“But there are some things I know for certain: always throw spilt salt over your left shoulder, keep rosemary by your garden gate, plant lavender for luck, and fall in love whenever you can.” -Practical Magic

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Anyone who knows me, knows that Halloween is one of my favorite holidays.  In fact, it’s second to Christmas (THAT is my Super Bowl).  But when I say I’m into Halloween, I’m not talking about the gore and slasher flicks that give you nightmares for weeks (Yes, weeks. I can’t even stomach the trailors). What I enjoy most about Halloween are the things a little more PG.  The pumpkin carving, ABC Family’s (Now FreeForm TV, but I refuse to call it that) 13 Days of Halloween, seeing trick or treaters scurry through the streets with candy filled buckets in tow, watching Hocus Pocus and Practical Magic more than I should admit, and all the memories it brings back to me as a kid in costume.

Way back when, before it was the now Angelina’s, my family had Village Pizza in Toro Park.  And every Halloween our parents rounded up the very eager troops and took us to the pizza parlor to fill us up on cheese and carbs before we made the great trek throughout the neighborhood.  Smart idea, fill the bellies before we knock on doors and are handed over fists full of sweets.  So now that we are older and the pizza parlor and childhood haunts are fond but distant memories, I decided to start some traditions of my own.  An annual Spooktacular Gathering with friends and family! So today I am sharing with you three ghoulish recipes that I used this past weekend at our second Halloween get together.  Jack Skellington Oreos, a Spooky Chocolate Trifle and Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies from my first post.  I hope you all enjoy this Haunted Holiday!  I sure have, and look froward to all the magic and mischief next year will bring.

Happy Tastings-

Lauren

Jack Skellington Oreos

Ingredients

• One package double OR mega stuff Oreos
• Lollipop sticks
• 2-12oz. packages good quality white chocolate chips (I use Ghirardelli baking chips)
• 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon milk
• Black food coloring
• Black Ribbon for Bow Ties

Directions

1. Melt the white chocolate morsels over a double boiler.  Set aside to cool.
2. Separate Oreos and dip the tip of the lollipop stick in the white chocolate.  Firmly press into the frosting half of the Oreo and reattach the other half.
3. Dip oreo into the chocolate and make sure it is fully coated.  Set aside on a wax covered baking sheet.
4. Once the chocolate had hardened, mix together your powder sugar, milk and black food dye.
5. Using a very small baking paint brush, hand paint the face of Jack Skellington onto the chocolate dipped Oreos.
6. Allow to dry, add back ribbon for bow ties and then serve.

Spooky Chocolate Trifle

• Chocolate cake (Any recipe you desire. I use an old family recipe.  You can also use a box.)
• 2 – 3.3 oz boxes instant chocolate pudding
• 4 cups milk (2 per pudding box)
• 1 container Extra Creamy Cool Whip
• 1 package Oreos (crushed)
• 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 3-4 tablespoons powder sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• chocolate syrup
• glass trifle dish

Directions

1. Make chocolate cake ahead of time, and let cool.  Cut into cubes.  They do not have to be perfect, as they will be layered
2. While cake is cooling, make pudding using the directions on the back of the boxes.
3. Once pudding is set, fold container of cool whip to into the pudding until fully combined.
4. Add a third of the cake cubes to the bottom of the trifle dish and add a third of the crushed Oreos. Spread on a third of the pudding cream mixture and repeat layers.
5. Using a beater, mix together the whipped cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form. Add as last layer on top of the trifle.
6. Add chocolate syrup to the top ,starting in the middle, and swirl around in circles until you get to the edges. Using a toothpick, draw out lines from the center to create syrup web.

7. Chill 6 hours to overnight.  Serve.