Tag: halloween

Web Design For Demons

If there was ever an opportunity to embrace a more quirky, crafty approach to everyday eats, Halloween is your best bet. When else could you serve up cobwebs on a platter with any sense of success? Spooky Summer Rolls are a whimsical way to eat your veggies and celebrate the holiday all in the same bite. Best of all, it’s not hard to unravel the secrets behind these enchanting entrees, even if you have limited time or means to throw a spooktacular Halloween party.

Get Tangled in these Toothsome Webs

Spring rolls, summer rolls, or autumn rolls; you can call them whatever you want, as long as they start with translucent rice paper wraps encasing a treasure trove of ghostly goodies. At the heart of these Spooky Summer Rolls lies a tangle of delicate cellophane noodles, effortlessly creating the appearance of intricate spider webs.

Adding a pop of protein are meaty planks of baked tofu, accentuated by the salty pop of olives, crawling along on slender spidery legs. Any assortment of your favorite veggies would be welcome here, but my default, foolproof array includes carrot, cucumber, and avocado, for a crunchy, refreshing, and rich combination altogether.

A roll is only as good as its dipping sauce, and the black garlic dressing does not disappoint. Dark as midnight, creamy and rich, it packs volumes of umami, salty, sweet, and gently acidic flavor into a tiny drop. You could skip the food-grade charcoal if you’re less focused on color, or switch it up for butterfly pea tea powder to turn it an unearthly shade of blue instead.

How to Make Plant-Based Spiders

Transforming black olives into cute creepy-crawlies is a fun trick that can be used to garnish all sorts of spooky snacks. Simply slice the olives in half lengthwise, reserving half of those to serve as the bodies. To create the legs, slice the remaining halves into thin slivers horizontally. Arrange the olive slices upside-down on the rice paper to create the appearance of eight spindly legs. In no time at all, you’ll have summoned a legion of miniature olive spiders, ready to crawl onto your plate.

Supernatural Serving Suggestions

Half the fun is setting the scene for All Hallows’ Eve. Turn it into a real show-stopper or a DIY activity for all to enjoy!

  • Cemetery Soiree: Set the stage for a graveyard gala by arranging the Spooky Summer Rolls on a platter amidst edible “dirt” made from crushed dark rice crackers.
  • Witch’s Cauldron: Elevate your presentation by serving the rolls in a cauldron-like bowl, surrounded by a “fog” of dry ice for a dramatic and mysterious effect.
  • Goblin Picnic: Pack these rolls for an outdoor adventure, Halloween-themed picnic, or school lunch. Kids will love the surprise of discovering these eerie delights.
  • Monstrous Make-Your-Own: Lay out all the ingredients and let your guests concoct their own Spooky Summer Rolls. It’s an edible craft project that will also save you time and energy.

As the witching hour approaches and the moon glows brightly, embrace the spirit of the season with Spooky Summer Rolls that are not only a treat for your taste buds but also a feast for your eyes. Gather your friends, family, and other victims for a Halloween feast that’s as hauntingly delicious as it is spooktacularly fun!

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Hannah (BitterSweet)7 Comments

Brain-Eating Vegan Zombies

Legend has it that vegan zombies only eat grains, making them less of a threat to humanity than conventional omnivores. That may be true of the old-school undead, but times have changed. If we can have nearly identical analogues for steak and seafood, why wouldn’t we be able to upgrade to plant-based brains, too?

This decadent brain food pâté is scary delicious. Creamy, firm but spreadable, buttery and subtly savory, brains are a delicacy unlike any other. The addition of blood-red sriracha on top introduces a spicy, tangy element that makes it truly irresistible. Heat from the chili peppers and acidity from the vinegar play off the richness of the brainy base. You might end up fighting the zombies off to go back for seconds and thirds yourself.

What Are Brain Foods?

Brain food pate is more than just a fun Halloween party starter; it has real brain-boosting nutrition behind it! A varied diet is key for reaping the greatest nutritional rewards, but certain foods in particular have been shown to have a greater impact on our cognitive abilities, such as understanding and processing new information, plus maintaining memory and concentration. This pate isn’t just brainy in appearance, but a smart choice for your health!

