watergate salad with coverup pudding recipe

File this one under the most random of dishes, but retro desserts always fascinate me. It’s a fun addition to a November 4th buffet…I am so ready to cast my vote, and I know we’ll all be celebrating when this crazy-long election is finally over.

Dubbed Watergate Salad with Coverup Pudding by a Chicago food editor after the '70s Nixon scandal, this blast-from-the-past concoction reminds me that some things never go out of style. We’re in the biggest economic crisis of our lifetimes and meanwhile, execs are getting spa treatments with bailout money. Perhaps the only thing more appropriate would be a Cup o’ Noodle dinner party. Pass the Two Buck Chuck.

Makes me wonder, what would Obama be if he were a dish? What about McCain?

ez costumes off the radar

Some of us start thinking of Halloween costumes months in advance; some of us don’t. For those who fall in the second category, here are two easy-to-put-together costumes that get bonus points for being uncommon yet recognizable.

Magnum, P.I.

All you need is a Hawaiian print shirt, a bushy brown mustache and a Detroit Tigers baseball cap. There’s something comical about a gaggle of Magnums, so feel free to convince a group of guys to dress up in this get-up — even the costume-phobic should be game.

Black Cauldron Stew recipe

Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday, so I spend a lot of time thinking about all things spooky. This year, I’ve already gone to two pumpkin festivals and two parties (this is what happens when you have a toddler), and I’ve been knee-deep in hot dogs, potato chips and, of course, devilish amounts of candy. I just lovvve it.

But, truth be told, I’ve been hungering for, well, food. So I came up with this ghoulish supper for the big night of trick-or-treating. It will fortify little pranksters for hours of mischief, and parents will like it, too. Who knew black beans and turkey meatballs could be so gruesome?

brain food

I’ve spent more time than I care to admit hunting online for the perfect party drink. For a scary movie night I held last October, I decided I needed a drink that didn’t just sound like a Halloween drink but looked like a Halloween drink. I found what I was looking for in the Brain Hemorrhage.

It’s a gruesome little shot — you slowly pour Bailey’s into schnapps, and the Bailey's coagulates to form a cloudy, squiggly “brain” that appears to be sitting in formaldehyde. Then you drop in a touch of grenadine for a bloody effect.

The original drink I came across used peach schnapps as the base, but that concoction tasted a lot like cough syrup to me. I much prefer the drink with banana schnapps, making it reminiscent of banana cream pie. (Yum!)

Brain Hemorrhage

• 1 oz. banana schnapps (or whatever schnapps you prefer)
• 1 tsp. Bailey's Irish Cream
• 2 drops grenadine

Pour schnapps into a (preferably clear, logo-less) glass. Slowly pour Bailey's in glass over the backside of a spoon — this will help you achieve brain-like squiggles. Then tap in grenadine.

question of the week: best part of Halloween?

Halloween is finally, finally almost here. Whether you believe in the Great Pumpkin or not, and whether you love or hate costumes, there is something in this fun-filled, candy-laden, spooktastic holiday for everyone to enjoy. Let us know what lights up your pumpkin.

poll by twiigs.com

Witches' Fingers recipe

For a little bit of black humor on the Halloween table, serve up the hand of a sinister sorceress. The “fingers” are easy to make, and quite a tasteful trick thanks to a coating of chopped mushrooms, a handful of black sesame seeds and breadcrumbs. Red fingernails made from ketchup complete the grim look.

Once upon a midnight dreary, these were tested on a group of adults and kids. The verdict: You can’t go wrong with chicken fingers. Even ones shrouded in black and arranged like a claw, ready to grab their next victim. For little ones, serve a vial of blood, er, ketchup alongside.

fangtastic

If you're still figuring out your Halloween costume, you're not alone. Some people (present company included) crack under the pressure of picking something clever, and then going out to find all of the elements that bring the costume together. So consider this: The vampire costume.

