Happy Halloween to all! I have lots to share on this bewitching holiday. First, I had to post
"Spirits of the Dead" by Edgar Allan Poe, it's just short and so perfect for today where the veil between the living and the dead is supposedly lifted and the dead return to walk the Earth. Second if you are making any cocktails or drinks today be sure to add a drop or two of black food coloring(see above image). You can also make black ice cubes(the bigger the better) which as they melt make a smoky effect that will eventually turn the whole drink black. Lastly I have some recipes to share at the bottom.
Spirits of the Dead
by
Edgar Allan Poe
(published 1829)
Thy soul shall find itself alone
'Mid dark thoughts of the grey tomb-stone --
Not one, of all the crowd, to pry
Into thine hour of secrecy:
Be silent in that solitude
Which is not loneliness -- for then
The spirits of the dead who stood
In life before thee are again
In death around thee -- and their will
Shall then overshadow thee: be still.
For the night -- tho' clear -- shall frown --
And the stars shall look not down,
From their high thrones in the Heaven,
With light like Hope to mortals given --
But their red orbs, without beam,
To thy weariness shall seem
As a burning and a fever
Which would cling to thee for ever :
Now are thoughts thou shalt not banish --
Now are visions ne'er to vanish --
From thy spirit shall they pass
No more -- like dew-drop from the grass:
The breeze -- the breath of God -- is still --
And the mist upon the hill
Shadowy -- shadowy -- yet unbroken,
Is a symbol and a token --
How it hangs upon the trees,
A mystery of mysteries! --
'Mid dark thoughts of the grey tomb-stone --
Not one, of all the crowd, to pry
Into thine hour of secrecy:
Be silent in that solitude
Which is not loneliness -- for then
The spirits of the dead who stood
In life before thee are again
In death around thee -- and their will
Shall then overshadow thee: be still.
For the night -- tho' clear -- shall frown --
And the stars shall look not down,
From their high thrones in the Heaven,
With light like Hope to mortals given --
But their red orbs, without beam,
To thy weariness shall seem
As a burning and a fever
Which would cling to thee for ever :
Now are thoughts thou shalt not banish --
Now are visions ne'er to vanish --
From thy spirit shall they pass
No more -- like dew-drop from the grass:
The breeze -- the breath of God -- is still --
And the mist upon the hill
Shadowy -- shadowy -- yet unbroken,
Is a symbol and a token --
How it hangs upon the trees,
A mystery of mysteries! --
This is a great recipe I found on Martha Stewart for turning apples into creepy heads. It has become a Halloween tradition in our house. As for the actual cider, this year I went rogue.
My cider recipe is
2 bottles Martinelli's,
16 oz Jack Daniel and then sprinkle in
4 good shakes of cinnamon,
add a dash of ginger,
a half dash nutmeg and
a pinch of clove.
Add in the heads(apples) and you're all set.
Pour it over black ice for an extra creepy effect.
But it's also amazing hot as well. In fact last night we got into a debate over whether it's better hot or cold. We remain a house divided.
Graveyard Brownies
For these spooky treats I followed another Martha Stewart recipe for Rocky Road brownie bites with a few alterations. I made them in regular size cupcake tins, instead of mini size so I could put Milano cookies in like tombstones. Only let them cool for like five minutes so they are still soft when you put the cookies in. I didn't add any nuts, just mini chocolate chips and marshmallows. I should have written out stuff on the tombstones but I ran out of time.
Happy Halloween!!!!