  • Nuts and Seeds: Walnuts are particularly beneficial in this category, packed with protein and omega fatty acids. Protein builds brain cells, amino acids help them communicate, and omega fatty acids keep things humming.
  • Beans: All legumes are like the support crew for your brain, supplying fiber, B vitamins, and those omega fatty acids. Fiber offers steady energy, B vitamins aid memory, and omega fatty acids keep your brain sharp.
  • Beets: These earthy root vegetables fight inflammation, pack in antioxidants, and amp up blood flow, all of which help boost brainpower.

For those who want to take brain-boosting nutrition to the next level, alongside delicious dishes like this pâté, check out these brain and body supplements from Performance Lab. They feature clean formulas with key nutrients such as plant-based omega-3s and advanced vitamins and minerals asan easy way to support cognitive function, in addition to a smart diet.

Big Brain Ideas and Adaptations

There’s a wide range of brains out there; big, small, sweet, and bitter. Use your own intellect to customize shapes and flavors to your own personal preferences.

  • Nut-free: Swap the walnuts for sunflower seeds. If you want an even more haunting color, add a pinch of baking soda to turn those seeds green!
  • Not spicy: For the more timid of palate, feel free to omit the sriracha and serve your brains plain, or use mild cocktail sauce instead.
  • Hip to be square: If you need a less gruesome presentation for the office potluck or a less appropriate holiday, like Christmas or Hannukah, set the pate in a simple square baking dish, rather than a brain jello mold.

Serving Suggestions

Don’t be a halfwit by serving up brains with no accoutrements.

  • Something as simple as crackers and vegetable crudites will do just fine.
  • Soft bread would also be a welcome foundation for this schmear, enjoyed solo or turned into a fully stacked sandwich.
  • Briny pickles, such as cornichons (small cucumbers), cocktail onions, or pickled peppers help balance the richness of the pâté with contrast acidity and crunch.
  • Serve up slabs of brain on salad plates for a formal first course, nestled into mixed greens to provide a crisp, refreshing element.
  • Wine pairing are always welcome, particularly a crisp white wine, a light rosé, or a sparkling champagne to cleanse the palate between bites. Contrary to popular belief, a nice Chianti would be quite overpowering.

Vegan zombie fam, I’ve got you this Halloween. Stop settling for bland grains, when you can have genuine brains in all their glory. It’s simply a smarter choice for your health and happiness.

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Hannah (BitterSweet)10 Comments

Top 10 Homemade Vegan Halloween Candy Recipes

Can you feel it in the air?

Though treats and decor have lined store shelves for months already, Halloween finally draws near. Amidst the costumes and pumpkin carving, haunted houses and hay rides, the call for candy remains irrepressible. Fear not: a little bit of creativity, patience, and kitchen witchcraft can yield a trove of homemade Halloween sweets.

The Allure of Crafting from Scratch

Creating your own vegan Halloween candies grants you complete control over the ingredients you use. This means you can bid farewell to mysterious chemicals and questionable additives, opting instead for wholesome components that align with your ethics. Whether it’s crafting gooey caramel, crafting rich chocolate truffles, or concocting chewy fruit-flavored treats, you hold the power to select organic, sustainable, and cruelty-free ingredients that cater to your palate and principles.

Moreover, the process of making candies from scratch can be far more gratifying than simply grabbing something pre-made. Make a whole event out of it by enlisting friends, family, and especially the kids! Together, you can mold spooky (or spoopy) shapes and embellish your candies with personal flair, making each one unique.

Summoning Sweet Splendor: Tips for Crafting Homemade Vegan Halloween Candies

As you embark on your candy-making adventure, consider these tips to ensure your creations are both tantalizing and vegan-friendly:

  1. Choose Plant-Based Alternatives: Swap out dairy for coconut milk, almond milk, or other plant-based alternatives in your recipes. There’s a wide array of vegan chocolates, caramels, and gummy ingredients available to bring your candy visions to life.
  2. Natural Food Coloring: Create captivating hues using natural food coloring derived from fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Beet juice, spirulina, and turmeric are just a few options to infuse your candies with enchanting colors.
  3. Mind the Gelatin: Gelatin is a common non-vegan ingredient found in many gummy candies. Opt for agar, a seaweed-based alternative, to achieve that chewy texture without compromising your values.
  4. Experiment with Extracts: Embrace the spirit of Halloween by experimenting with eerie and unexpected flavors. From pumpkin-spiced toffee to ghostly mint chocolates, let your imagination run wild.
  5. Engage the Senses: Elevate your candy-making experience by involving multiple senses. Consider incorporating aromatic spices, such as cinnamon and nutmeg, to evoke the essence of autumn and heighten the festive ambiance.