No, being a vampire for Halloween isn't going to win you any points in the novelty department. But the classic Halloween icon is enjoying quite the revival thanks to the TV show True Blood and the Twilight books. Lucky for us costume slackers, the vampire can actually be thrown together with a minimal amount of effort or investment.

• Black attire is a must. Vampires of this millennium don't do silly capes, so just stick to the basics. This is the perfect time to break out the leather boots or fishnet stockings that are hiding in the back of your closet.
• Go to the drugstore and pick up a compact of powder foundation in the lightest shade available — don't get translucent powder since it won't give enough coverage. Whether you're male or female, chances are you could benefit from a generous dusting of porcelain powder to achieve the vampire complexion.
• Guys, you can stop with the powder if you're squeamish about makeup. But if you want to take it up a notch (it is Halloween, after all), smudge a little gray shadow around your eyes for that undead appeal. And if you've always wanted to rock some guyliner (you know you have), this is your chance.
• Ladies, go all out with smoky eye shadow, deep red lipstick and black nail polish. Bonus points for faux lashes.
• If you're going to splurge on anything, do it on the fangs since they're what will differentiate your costume from any ol' goth. Vampfangs has a selection of chic-looking fangs that will keep you from looking too kitschy. The goofy, plastic kind above may be good for 10-year-olds, but they ruin that vampire mystique.
  

candy lights

Growing up, there was no question that our house was open for business on Halloween. We had a helium "Happy Halloween" balloon tied to the mailbox, jack-o'-lanterns in the picture window and lining the lit walkway, and a ghost candle perched at the window of the front door alongside a huge candy bowl with eight separate compartments, so trick-or-treaters could get a clear view of the assortment.

In other words, I come from Halloween people. Which might help explain why I was so excited to find this candy corn light set. What a perfect way to light up a dark Halloween night and let the neighborhood know there's candy for the taking at your place.

let me hear you scream

Like this design? Create an Evite invitation with this image.

Halloween can seem like the season for fishnet stockings more than anything else, but really it’s the season to creep yourself out unnecessarily. Hosting a scary movie night makes a fun, low-key party prior to (or in lieu of) the big scary night.

Serve popcorn, sliced apples with caramel dipping sauce and some spooky drinks, and you’ve got the makings of an excellent evening in. All you have to do is select the perfect movie — no small task.

We all have different fright thresholds and movie preferences — some of us prefer to hang on to our bejesus rather than getting it scared out of us, while others find sheer terror thrilling in the best possible way.

To help you hone in on your demo, I’ve broken movies down by categories. Below find my not-at-all-expert top picks, some obvious, some not. And by all means, add your favorites.

question of the week: turkey talk

The Thanksgiving meal. Mmm. Whether you're hosting the dinner, deciding what to bring to a potluck or just fantasizing about past feasts, you've probably already spent some time daydreaming about what you'll be gorging on this year.

Last year you surprised us with your choices for favorite Thanksgiving foods. Turns out, more than pie, more than turkey, you go cuckoo for stuffing (or dressing, and no, there's not really a difference).

Stuffing! Who knew? I'm glad to know I'm not alone, because it just doesn't feel like Thanksgiving without my mom's pecan-cornbread-apple stuffing, but I know some of you crave it with brimming with sausage, chestnuts or oysters.

And while I can appreciate the cranberry from a can, if you plan to serve me that, do not be surprised if you look in my purse and see that I've brought my own homemade cranberry sauce with roasted shallots and port. No offense.

What are your Thanksgiving must-haves? Deep-fried turkey or brined? Mashed potatoes with or without lumps, with or without peas? Mac and cheese? Sweet potatoes sprinkled with mini marshmallows or roasted with parmesan? Green bean casserole? Pumpkin, pecan, apple or sweet potato pie? Biscuits, rolls, cornbread?

Wipe that drool from your chin and tell us what you'll be thankful to eat this Thanksgiving....