8 "BOO"-zey Drinks That Will Slay at Any Halloween Party

The big day is almost here! We’ve been counting down for weeks, sharing decor ideas and spooky recipes, and now the wait is nearly over. Halloween is this Saturday and we couldn’t be more excited. Whether you’re throwing your own scary shindig or attending a friend’s fearsome fiesta, we’ve got some gruesome drinks you’ve got to make this year! You’ll be the host with the most or the best guest – either way, we’re sure everyone will be excited to sip these themed bevvies.

Mr. Hyde Potion – Let your inner monster out (in a good way!) with this creepy concoction. Dry ice creates a nice effect, but isn’t totally necessary for this fun drink.

Image via HGTV

Fallen Froggie – Melon liquor, Irish crème, and grenadine combine (or rather, don’t quite combine) to create this neat-looking shot. 

Image via DrinkedIn

Spooky Sangria – Think sangria is just for sipping on patios in the summer? Think again! With a little spiced brandy and some colorful sugar, this summery beverage is perfect for Halloween.

Image via Well Plated

Vampire-tini – This clever drink is simple to make and so much fun! We love the vampire teeth garnish. They’re sweet, spooky, and perfect if someone forgot a costume!

Image via Cooking With Sugar

Black & Orange Rum Punch – With two kinds of rum this cocktail certainly packs a punch! A nice mix of orange, pineapple, and lime juice, it’s sure to keep everyone refreshed.

Image via Brit + Co

Black Licorice Delight – First of all, we’ve got to say: black ice cubes are beyond perfect for Halloween! Add them to this cocktail and any other you decide to make this year. Second: this is a seriously delicious drink. We’re big fans of black licorice, so this bevvy is right up our alley. If you love all things anise or licorice, this is definitely a must-make.

Image via Camille Styles

Brain Hemorrhage – We couldn’t resist sharing another crème based shooter where the ingredients don’t quite mix. This brain hemorrhage shot is genius! It looks positively disgusting and is a breeze to put together. Everyone will say yuck, then yum!

Image via A Year Of Cocktails

Radish Eyeballs – Ok, you caught us. This isn’t a drink, but rather a garnish recipe. That said, it’s one heck of a garnish recipe (Martha Stewart never disappoints). Add some spooky flare to any of your Halloween drinks with a grape, lychee, blueberry, or cranberry eyeball! With so many flavors, there’s sure to be a kind that compliments your beverage.

Image via Martha Stewart

We hope these cocktail recipes help to add a little fun and warmth to your Halloween party. As always, please enjoy them responsibly and never drink and drive. We hope you and yours have a spooktacular Halloween!

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Master your Kitchen at the Edmonton Fall Home Show

Spend hours and hours pinning chef-inspired recipes and chic dinner party ideas, but you never really know where to start when it comes to the actual cooking part? Dreaming is nice, but what if you could actually learn how to master your kitchen and put all of those clever ideas into action? 

The Edmonton Fall Home Show’s incredible Cooking Stage sponsored by SONiC 102.9 is sure to provide you with the right ammunition to kick your kitchen projects into high gear. With some of Alberta’s finest culinary experts teaching the audience how to master their meals in our stylish, design-inspired kitchen, you will leave the show floor with delicious recipes, a list of local products to stock your kitchen, and a full belly thanks to mouthwatering samples from the pros themselves. 

On top of all that, audience members will also get the chance to win culinary prizes and a one-chance opportunity to speak one-on-one with our featured Cooking Stage presenters. You will be able to pick their brains for tried and true culinary advice, tips, and tricks to rule your kitchen.