This Halloween season, embark on a journey that merges creativity, ethics, and indulgence by conjuring your very own treats, without any tricks involved. Don your apron, gather your cauldron of ingredients, and let the magic of homemade vegan candies cast a spell on your taste buds. Here are a few of my favorite recipes:

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Hannah (BitterSweet)5 Comments

Truffle Hunting

Truffles are as old as dirt, at least when referring to the prized fungus known worldwide for its heady umami aroma. Chocolate truffles, fashioned after this rare prize, are a relatively recent innovation. Legend has it that the rich confections we know and love were originally created by accident, sometime between 1890 and 1920. French chef Auguste Escoffier is often credited as the first to mistakenly pour hot cream over chocolate chunks instead of sugar and eggs, intending to make a classic pastry cream. Personally, I have my doubts about the veracity of this claim, but his renowned patisserie certainly did kick-start their astronomic rise in popularity.

The word “truffle” comes from a Latin word tūber or the Vulgar Latin tufera, meaning “swelling” or “lump.” Especially when rolled in cocoa powder, evoking a fresh coating of dirt, their striking likeness to mushrooms easily explains the name. While I’ve previously worked to bridge the gap between candy and spore, I now have a new secret ingredient in my arsenal: Sugimoto Shiitake Powder.

Foraging for Flavor

As autumn paints the world with its warm hues and Halloween approaches, it’s the perfect time to forage for mushrooms and indulge in sweet treats alike. Bringing together the richness of chocolate, the nuttiness of walnuts, the earthy sweetness of dates, and the unique umami notes of shiitake powder, these mushroom-shaped truffles are the epitome of fall charm, both in taste and presentation.

Sweet, Salt, and Savory

At the heart of these exquisite truffles lies Sugimoto Shiitake Powder, a secret ingredient that elevates the flavors to a new level. Made from carefully selected shiitake mushrooms, this powder infuses the truffles with a subtle umami taste, without inherent mushroom-y flavor, adding depth and complexity that’s both surprising and pleasing to the palate. It harmonizes with the delicate touch of miso paste, lending a subtly salty finish, punctuating the whole mouthful with a bold flourish.

Easy and Adaptable

While the novelty of having a mushroom-shaped chocolate truffle is a large part of the visual appeal, you could certainly keep it simple and make traditional, stemless rounds instead. What’s more, you can use this basic formula as your palate to paint with a wide range of complimentary flavors, such as:

  • Orange zest
  • Mint extract
  • Pumpkin spice
  • Instant coffee powder
  • Powdered raspberries

To infuse your truffles with a touch of fall and Halloween spirit, consider lightly dusting the mushroom caps with cinnamon or powdered sugar. These subtle additions evoke the essence of autumn leaves and festive celebrations.

Smarter Sweets for Halloween

These wholesome treats aren’t just a delicious indulgence; they’re also a healthier alternative to store-bought Halloween candy. Perfect for serving at parties, these truffles are bound to bewitch the taste buds while keeping sugar in check.

Each little bite packs in immense chocolate flavor, with the caramel-sweetness of dates for body. They’re easy to sink your teeth into thanks to their genuinely fudgy texture, set off by a satisfying crunch from your “stem” of choice. Both elegant and whimsical, decadent and wholesome, umami truffles are the best of all worlds, sweet, savory, and salty alike.

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Hannah (BitterSweet)7 Comments

GuacTober

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday, though my appreciation for it has changed substantially over the years. Long gone are the nights spent trick-or-treating, seeking the thrill of the hunt as much as the sugar high to follow. Off-the-shelf costumes are permanently off the shopping list, since I refuse to dress as the “sexy” version of literally anything. Now, I’m content to enjoy the spooky season in a similar way to other special events: By playing with my food.

Whether you’re throwing a Halloween party for one or one hundred, solid snacks are an absolute must. Balancing out the abundance of candy and booze alike, reasonably healthy and savory options are essential for a killer bash. For that, I turn to classic guacamole, but with a ghoulish twist.

Pick your favorite recipe and get crafty! Here are four different ways to dress up the same old green goop as a fun, festive party starter.

Sick Dip

I’m sure everyone’s familiar with the classic barfing jack-o-lantern motif by now, but what if we could make that into an edible centerpiece? Allow me to present sick dip, replacing the pumpkin with a carved bell pepper.

