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Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on October 29, 2012 at 2:36pm

Day Old Bath Water
 
12 ounce Can frozen lemonade
2 liters 7-Up
1/2 gallon Rainbow sherbet 
 
Thaw sherbet for approximately 15 minutes and place in a plastic tub. Add lemonade (prepared according to directions) and 7-up. Sherbet will melt and turn mixture day old bathwater grayish-brown. Float a handful of green, yellow and white tiny after-dinner mints (tiny bars of soap) on top of the scummy punch.

Bloody Milkshake
 
Prep: 10 min. 
1 quart plus 2 cups buttermilk 
1 quart plus 2 cups vanilla ice cream 
3/4 cup brown sugar 
3/4 cup unsweetened pineapple chunks, drained and juice reserved 
3/4 cup maraschino cherries, stemmed 
 
Combine first 3 ingredients and reserved pineapple juice in a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. Add more ice cream for extra thick drink. Add pineapple for phlegm and cherries for blood clots and blend very briefly until cherries are roughly chopped. Fill glasses and serve. 
 
EZ Cinnamon Cider
 
4 cups cider or apple juice 
1/4 cup cinnamon "Red-Hot" candies

Combine juice and candies in a large pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 4 minutes until candies are dissolved. Serve hot or cool. Serves 8.

Eerie Witches Brew
 
4 cups cranberry juice cocktail 
1 cup chopped candied ginger 
3 medium-sized oranges 
1 can (12 ounces) thawed frozen apple juice concentrate 
2 cups seedless grapes 
4 cups water 
2 bottles (32 ozs each) ginger ale 

In a 1 to 2-quart pan, bring 1 cup of cranberry juice and candied ginger to a boil over high heat. Boil, uncovered, about 2 minutes; set aside. With a vegetable peeler, pare peel (colored parts only) from orange; cut peel into thin 2-inch long "worms". Add orange peel to cranberry mixture. Cover and chill at least 4 hours or as long as overnight.

Juice oranges: put juice in a 6 to 8-quart pan or heavy bowl. Stir in cranberry-ginger mixture, the 3 cups of cranberry juice, apple juice concentrate, limeade, grapes and water. If made ahead of time, cover and chill up to 2 hours. Add ginger ale and about a one pound piece of dry ice. Ice should smolder at least 30 minutes. Ladle into cups. Add remaining ice when bubbling ceases. Makes 5 quarts

Swamp Punch
 
Make a nice punch (cranberry juice, frozen orange juice WITH PULP, and ginger ale, or even just plain ol' orange juice WITH PULP) and then add some green and blue food coloring until it turns a sort of yucky gray color - mmmmm....The PULP is very important 'cause it looks TOTALLY DISGUSTING when it's all gray and that stuff is floating around on top. The kids said, "Do I HAVE to drink that?"

Spooky Punch
 
This punch relies on classic flavor combinations and food coloring to give it a great flavor and appearance.
 
8 cups orange juice 
4 cups apple cider 
6 ounces frozen peach juice concentrate (undiluted and still frozen) 
green food coloring 
3 cups rainbow sherbet
 
Mix together the orange juice and apple cider. Add the frozen peach concentrate and swirl in green food coloring to turn the mixture into a murky black color. Add the rainbow sherbet and serve immediately.  (from http://recipecard.com/)

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on October 29, 2012 at 2:35pm

Heavenly Hot Chocolate This is the best Hot Cocoa you will ever have and Raven and Crone is glad to share it with you!

1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup water
Pinch of salt
3 cups whole milk
1 1/2 cups half and half
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chilled whipping cream

Using tip of small knife, scrape seeds from vanilla bean into processor; reserve bean. Add sugar to processor and blend 10 seconds. Transfer 3 tablespoons vanilla sugar to small bowl and reserve. Transfer remaining vanilla sugar from processor to heavy metal sauce-pan. Add unsweetened cocoa powder, 1/2 cup water and salt and whisk until smooth. Whisk over medium heat just until beginning to bubble. Whisk in whole milk and half and half. Add reserved vanilla bean; bring mixture to simmer. Remove from heat; Whisk in vanilla extract. Discard vanilla bean. Beat cream and reserved 3 tablespoons vanilla sugar in medium bowl until medium-firm peaks form. Divide hot chocolate
among 6 mugs; top with whipped cream and serve

Zombie Punch

1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tsp. ground ginger
2 quarts cider or apple juice
3 cups water
1 can (12 ounces) frozen orange juice concentrate

In a large pitcher or glass gallon jar; stir lemon juice and ginger until blended. Add cider, water and orange juice concentrate and stir until blended. Cover and chill at least 1 hour.

