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Ask A Chef: Best Spooky Halloween Treats

halloween treats 610 header
(credit: istockphoto)

Most people never outgrow Halloween. The costumes, the parties, the themed food and cocktails; it's the perfect combination for a great time. But this year you can make your Halloween get-together even more spook-tacular thanks to food and cocktail expert Terri Dennis, better known as The Martini Diva.

Terri Dennis
(credit: Terri Dennis)

Terri Dennis
The Martini Diva
www.popartdiva.com

The Martini Diva started out as a professional graphic designer but it was her penchant for martini glasses that lured her into the world of cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Things just snowballed from there. Combining her artistic talent with her love of cocktails, tiny foods and holidays, The Martini Diva has developed a sort of cult following with her easy and delicious recipes.

With Halloween on the horizon and being The Martini Diva's favorite holiday, delicious things are brewing. Between her website, social media posts and string of successful holiday-themed cocktail books, The Martini Diva is the go-to gal for all of your party needs. Below are a few of her more popular appetizers and cocktails. Be sure to check out "The Martini Diva's Halloween Martinis & Munchies" book on Amazon for even more fun, easy and fantastic recipes.

Buffalo-Bat-Wings1
(credit: PopArt Diva)

Barbecue Bat Wings
Ingredients

  • 1 lb chicken wings
  • 1/4 cup red wine or chicken stock broth
  • Ranch dressing for dip
  • 2 tsp kosher salt
  • 2 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp ground pepper
  • 2 tbsp of flour
  • Thinly sliced carrots and celery

Directions

  1. In a small mixing bowl, stir together salt, pepper, flour, chili, onion and garlic powder.
  2. Dredge chicken wings in dry mixture and coat well.
  3. Coat a large non-stick skillet with oil and place on a medium-high heat.
  4. Add chicken wings and cook for 8 minutes, turning once.
  5. Reduce heat to medium-low and add wine or broth.
  6. Cover and cook for an additional 5-7 minutes or until chicken is done.
  7. Remove and serve on a bed of celery and carrot sticks with ranch dressing on side. 

Related: Best Spots For Guacamole In Los Angeles

Spooky-Slimy-Slaw1
(credit: PopArt Diva)

Spooky Slimy Slaw
Ingredients

  • 2 cups purple cabbage
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • 5 carrots (scraped and cleaned)
  • 1/3 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
  • 1 bottle poppyseed or coleslaw dressing

Directions

  1. Shred the cabbage and carrots.
  2. Toss all ingredients into a large bowl.
  3. Add dressing to taste. 
Naughty Nachos 2
(credit: PopArt Diva)

Naughty Nachos
Ingredients

  • 1 bag of corn tortilla chips
  • 1 lb hamburger
  • 1 can of black beans, drained
  • 8 oz shredded cheddar cheese blend
  • 1 package of taco seasoning
  • Jar of salsa
  • 1 avocado, cubed
  • small can of mild chilis
  • sliced jalapeno (optional)
  • sour cream

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Cook hamburger according to the directions on the package of taco seasoning.
  3. Add black beans and mild chilis. Take off heat and put aside.
  4. Individually lay tortilla chips on parchment paper-lined cookie sheet with room between them.
  5. Spoon about a tablespoon of meat mixture onto each one and sprinkle with cheese.
  6. Place in oven until cheese has melted.
  7. Remove from oven and add a small dollop of salsa followed by a small dollop of sour cream.
  8. Top with cube of avocado and slice of jalapeno. Serve.
Skeletons-Delight-Martini-with-Poem1
(credit: PopArt Diva)

The Skeleton's Delight Martini
Ingredients

  • Splash of peach schnapps
  • 1 oz peach vodka
  • 2 large peaches
  • 1 oz half & half
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • dash of cinnamon
  • nutmeg and ginger
  • whipped cream 
  • Halloween sprinkles

Directions

  1. Toss it all in a blender with a few ice cubes and puree until liquid.
  2. Pour into your glass and toss on a few spooky sprinkles!
ZOMBIE JUICE
(credit: PopArt Diva)

Zombie Juice
Because, like income taxes, happy hour will still be in existence after the Zombie Apocalypse.
Ingredients

  • 2 oz light rum
  • 1 oz dark rum
  • 1/2 oz apricot brandy
  • 151 rum float
  • 2 oz kiwano (horned melon) juice
  • 1 oz pineapple juice
  • 1 oz orange Juice
  • 1 oz lime juice
  • 2 dashes pomegranate bitters
  • Slice of kiwano
  • Slice of orange

Directions

  1. Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake until well chilled.
  2. Pour into whatever kind of glass you can scrounge up after the apocalypse and garnish.

Related: Dining Guide To LA's Little Tokyo

Kristine G. Bottone is a freelance writer living in Los Angeles. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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