Spooky Halloween Treats with Chef Kelli

Halloween parties aren't quite the same without good food, and the occasion itself gives any creative party planner unlimited opportunities for tasty, fun and exciting food presentations. Chef Kelli Lewton, of Two Unique Caterers & Event Planners, and Kevin Miller, of Twigs and Branches Floral, stopped by the Fox2 Kitchen to showcase some of their spooky ideas for any Halloween party.

 

Pumpkin Cheese Platter
Ingredients:

• 3 cups Cheese-it crackers; coarsely ground
• 1.5 lbs. pounds cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 cup pumpkin pie or squash puree
• 4 Tablespoon prepared horseradish
• 3 cups shredded Cheddar
• 1/4 cup chopped chives
• 1 Tablespoon Sea salt

• 1⁄2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 2 Tablespoon onion powder
• 1 bell pepper with a long stem
• Crackers & crostini for smearing

Directions:

1. Put the cheese-it crackers in a food processor and process until finely
ground. Transfer to an oblong tray or baking dish
2. Whip cream cheese; add cheddar, horseradish and spices then stir in
chives
3. Mold the mixture into a ball, pressing the top of the ball with your hand
to flatten it. Use palette knife/spatula to flatten panels of cheese ball to
resemble a pumpkin. Carve lines down the sides to resemble a pumpkin.
4. Roll the cheese ball in the ground crackers
5. Decorate with a large strip at green pepper to resemble a pumpkin stem
6. Serve with; cucumber coins, pepper strips, crackers & crostini for
smearing

Blue Cheese Stuffed ‘Bloody” Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Meat Ball Ingredients:

• 1 pounds ground chicken
• 1 large egg
• 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• Sea salt and pepper, to taste
• 1/3 cup blue cheese crumbles
• blue cheese dressing for dipping
• chopped green onions, for garnish

Buffalo Sauce Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1/2 cup hot sauce (I used Frank's hot sauce)
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions:

1. Line a small tray with wax or plastic wrap and sprinkle cheese on tray then
freeze (temper) for about 20 minutes while you are preparing
2. In a large bowl combine ground chicken, egg, breadcrumbs, garlic power,
onion powder, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well until all ingredients
are completely incorporated.

3. Scoop out 2-1/2 oz portions of meatball mix and roll into a ball. Repeat
with remaining mixture
4. Once all meatballs are formed, remove blue cheese from the freezer. Poke
a center into each meatball then bury a nice crumble of blue cheese, cover
blue cheese and smooth ball so that it is completely encased inside the
meatball. Repeat with remaining meatballs and blue cheese crumbles
5. Roast meatballs in a 350-degree oven for 15-18 minutes until cooked
through
6. Toss in Buffalo sauce, sprinkle with green onions serve with blue cheese
dressing or dip
7. Garnish with a piece of celery if desired
Old World Mummy

Ingredients:

• 16 ~2-inch-long slices of provolone or mozzarella
• 4 Italian sausages cooked and cut in half length wise and then half again
giving you 4 nice pieces
• 1 package of phyllo dough
• 1⁄4 cup melted butter

Directions:

1. Take 2 sheets of phyllo dough and stack one at a time, brush one sheet at a
time with melted butter
2. Cut large sheet into 8 equal squares and place a piece of sausage down on
sheet, top and stack vertically up (like making a sandwich) tuck in ends and
roll up brie mummies
3. Take another two sheets and repeat
4. Cover rolls with plastic wrap
5. On a clean working surface again, stack two sheet soft phyllo dough and
brush with butter in between the layers. Brush top with butter also. Cut
into very thin strips and wrap around brie mummies to bundle. Repeat to
wrap all mummies
6. Place mummies on cookie sheet and brush lightly with butter, bake for 10-
12 minutes until golden brown serve warm or room temp
7. Bake until the phyllo is crisp and golden brown, about 15 minutes.
8. If desired, serve with a “bloody spicy” ketchup “blood”

Fire Apple Cider
Ingredients:

• 1/2-gallon local Apple Cider
• 16 ounces Fireball whiskey
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 cinnamon sticks, more for garnish
• 1 tablespoon whole clove

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients and simmer over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes
2. Remove cinnamon sticks
3. Ladle into mugs and garnish with fresh cinnamon sticks

Black Widow
Ingredients:

• 2 oz Blavod Vodka
• 3 oz Cranberry Juice

Directions:

1. Pour cranberry juice in a highball glass filled with ice.
2. Float Blavod vodka on top to create the desired effect.
Poison Green Apple Potion
Ingredients:

• 2 twelve-ounce bottles Jones green apple soda
• 2 cups Pearl Apple pie vodka
• 8 oz soda water
• 1 apple, sliced for garnish

Directions:

1. Mix all liquids
2. Pour over ice
3. Garnish with apple slice