Basic Blood Punch

This well-known "blood" mix is a Halloween standard. Take a large punch bowl and fill it half with tomato juice and half with orange juice. Let sit until it reaches room temperature (some prefer it served at body temperature - you could warm it gently by placing the punch bowl atop a warm oven) and serve. To spice things up a bit, use Mott's Spicy Clamato mix instead of tomato juice.

Blood Bath

This very simple recipe mixes sweet tart flavor with bright color and vanilla ice cream to produce a fun and tasty punch. I have seen this served in a new cleaned baby bathtub for a fun effect, but you can serve it in a punch bowl.

64 ounces cran-raspberry cocktail
4 cups apple juice
4 cups vanilla ice cream

Mix together the cran-raspberry cocktail and apple juice and chill. Pour into a punch bowl or other serving container. Scoop the vanilla ice cream into the punch and serve immediately. (from http://recipecard.com )

Hot Pineapple Orange Toddies

This is an aromatic and luscious drink to savor on a cold fall evening. It has a unique flavor that will be sure to please the children and adults at your next party. For best results, try to peel the orange in one big piece, or else pieces large enough so that they won't end up in individual mugs. If you like, try adding a tablespoon of warmed apricot brandy to each mug before pouring in the pineapple mixture for a great adult drink.

6 cups unsweetened pineapple juice
3 cups freshly squeezed orange juice
1/4 cup brown sugar
Peel from 2 oranges
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons brown sugar
additional cinnamon and nutmeg

Mix together the pineapple juice and orange juice in a large soup kettle. Bring to a boil and add the 1/4 cup brown sugar, orange peel, and spices. Simmer for five minutes. Whip the heavy cream with the honey and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Ladle the punch into warmed mugs and top with the whipped cream mixture. Lightly sprinkle the whipped cream with additional cinnamon and nutmeg. Serve immediately.

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on October 20, 2012 at 11:23am

Conker Spiderwebs!

found at: http://www.theimaginationtree.com/2011/10/conker-spiderwebs.html

This is a perfect all-natural Autumnal craft using a conker, a beechnut and raffia! My lovely Dutch friend Tineke is guest posting this idea today and says she used to do this as a traditional Dutch activity when she was a child! 

To make this adorable craft you will need:

• a conker/horse chestnut
• cocktail sticks or bbq skewers
• raffia or wool/yarn
• a beechnut
• black cardstock

Over to Tineke:

• First of all make 6 holes in the conker with a sharp tool. (I don't know what this one is called but a metal skewer should work fine.)

• Then put cocktail sticks into the holes and cut off the sharper ends. 

• Tie raffia or wool to one of the cocktail sticks and start to weave it between the sticks by twisting it once around each one, then pulling it on to the next. Twist again and continue until it quickly builds up into a little web pattern.

 For the spider:

• Cut out a little spider shape from black card. 

• Then, take the top of a beechnut and stick it to the card spider using glue to make it seem hairy and scary! Either draw on eyes or stick on little googly eyes for greater effect. 

• Stick the spider somewhere on the web and use another piece of raffia to hang it up! All done.

What a lovely activity idea for slightly older children or children at heart, this autumn!

  Thank you Tineke for sharing your idea here! :-) Tineke doesn't have a blog (but should!)

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on October 20, 2012 at 11:22am

Play dough recipes

found at: http://www.theimaginationtree.com/2011/10/autumn-play-collection-40...

Autumnal Playdough by The Imagination Tree

Pumpkin Pie Playdough by Dinosaurs and Octupuses

Cinnamon playdough and leaf prints by Nurture Store

Apple Spice Playdough by Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas 

Harvest Playdough by Sun Hats & Wellie Boots

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on October 19, 2012 at 12:13pm

Samhain

by Chrissy

SAMHAIN, All Hollows
The history SAMHAIN,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, (pronounced Sow-en) October 31st to November 1st

Samhain is an ancient festival with roots as far back as ancient Egypt. Celebrations keyed to the end of the harvest, the shortening days and coming of winter, have long been in existance in various cultures. The circle of birth, death and rebirth has been linked to the seasons an
d the harvest in many, cutures

Since ancient times in the Celtic culture, October 31st has been celebrated as a feast for the dead, and also the day that marks the New Year. This time of the year marked the beginning of the cold, lean months to come; the flocks were brought in from the fields to live in sheds until spring. Some animals were slaughtered, and the meat preserved to provide food for winter. The last gathering of crops was known as "Harvest Home," celebrated with fairs and festivals.