Our featured cooking talent includes:

●     Erin Howe and Chris Short, instructors at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in the department of continuing education, who will each be presenting their top level culinary knowledge

●     Mercer Tavern’s Robbie Oram, the master of bringing experience and adventure into his inspired dishes

●     Phil Wilson, Edmonton’s own “Baconhound” who travels around the city in search of our most mouthwatering meals to share his reviews with friends, family, and foodies

●     Ben Chalmers, the magic behind Edmonton’s hugely popular Corso 32

●     Nelvin Reyes, a grill mastermind at the luxurious Pampa Steakhouse who has a passion for producing culinary perfection with every dish

●     Lindsay Porter, El Cortez’s executive chef brings a taste of modern Latin food with a tequila twist

●     Executive Chef Corey Rakowski from 12 Acres showcases his team’s first hand knowledge of growing food and rearing livestock.

●     Levi Biddlecome, our red seal certified Asian Fusion aficionado who has used his impressive record of chef experience to open Attila The HUNgry, Edmonton’s first Asian Fusion food truck

●     Alexei Boldifreff, NAIT alumni and owner of S’WICH Food Truck, who has experience working in some of the city’s finest restaurants and a passion for producing simple dishes with big, bold flavours

Enjoy a weekend chock-full of culinary excellence brought to you by SONiC 102.9, along with everything you need to make your home design and style vision come to life. The Edmonton Fall Home Show is happening October 23-25, 2015 at the Edmonton Expo Centre.

Don't have tickets yet? Buy 'em in advance to save time and money. Right now you can get 2-for-1 tickets via Facebook. Save BIG on tickets and skip the box office line? It doesn't get much better than that!

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What's Cooking at the Jacksonville Home + Patio Show!

Guests at the Jacksonville Home + Patio Show have a couple things in common: they're all looking for ideas, seeking fresh products, hunting the best deals...and the vast majority are foodies who love to entertain at home.

Back by popular demand, the Jacksonville Home + Patio Show will have the Jacksonville Magazine Cooking Stage which will feature daily cooking demonstrations from the area's most popular chefs. Guests can learn techniques, recipes, and of course, sample the goods!

In addition, Food Truck Sunday is back! Visitors can soak up the autumn air while they feast on food truck cuisine and enjoy live entertainment.

Here's a sneak peek of what's cooking on the Jacksonville Magazine Cooking Stage, with featured chef Jay Phelan's popular ratatouille recipe.

Ratatouille

By Chef Jay Phelan, Chef and Owner of J. William Culinary

Ingredients

• 1 cup eggplant, medium dice
• 1 cup zucchini, medium dice
• 1 cup yellow squash, medium dice
• 1 cup ripe tomatoes, medium dice
• 1/8 cup red onion, small dice
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 10 basil leaves, sliced into thin strips
• 1/2 bunch of Italian parsley
• 5 chili flakes
• 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• arugula for garnish, washed and air dried
• zest of one lemon
• juice of one lemon
• salt and black pepper to taste

Directions

Step 1: start with a sauté pan on high heat and add four table spoons of olive oil. When the oil starts to lightly smoke, add the eggplant, garlic, onions, and chili flakes.

Step 2: While stirring with a wooden spoon, let the eggplant cook until it is somewhat sot and the garlic is light brown.

Step 3: Add the zucchini and squash and allow to sauté for 2-3 minutes, stirring often.

Step 4: Incorporate the tomatoes and zest of half a lemon into the ratatouille and reduce the heat to low. Simmer the ratatouille for 7-8 minutes uncovered.

Step 5: Add juice of half a lemon, basil and parsley, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir well, but don't mash the vegetables. The ratatouille should have some texture.

Step 6: Transfer to a large bowl. For presentation, place the arugula and one tablespoon of olive oil, juice of half a lemon, and salt and pepper to taste, in a mixing bowl. Toss lightly.

Step 7: Garnish on top of the ratatouille generously with the arugula salad.

For more recipe ideas and cooking advice you can take home to your kitchen, come to the Jacksonville Home + Patio Show, October 1-4, 2015 at the Prime Osborn Convention Center. Don't have tickets yet? Get 2-for-1 when you visit Home + Garden Events on Facebook.

PRIME OSBORN CONVENTION CENTER
OCTOBER 1-4, 2015.

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