Stake night

Don't risk your neck this Halloween. The only guest to shy away from these wonderfully exotic but mild appetizers would be a vampire, though Count Dracula would give you points for style.

Chicken Satay with Peanut Coconut Sauce

Makes 30 Skewers

Prep 20 Minutes
Refridgerate Overnight
Broil 6 minutes

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup coconut milk (if you use canned milk do not confuse with cream of coconut)
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 medium garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 3/4 pounds thin sliced chicken cutlets
Skewers

In a large bowl whisk peanut butter, coconut milk, lime juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, and pepper flakes. Remove 3/4 cup of mixture into separate container and refrigerate for dipping.

Cut chicken cutlets into long strips (across the grain recommended) approximately 3/4 of an inch thick. Add chicken strips into bowl of peanut coconut sauce; stir to coat. Marinate covered in refridgerator for minimum 2 hours or overnight.

Thread chicken onto skewers. (Bamboo skewers should be soaked in water for 1 hour prior to broiling--Metal skewers should pe sprayed with nonstick spray or wiped with shortening to aid cleanup) Coat broiler pan rack with nonstick cooking spray. Set oven rack 4 to 5 inches from broiler. Heat Broiler. Arrange prepared skewers in a single layer on prepared rack. Broil until chicken is browned and cooked through, about 7 minutes.

Arrange skewers on platter and serve with dipping sauce and garnish if desired.

Countdown to terror...

In honor of the pending holiday, I am going to do something frightening - reveal a skeleton from my closet each day. (Until I run out of answers to the terrifying, like incidious facebook surveys, start a chain letter...or I get side tracked by something shiny) I'll attempt to battle the demons in my psyche as well as the green eyed monster. And answer the pressing questions that everyone is dying to know such as: Who are my hero's? What type of underwear do I prefer? What color is my bedspread? What is my latent superpower?

I feel I should also throw out a disclaimer that these posts are not for children, I may incorporate words like bite, suck, and titilation, as well as other four letter relatives. Consider yourselves warned.

I'm not sure whether I should credit Bram Stoker or Bela Lugosi as my first idol, but I'd stake a good wager that the combination of victorian sexual repression and villainy encompassed by the myth of Count Dracula is eternally indebted to both. One of my earliest memories is discussing childhood heroes with my brothers, perhaps it was in response to an episode of superfriends, or the yearly mele of costume selection as Superman, Spiderman, and the Silver Surfer were named. I was in a quandry between choosing Darth Vader or Dracula, in my elementary education the fact that they both started with a 'D' was nuetral. Shapeshifting was a definite plus the thought of eternal life even at the expense of drinking blood which I equated with V-8 juice was something I could sink my teeth into. I was one of the few, the select, who begged and pleaded for the I Vant to Bite your finger boardgame, which I received for my 7th birthday. It was also the eponymous name of my first electronic game which I spent many many hours indoors playing so as not to you know go outside in daylight.

Party Prep: The Table

The invites have been sent, the RSVP's are confirmed, in a few more days the excitment and the exhiliration will come to a crescendo as guests arrive to your party. The addage that the beginning is a very good place to start, may sound redundant but think of the basics for entertainment, consider the number of attendees you will need at least one cup, wineglass, plate, and set of utensils for each if you are providing more than finger foods. The likelyhood of every guest drinking a martini, or brandy is minimal, but water and wine are standard requests don't take the chance of being ungratious or ill prepared. Worst case scenario is that you will have to wash a glass - and there are only slightly worse mood killers. Roaches and Cat hair (or any pet residue for that matter) would qualify, and dearest friends this is not a competition we want to enroll ourselves in.
Cleanliness is tantamount, this is why pre packaged foods and catering are such staples - if the store or service is reputable your own name will not be sacrificed. Of course, the extremely brave and talented, enjoy making each canape, and planning the minutia; as it also lets me control the look, theme, and flavor profile. We mentioned theme earlier for decorations, and I continue it in the food as well, not merely in tone but in taste.
I like to use red berries for Halloween because the sanguine hues are reminiscent of blood, Cheesecake covered in cherries can look like bloodshot eyeballs to a vivid imagination, with a very basic skimming technique fantastical webs can be created in the surface as well.The trick to this tempting treat is pulling a toothpick through rings of melted chocolate.

I am also extremely fond of Banfi's Rosa Regale -- a unique red sparkling wine. Aromatic with a hint of rose petals and raspberries, Rosa Regale is delightfully vivacious and festive. An elegant aperitif on its own; strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, trifles and hazelnut tortes are also elevated by this frothy wine. Its charms extend across a palette of occasions and food pairings, from savory to sweet.

I always buy extra, as it appears at nearly all my festivities in some form. And it makes a great welcome to the neighboorhood, or host(ess) gift.

Party prep: Set the stage

Staging is one of the most important aspects when creating an atmosphere for a successful party. Usually a day before the party I scour the house for breakables, valuables and tight corners. I remove a few antique rugs (to reduce the threat of spills) and realign furniture in order to create zones; while my dining room may look a little barren, I remove all of the chairs into other rooms, it will be ablaze with food. Also place any decorations out a day before, this will help twofold, you won't drive yourself crazy the day of the party (you'll also be free for more pressing matters), and it will also clue in special requirements such as heavy banners that require extra support, or time to iron out wrinkles in tablecloths if neccessary.

Now themes make it easy, but don't get carried away. Treat any place setting like you would your china - there is too much of a good thing. Just because the same decorations are preprinted on 5in, 8in, and 12in plates, and matching napkins, does not mean you have to buy them. This year I have followed a skeleton motif. I usually shop at Target, Walmart, and World Market, as well as the corner grocer. Keep you eye's open and you will find some non traditional touches and great deals.
I also do a dry run for lighting, especially for Halloween as I incorporate black lights for effect. In this case, with low wattage lighting, and flickering candlelight, no one notices the rugs were removed, but I can rest in peace knowing that no one will trip, and cleanup is a breeze. No bones about it!
Photo Courtesy of Grandin Road

Party prep 112

Having decided the appropriate amount of people, or what a reasonable budget will allow, proceed to the guest list and invitations. If you are running short on time, there are pre printed options. But in order to make your guests feel really special and create a buzz in anticipation for the event- do something spectacular - parties are by nature extraordinary! If you will be mailing them by post, I recommend doing a self addressed trial run, particularly if the announcement accompanies something fragile. The preponderance of print shops, photocopiers, and personal computers makes this an easy step to master. For our impending haunt I created a template with the gates to a graveyard with a scrolled fence. Borrowing from the influence of Edward Gorey and Brett Helquist. I have a strict adherence to handwritten envelopes, but I admit that personalized handwritten invitations could be daunting for a very large crowd. Our party will be on Sunday October 28th, most invites are not a complete surprise, as this is an annual ritual, but I recommend having them in the post by Wednesday the 13th, for delivery by Friday the 15th, just over two weeks, essential if Regrets or an R.S.V.P. is requested.