frozen hand, palm side up, leaning against inside of a large     punch bowl. Pour in ginger ale and sparkling cider. Garnish with gummi snakes.

You may also use any number of seasonal cake pans/molds in place of the hand.

For more suggestions please visit the reviews at:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Witches-Brew/Detail.aspx

Watch out for the ghouls and goblins as they make their way to the table.

       

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