Halloween food is all about fun and fright.
But you don't need to create anything fancy or really crazy, just for the holiday, or your party.
You can make your favorite foods and tweak them a little to suit the spooky mood.
Here are five easy tips to help.
1.
Think of something disgusting Worms, bugs, body fluids, dead bodies--these are usually what gross people out.
Zombies, witches, mummies, ghosts, spiders, vampires--these are the cast of characters.
How can you make them part of a dish? Find a way to use the shapes, colors, textures, names, or suggestion of these things.
2.
Make it look like something gross Use color and shape to mimic the disgusting item.
Use noodles as worms, orzo or rice as maggots, dates as cockroaches.
Anything greenish-yellowish and mushy, with bits and pieces or chunky parts, can pass for vomit.
Something with Parmesan cheese in it will also smell like it, too! Want to mimic the look of blood or internal organs? Go for the red coloring and texture.
Make sure there is enough liquid to look like blood, and use food with gel, slime, or jiggly textures to bring body parts to mind.
3.
Make it look like something cute You don't have to go the gory route for the holiday.
Cute works, too.
Vampires can be suggested with two drops of blood, fangs, or a coffin.
Mummies are fairly easy to produce.
You can wrap pigs in the blanket to look like mummy dogs, or decorate cupcakes with frosting and two raisin or candy eyeballs peeking out.
Use crudite on a serving platter in the shape of a skeleton.
Use slices of bell peppers as ribs, celery or carrot sticks as arms and legs, and use your imagination to create a delicious, fun appetizer.
4.
Give it a yucky name Sometimes all you need is the power of suggestion.
Take something ordinary and get creative with its title.
How about spaghetti and meatballs, a kid favorite? How much more delicious would it be if you called it "Worms and Bat Meatballs"? Or take a bowl of pita chips and dip.
Add a sign that reads, "Mummified Skin Chips and Brain Dip.
" Voila, instant yuck.
5.
Present it well Take the time to add little details to make an ordinary dish into a screamer.
Put it on a platter and surround it with body parts, spider webs, or other toy novelties.
Use serving spoons with claws on the handles, or bowls with skulls on the sides.
Simple details add to the mood.
There you have five easy tips for making your food fun for Halloween.
Spice up your next party by incorporating some of these tricks, and you'll have a ghoulish time.