They're Creepy and They're Kooky...

It was a busy double-feature night Thursday, as I revisited a new favorite from last year -- The Addams Family (1991) -- and added its sequel to the mix -- Addams Family Values (1993). I can't believe I slept on these films for so long. The cast is perfection. Anjelica Huston as Morticia in particular, but also Christina Ricci as Wednesday, Raul Julia as Gomez and Christopher Lloyd as Uncle Fester. Just iconic (drink!)

The menu was a little more involved, and actually started in the morning when I popped the chicken into the crockpot before leaving for work. It was worth it though because it came out so tasty in the end!

Gomez's Caprese Skewers

Ingredients

1 pint Cherry Tomatoes

8 oz Pearl-Sized Mozzarella Balls

1 cup (roughly) Fresh Basil

1 cup Balsamic Vinegar 

Cocktail skewers 

 

Directions

1. Pour balsamic vinegar into saucepan and heat over medium heat until it simmers. Reduce heat to medium-low or low and reduce by half. Remove from heat and allow to cool. It will continue to thicken as it cools.
2. Slice cherry tomatoes in half (or quarter if they are large)
3. Assemble skewers alternating tomatoes, mozzarella and basil leaves. I used partly dried basil since that's what was substituted in my grocery pick up. I just sprinkled it on top.
4. Drizzle with balsamic reduction and serve. 

 

Chicken Pot Pie with "Thing" Hand Pie

Ingredients

1/2 package Frozen Puff Pastry

1 egg (beaten)

1 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter

1 1/2 tbsp flour

1/2 onion (chopped)

2 cloves garlic (minced) 

1 1/2 cups chicken stock (low sodium)

1 package frozen vegetables (I used carrots and peas)

1 1/2 cups cooked chicken 

salt, pepper, rosemary + sage to taste (roughly 1/2 - 1 tsp each)

Directions 

1. Cook chicken breasts. I put mine in my slow cooker with salt, pepper, garlic + onion powder and 4 cups chicken broth, and cooked for 6 hours on low. Then I shredded it. Alternatively, you could buy a rotisserie chicken and use meat from that.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Unroll and roll out puff pastry. **Make sure you thaw out your puff pastry the night before, or use the microwave (follow package instructions). Cut hand prints out. I printed a template off the internet and traced it with a knife.
3. Brush handprints with egg wash and bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.
4. While those bake, melt butter in a pan over medium heat. Sautee onion 3-4 minutes.
5. Stir in flour, coating the onions, then slowly whisk in chicken stock. Bring to a simmer an cook until mixture thickens.
6. Add frozen vegetables and cook through, about 4-5 minutes.
7. Stir in shredded chicken until warmed through. Season with additional salt, pepper and poultry seasoning to taste.
8. Portion into serving dishes and top with 'hand pies.' 

 

Graveyard Dessert Cups

Ingredients

Chocolate Pudding

Oreos

Gummy Worms

Pumpkin Candy Corn (optional)

Milano Cookies

Directions

1. Place pudding into cups (I bought pre-made because it was just easier, but you can always make your own if you like!)
2. Place 6-8 Oreos in a Ziplock bag and crush. This is a great activity for kids to help with or to just get out your own aggression.
3. Sprinkle Oreo crumbs on top of each pudding cup.
4. Stick a Milano cookie about 1/3 into each cup.
5. Decorate with gummy worms and pumpkin candy corn.

Morticia's Morbid Martini

Ingredients

4 oz vodka

1 oz dry vermouth

Food coloring

Edible glitter (optional)

Maraschino cherry (for garnish)

Directions: Shake vodka and vermouth over ice. Stir in blue, green and red food coloring to make cocktail appear black. Pour into glass and stir in edible glitter (if using). Garnish with a cherry. 

 

Uncle Fester's Electric Shock 

Ingredients 

3 oz Mountain Dew

3 oz Green Berry Hawaiian Punch 

Pink Pop Rocks

Lime Wedge

Directions: Mix Mountain Dew and Hawaiian Punch in cocktail shaker and pour into glass. Garnish with lime wedge and Pop Rocks. You can also add vodka or melon liquor to make a cocktail. 

 

Here's our final spread:

Caprese Skewers: 9 / 10

Chicken Pot Pie: 8 / 10

Graveyard Cups: 9 / 10

Morticia's Martini: 7 / 10

Uncle Fester's Electric Shock: 7 / 10

Tomorrow I'll be teaming up with my friend Jake, who has been doing his own month-long Halloween movie marathon and we'll be watching a comedy classic: Young Frankenstein!