In addition to its agricultural significance, the ancient Celts also saw Samhain as a very spiritual time. October 31 is exactly between the Autumnal Equinox [September 20] and the Winter Solstice [December 21], and was considered a very potent time for magic and communion with spirits. The "veil between the worlds" of the living and the dead was said to be at its thinnest on this day; so the dead were invited to return to feast with their loved ones; welcomed in from the cold, much as the animals were brought inside. Extra places were set at the table and food set out for any who had died that year. Ancient customs range from such placing food out for dead ancestors, to performing rituals for communicating with those who had passed over.
Many today see Halloween as the pagan holiday. But that's not really accurate. As the pagan holiday of Samhain is on November 1st. But their celebrations did and still do, start at sunset on October 31st, on Samhain Eve. During the day on October 31st, the fires within the home are extinguished. Often families would engage in a good "fall" cleaning to clear out the old and make way for the new. Starting the winter months with fresh and clean household items. "Trick-or-treating" is a modern tradition that probably finds its roots in the early All Souls' Day parades in England. During the festivities, poor citizens would beg for food and families would give them pastries called "soul cakes" in return for their promise to pray for the family's dead relatives. The distribution of soul cakes was encouraged by the church as a way to replace the ancient practice of leaving food and wine for roaming spirits. The practice, which was referred to as "going a-souling" was eventually taken up by children who would visit the houses in their neighborhood and be given ale, food, and money.
SAMHAIN is also I fine time to use your Scrying mirror or water gaze
Cooking for SAMHAIN is just about anything due to the harvest: Turnips, Apples, Gourds, Nuts, Mulled Wines, Beef, Pork, and Poultry.
Herbs are: Mugwort, Allspice, Broom, Catnip, Deadly Nightshade, Mandrake, Oak leaves, Sage
As we Pagans and Witches integrate the traditions of Samhain into our modern day Halloween celebrations we trace the footprints of our spirtual ancestry while creating new legends of our own

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on October 8, 2012 at 1:54pm

By Patti Wigington

This simple and cute craft idea has been popping up all over the place lately. It's a fun little craft project you can put together with items you have around your house, as well as a few random Halloween decorations. Use leftover glass jars with lids to create small Samhain terrariums. You’ll need:

• Glass jars with lids (baby food jars are great!)
• Black spray paint
• Hot glue
• Spanish moss or dried grass
• Twigs
• Assorted small Halloween decor - ghosts, skulls, headstones, spiders, etc.

Make sure your glass jars are clean on the inside - wash and dry them before you start this project.

Use the black spray paint to paint the lids on the inside and outside. While you don't absolutely have to do this step, it does make the final result look a little bit spookier.

Glue some Spanish moss or dried grass to the inside of the lid. Make sure you don't go all the way to the edges of the lid, or you won't be able to put the jar in place. Add dried twigs to resemble trees, spider webbing, ghosts, headstones, and more.

Put the jar on top of the lid to form the dome of the terrarium.

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on October 7, 2012 at 3:05pm

Halloween: Where It All Began

In Ireland, where Halloween originated, the day is still celebrated much as it is in the United States. In rural areas, bonfires are lit as they were in the days of the Celts, and all over the country, children get dressed up in costumes and spend the evening "trick-or-treating" in their neighborhoods. After trick-or-treating, most people attend parties with neighbors and friends. At the parties, many games are played, including "snap-apple," a game in which an apple on a string is tied to a doorframe or tree and players attempt to bite the hanging apple. In addition to bobbing for apples, parents often arrange treasure hunts, with candy or pastries as the "treasure." The Irish also play a card game where cards are laid face down on a table with candy or coins underneath them. When a child chooses a card, he receives whatever prize is found below it.

A traditional food eaten on Halloween is barnbrack, a kind of fruitcake that can be bought in stores or baked at home. A muslin-wrapped treat is baked inside the cake that, it is said, can foretell the eater's future. If a ring is found, it means that the person will soon be wed; a piece of straw means that a prosperous year is on its way. Children are also known to play tricks on their neighbors, such as "knock-a-dolly," a prank in which children knock on the doors of their neighbors, but run away before the door is opened.

