Halloween Party Fun

This is the weekend of ghouls and ghosties. It's also the weekend to have some fun scaring guests at your party. How so? Serve up some pretty frightening stuff (no, not broccoli and Brussels sprouts) but dishes that could make you go jump in the night.

If you really want to ratchet up the fear factor, then serve animal innards to your guests.it;s known as offal (from the German abfel meaning innards) and it could be anything from hearts, brain, livers and kidneys. The most common i of course liverwurst and pate which you can serve to your less fearless guests. You could also make calves brains. there is a lovely Tuscan recipe that covers them up with a sauce so they don't look too squeamish. Another are trotters or pigs feet. These are actually beloved on the German dinner table and usually come pickled.You can cook them in a Dutch oven with some water white vinegar along with spices and barbecue sauce.

If the whole idea of eating animal tummies grosses you out then stick with frightening desserts. You can have some wicked fun decorating home baked goodies. Mallomar spiders are always cool to put on cakes and cupcakes. For the legs dip the curved part of pretzels into melted dark chocolate. Let set and then put them at the Mallomar's sides. Dot on icing eyes. if you don't; have the time, just add a few little cluster s of candy corn or creme pumpkins . Make sure your frosting orange e or black or you can do a swirl of both.

have some fun with your Halloween party this year. Make the food exciting along with equals parts creepy and scary. Your guests will get a shriek out of it and so will you!!!

Scotland's Culinary Side

If you think Scotland is just kilts, bagpipes, Nessie and romantic scenery, think again. This ancient land, with its' robust , handsome people also has a great culinary history. Its' rivers and seasides are full of delicious catches and its' country side bursting with crops and sheep. Some of the world's best chefs also have come out of Scotland in recent years. It's not just a wild land, full of passionate people but also a cornucopia filled with amazing foods.

Since Scotland is surrounded by the Irish and the North Seas, its' cuisine has a large amount of fish recipes. There's the famous finnan haddie which is smoked haddock poached in milk and usually served for breakfast (OK, this is not for the faint hearted, that's for sure). The country also has a series of fresh water streams running through it which produces plump, tender salmon.

Oatmeal has always played a large part in the Scottish diet since ancient times. It started as a base for simple cakes and now has been an ingredient in haggis. This is a translation of a Viking dish and is a sausage made from sheep intestines or offal, beef suet and toasted oatmeal. (trust me , it's not as bad as it sounds). Robert Burns, the famed bard of Scotland, immortalized it in it
his famous "Address To The Haggis". Oatmeal is also seen in Scottish desserts as well. There's a rhubarb oatmeal crumb as well as a sweet oat cakes that are very similar to American oatmeal cookies.

I'd be remiss not to include that Scottish favorite - short bread. This buttery cookie was and still is usually made for the Christmas holidays. Housewives used to prick their clans' symbols in the dough and then bake. Now you can buy it with chocolate chips as well as with it dipped in chocolate.

Scotland is an amazing country with amazing good. There are all sorts of foods one can have there, satisfying a taste from the savory to the sweet.