Halloween has always been my favourite celebration of the year, but even I can’t stand the sickly sweet rendition of All Hallows Night that our neighbours across the pond have infected us with. It almost seems as though if you do not have a child and you’re not ruled by high fructose corn syrup then Halloween is not for you. I beg to differ. All Soul’s Night is a time to gather together, look death in the eye and raise a glass to all things dark and decrepit with brazen joviality. Below are my favourite recipes for an unnervingly stylish Halloween dinner party.
Click through for full recipes and instructions.
The Centrepiece: A Pineapple Jack-O-Lantern
By Victoria Hudgins of A Subtle Revelry
In celebration of the left-field.
By Kelli Hall of Julep
1/2 ounce Black Vodka (like Blavod)
1/2 ounce Fig Vodka (like Figenza)
1 1/2 ounces Creme de Cassis
Dash of Dry Vermouth
And keep them coming.
The Canapés: Avocado and Wasabi Devilled Eggs
By Laura of Family Spice
4 eggs
1 cup blueberries, frozen
1/2 avocado, seeded and peeled
1 tsp wasabi, paste
1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sesame seeds, black
Le Plat Principal: Pumpkin Ricotta Gnocchi with Pancetta and Seared Radicchio
By Alanna Taylor-Tobin of The Bojon Gourmet
(This recipe is gluten free)
For the gnocchi:
1 cup (8 ounces / 225 grams) roasted winter squash puree
1 cup (8 ounces / 225 grams) whole-milk ricotta
3 large eggs
1/4 cup (1.25 ounces / 35 grams) grated Parmesan
1 1/2 teaspoons fine sea or kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 cup (3 ounces / 85 grams) potato flour (not starch)
1/2 cup (2 ounces / 55 grams) millet flour, plus more for rolling
1/2 cup (2.75 ounces / 80 grams) sweet rice flour, more as needed
To finish the gnocchi (makes 2 servings):
1/3 of the pumpkin ricotta gnocchi
olive oil, as needed
3 ounces (85 grams) pancetta, diced
1/3 small head red radicchio, leaves torn into 1-2″ pieces
1- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, plus a few pretty leaves for garnish
a few large sage leaves, sliced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
black pepper
parmesan
The Sidecar: Bloody Sesame Beetroot Salad with Chia Dressing
You’re going to have to off-road with this one as the recipe link is dead. It just looked so evocatively innards-like and yet so delectably healthy that I had to include it.
The Pudding: Death by Chocolate Pear, Spiced Red Wine and Chocolate Tart
By JJ of 84th & 3rd
For the Pears:
1 Tbsp whiskey or brandy
100 g 85% dark chocolate, broken into small pieces
1/2 tsp sea salt
150 g butter
100 ml red wine
1 1/4 c raw sugar
For the Cake:
1 cinnamon stick or 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/2 c red wine
1 1/2 c water
4 firm pears
For the pears:
2 large eggs
1/2 c buttermilk
1/2 c [35 g] cocoa powder
1 c unbleached white flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
Follow my Pinterest board HALLOWEEN PARTY for many more grown up yet ghoulish party planning ideas.
Bane + Antidote 