Hauntingly Good Memories
Posted on 10-04-2018
To many children, Halloween places second only to Christmas when it comes to anticipation. Presents come in little wrappers instead of big packages and rarely does any child have to endure opening a wrapper with socks in it like they do at Christmas.
The costumes, the carved jack-o-lanterns, the tricks and — most importantly — the treats, define the holiday!
I remember trick or treating as one of the absolute best times of the year. We didn’t spend money, at least like you can now, on costumes. Ten minutes in our parent’s attic, five more in mom’s makeup bag and we had costumes.
We were MacGyver before MacGyver was MacGyver. Two sticks, a piece of charcoal, some hairspray, dad’s letter sweater, and we had a prepster zombie walking the streets of Allouez. Of course, mom’s still not thrilled with three holes in her 400 count Egyptian cotton sheets but we had fun. And dad, if you’re reading this, you know that college letter sweater didn’t fit even six months out of school anyway – you needed to let it go.
I know it’s a stretch to call Halloween a culinary type of holiday, but as a kid, candy was everything. Who could win the “haul for it all” bragging rights as to who scored the biggest plastic pumpkin full of sweets, and more importantly, what was in the bucket? Candy, up until the age of 13-ish, is currency.
After a few years making the rounds, I knew where the health nut lived, as bowls of apples and oranges greeted me at the door. I knocked there one year, and one year only. I also knew where the Mother Lode was. The couple who understood the magnitude of this day; the couple that had the longest lines all night long. Every year it was different, but at the same time, awesome. One year it would be the foot long Charleston, another year they throw down 100 Thousand dollar bars, and I’m talking regulation size – not the bite-size bits every other house had. These beauties were the Boardwalk and Park place type of assets that the unknowing would covet. They became trade bait for lawn mowing, snow shoveling and babysitting gigs for months to come. “Sure you can have my Clark Bar, but the dishes need to be done…..all month”. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t, but it was sure fun trying. Thank goodness we got a little older, a little wiser and in my case, a little sister. Sorry, Jodi, I should have told you Mounds has coconut.
As a parent, on the other side of the chocolate coin, I lean toward the healthy snacks to hand out to the little goblins. It works for different reasons: First, you can feel good about handing the kids a sugar-free/ fat-free goodie, or a granola bar, because it’s healthier than most treats.
But the best part is, once they find out what you’re handing them, you can catch up on some much-needed rest because your doorbell won’t ring all night! Happy Halloween!
Pumpkin Pie (the adult version)
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Beat one whole large egg and brush the crust lightly to coat. Bake the crust for 7 – 10 minutes or just until it starts to turn slightly brown. This process ensures the crust will not get soggy. The egg wash creates a seal to prevent liquids from penetrating the crust. Set the crust aside and prepare the filling:
In a mixing bowl add:
2 – 3 Large eggs (2 eggs make it firmer, 3 eggs make it more of a custard consistency)
Whisk the eggs then add:
1 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup Bailey’s Irish cream
2 cups canned or cooked fresh pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 Tblsp. softened cream cheese
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
small pinch salt (it explodes the flavors)
Whisk the ingredients together until smooth, carefully pour into the par-baked pie crust, place on a baking sheet and place in the center of the oven. Bake for 40 – 50 minutes or until the center rises up and just jiggles slightly when nudged. Cool on a wire rack at room temperature for two hours. Chill for 1 hour or more. Serve with fresh whipped cream – Enjoy!
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Galley 57 Supper Club is located in Allouez. You can visit them on the web, on Facebook, or you can give them a call at 920.593.2632.
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 4 pm – 9 pm
Stop in, enjoy a great meal in a relaxed atmosphere, say hello to Chef Andy, and please let him know that the Green Bay News Network sent you!