  1. Cut around the top in a jagged pattern just like you would for a traditional jack-o-lantern. Pull off the top and remove the seeds and membrane inside.
  2. Use a paring knife to carefully carve out eyes and a large opening for the mouth.
  3. Place the pepper on a serving plate and fill it with your guacamole, pushing some out the mouth hole.
  4. Fill the rest of the plate with more guacamole and place the top back onto the pepper.
  5. Serve with the paring knife sticking out of the pepper for guests to slice off their own crudites.

Guacamole Graveyard

Parting is such savory sorrow when the final resting place is this delicious. You could pipe “RIP” onto the tombstones with smooth guaca-mole, but I prefer to keep it simple and classy.

  1. Spread your guacamole into a rectangular dish an in even layer.
  2. Stick crackers in, spaced at regular intervals, in two or three rows.
  3. Spoon a mound of minced black olives or tapenade in front of each cracker tombstone to make the burial plots.
  4. Serve with more crackers on the side.

Monster Mash

Kids will especially love this silly Frankenstein face! You may even be able to convince them to eat their veggies this way. You can even blend fresh spinach into the guacamole to make it more green and add an extra superfood boost.

  1. Spread your guacamole in a circle on a round plate, leaving a larger border at the top.
  2. Stick crackers or cut vegetable crudites into the top part for the hair.
  3. Cut a black olive in half and add them to the middle as eyes.
  4. Cut a jagged smile out of a bell pepper or carrot slice for the mouth.

Wicked Web

When all else fails, weave a simple spiderweb that’s guaranteed to catch guests’ attention.

  1. Spread your guacamole into a round dish in an even layer.
  2. Drizzle plain, unsweetened vegan yogurt, ranch dressing, or sour cream in a spiral pattern, starting in the center and radiating out.
  3. Use a toothpick to drag the loops alternating inward and outward from the center.
  4. For the spider, place one whole olive near the middle of the web. Cut another olive in half lengthwise, and then slice four little legs from each piece. Arrange them next to the side body.
  5. Enjoy with any of your favorite dippers.

Get into the Halloween spirit and whip up a ghastly appetizer that will haunt your friends and family all season! What’s your favorite diabolical dish?

Hannah (BitterSweet)6 Comments

Putting Your Best Foot Forward

Modern meat processing does a marvelous job of making flesh, fat, and gristle look like anything other than that. From ground sinew and muscle we get exquisitely smooth deli slices or hot dog links, completely divorced from their corporeal beings. As plant-based meats evolve to compete with conventional options, I think the next big step is to outpace them entirely. It’s time to embrace whole body butchery.

“Meathead” might be an insult, but “meat foot” is about to become a compliment of the highest order. The concept of feetloaf isn’t new, just not well understood. While it may have begun as a play on words, the flavors here are no joke. Let’s take a swing at this beast and break it all down.

What exactly is feetloaf?

First, you need to start with pasture-raised, hormone-free, organic, free-range humans. Next, you need to make sure they’re slaughtered humanely at a USDA-approved facility…

In truth though, feetloaf can be made from any meatloaf recipe you like. Standard yields will only make enough material for a single foot, or baby feet, so either double the quantities or plan the sculpting accordingly.

You’ll want to remove the natural toenails, which are pretty tough and sharp. Sliced cipollini onions make excellent replacements, adding flavor and covering any unsightly toe stumps at once.

Alternate vegetables to use for a “bone” instead of daikon:

Did you know that the tibia is is the most commonly fractured long bone in the body? If your human doesn’t have a suitable bone for the loaf, there are plenty of easy replacements. I prefer daikon for it’s mildly peppery bite and tender texture. Other great options include:

  • Parsnip
  • Whole hearts of palm
  • White carrots
  • Leeks (white parts only)
  • Peeled potatoes

What sides are best to serve with feetloaf?

Expect any side dish to be largely overlooked when you have such a grand show-stopper on the table. That said, it’s good to keep the supporting players simple and unfussy. My go-tos are:

  • Mashed potatoes
  • Steamed broccoli or peas
  • Leafy green salad

Those who have been raised eating only innocuous nuggets might have a hard time coming around to feetloaf. Some may even find it shocking or unsettling if not prepared for the meal. Rest assured that this is the only way towards a truly sustainable food system. No matter any initial backlash, this meal is absolutely the best way to get your foot in the door.

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Hannah (BitterSweet)6 Comments