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on October 7, 2012 at 3:04pm

The Legend of "Stingy Jack"

People have been making jack-o'-lanterns at Halloween for centuries. The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed "Stingy Jack." According to the story, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him. True to his name, Stingy Jack didn't want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks. Once the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form. Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Jack for one year and that, should Jack die, he would not claim his soul. The next year, Jack again tricked the Devil into climbing into a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While he was up in the tree, Jack carved a sign of the cross into the tree's bark so that the Devil could not come down until the Devil promised Jack not to bother him for ten more years.

Soon after, Jack died. As the legend goes, God would not allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as "Jack of the Lantern," and then, simply "Jack O'Lantern."

In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack's lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. In England, large beets are used. Immigrants from these countries brought the jack o'lantern tradition with them when they came to the United States. They soon found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make perfect jack-o'-lanterns.

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on October 7, 2012 at 3:03pm

Halloween Superstitions

Halloween has always been a holiday filled with mystery, magic and superstition. It began as a Celtic end-of-summer festival during which people felt especially close to deceased relatives and friends. For these friendly spirits, they set places at the dinner table, left treats on doorsteps and along the side of the road and lit candles to help loved ones find their way back to the spirit world. Today's Halloween ghosts are often depicted as more fearsome and malevolent, and our customs and superstitions are scarier too. We avoid crossing paths with black cats, afraid that they might bring us bad luck. This idea has its roots in the Middle Ages, when many people believed that witches avoided detection by turning themselves into cats. We try not to walk under ladders for the same reason. This superstition may have come from the ancient Egyptians, who believed that triangles were sacred; it also may have something to do with the fact that walking under a leaning ladder tends to be fairly unsafe. And around Halloween, especially, we try to avoid breaking mirrors, stepping on cracks in the road or spilling salt.

But what about the Halloween traditions and beliefs that today's trick-or-treaters have forgotten all about? Many of these obsolete rituals focused on the future instead of the past and the living instead of the dead. In particular, many had to do with helping young women identify their future husbands and reassuring them that they would someday—with luck, by next Halloween—be married. In 18th-century Ireland, a matchmaking cook might bury a ring in her mashed potatoes on Halloween night, hoping to bring true love to the diner who found it. In Scotland, fortune-tellers recommended that an eligible young woman name a hazelnut for each of her suitors and then toss the nuts into the fireplace. The nut that burned to ashes rather than popping or exploding, the story went, represented the girl's future husband. (In some versions of this legend, confusingly, the opposite was true: The nut that burned away symbolized a love that would not last.) Another tale had it that if a young woman ate a sugary concoction made out of walnuts, hazelnuts and nutmeg before bed on Halloween night she would dream about her future husband. Young women tossed apple-peels over their shoulders, hoping that the peels would fall on the floor in the shape of their future husbands' initials; tried to learn about their futures by peering at egg yolks floating in a bowl of water; and stood in front of mirrors in darkened rooms, holding candles and looking over their shoulders for their husbands' faces. Other rituals were more competitive. At some Halloween parties, the first guest to find a burr on a chestnut-hunt would be the first to marry; at others, the first successful apple-bobber would be the first down the aisle.

Of course, whether we're asking for romantic advice or trying to avoid seven years of bad luck, each one of these Halloween superstitions relies on the good will of the very same "spirits" whose presence the early Celts felt so keenly.

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on October 7, 2012 at 3:03pm

Today's Halloween Traditions

The American Halloween tradition of "trick-or-treating" probably dates back to the early All Souls' Day parades in England. During the festivities, poor citizens would beg for food and families would give them pastries called "soul cakes" in return for their promise to pray for the family's dead relatives. The distribution of soul cakes was encouraged by the church as a way to replace the ancient practice of leaving food and wine for roaming spirits. The practice, which was referred to as "going a-souling" was eventually taken up by children who would visit the houses in their neighborhood and be given ale, food, and money.  

The tradition of dressing in costume for Halloween has both European and Celtic roots. Hundreds of years ago, winter was an uncertain and frightening time. Food supplies often ran low and, for the many people afraid of the dark, the short days of winter were full of constant worry. On Halloween, when it was believed that ghosts came back to the earthly world, people thought that they would encounter ghosts if they left their homes. To avoid being recognized by these ghosts, people would wear masks when they left their homes after dark so that the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits. On Halloween, to keep ghosts away from their houses, people would place bowls of food outside their homes to appease the ghosts and prevent them from attempting to enter.

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