Halloween, like Christmas, brings back a lot of childhood memories. I remember
the black cat costume my mom made me when I was seven, black bubble gum that
stained tongue and teeth and made all the kids look like plague victims, and
countless pumpkins. Maybe it’s all those happy memories that makes me write
about witches, vampires, and demons. I want the Halloween fun to last forever!
I have great memories of a lot Read More...
Have your nearest and dearest started calling you Sparky and making the sign of
the cross every time you walk through the door? Has someone filled the water
cooler at your office with holy water? Does "singed remains" now best describe
your home décor? If you answered yes to all of the above, chances are good some
pesky minion of hell has stolen your immortal soul. In other words, you've
become a Fire Read More...
"Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain
(pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is
now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year
on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the
beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated
with human death. Celts believed that Read More...
Kathy Carmichael was thrilled to learn that her book, Hot Flash, was
named by ALA-Booklist as one of the Top 10 Romance Fiction titles in 2009. To
help her celebrate, the heroine of Hot Flash, chef Jill Morgan Storm, offers
the following recipe for Halloween monsters on the prowl:
MONSTER MEATBALLS
Ingredients
Meatballs:
1 lb lean hamburger
1/2 cup Italian-style Read More...
Pumpkin Bread (makes 2 loaves)
Sift together:
3 ½ cups white flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
Mix:
2 cups of pureed pumpkin
1 cup molasses
1 cup vegetable oil
½ cup water
4 beaten eggs
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
Add dry ingredients a third at a time. Last, add:
1 cup chopped nuts (optional - walnut or pecan are both good)
Bake in well-greased Read More...
I have to admit that Halloween isn't my favorite holiday, mostly because I'm a
big weenie. I don't like being startled or scared, so you won't find me visiting
haunted houses.
I only tried that once, when I was nine. I thought I was all grown-up and ready
to handle scary things, so I talked my mom into taking a friend and me to the
local Jaycees haunted house. I Read More...
Autumn brings a variety of treasured traditions to our house. In addition to
the Friday night lights of high school football, we break out the fall
decorations and enjoy the quest of who will be the first to spot Brach's candy
pumpkins. We make a trip to the local apple orchard and come away with apples,
pumpkin butter, fresh apple pies to freeze for Thanksgiving and pumpkins. The
fireplace gets readied for the season Read More...
