Welcome to Foodie Friday, dear reader. This weekend has been highly anticipated in the Smay household. Because it is the last weekend for The Ligonier Country Market? No. It is the release of Disney’s Hocus Pocus II. I ADORE Hocus Pocus. I remember going to see it in theaters in my early 20s. It is just the right amount of thrill, scare, comedy, and magic. The Bean and I watch this movie every year at Halloween time. It is part of our Halloween traditions, and we love it.
I know I am not alone in my love for this iconic Halloween movie. I have been searching Pinterest for months, planning food ideas, decorations, and matching shirts in anticipation of a watch party. My dear friend Jenna invited us to her house to watch Hocus Pocus II outside by a bonfire using her outdoor projector! EEEEEK! I am so excited! I believe this will make #2 on my list of 50 fun things!
Jenna is very creative and talented. This is also true for her culinary skills. She is making a Hocus Pocus charcuterie board, book brownies, and themed cocktails. She took all my good ideas. However, I probably won’t feel like cutting a bunch of fruits and vegetables into cute tiny pieces after our last market. Sigh, the market sucks the life right out of me. Also true, whatever Jenna does turns out great. I could see my attempts to recreate Pinterest ideas going south, fast.
Instead, I will make witches brew soup in the crockpot, broomstick bread sticks, and pumpkin dip with ginger snaps. These are all easy recipes I can confidently recreate ahead of time. What better time to relish hot, comforting soup than sitting outside, wrapped up in blankets by a bonfire watching the sequel to the well-loved classic Halloween movie? This is going to be autumnal perfection!
I have decided to share the recipes I will use this weekend for Jenna’s watch party. These recipes are not my original recipes. They are recipes I have collected and used over the years for my own Halloween gatherings. When I lived in the little victorian town of Brookville, I invited my nephew, niece, and God sons to trick or treat every Halloween. I would make a warm, Halloween-themed meal, and then we would walk around that beautiful little town trick or treating. Once The Bean came along, we took The Bean trick or treating with the big kids. I have many fond memories of Halloween spent in Brookville.
Without further delay, the perfect Halloween recipes for the perfect Halloween movie watch party. Enjoy!
Crockpot Witches Brew
Ingredients:
1 lb. Lean Ground Beef Browned and Drained
1 lb. Loose Italian Sausage Browned and Drained
3-4 Carrots Sliced Into Pumpkin Shapes
3 Celery Stalks Diced
2 Cups Diced Golden Potatoes
1 Large Leek Diced
1 Tsp. Minced Garlic
1 TBLS. Italian Seasoning
¾ Tsp. Salt
¼ Tsp. Pepper
10.5 oz. Can Campbell’s French Onion Soup
10.5 oz. Can Campbell’s Condensed Cream of Tomato Soup
1.5 Cups of Water
32 oz. Beef Broth
10 White Mushrooms Cut In Half With A Face Carved Into Each Half
Directions:
Add all ingredients to the crockpot, except the mushrooms—cook on high for four hours or low for eight hours. When ten minutes of cook time is left, prepare the mushroom faces using a straw to create eyes. Cut out a tiny sliver for a mouth and make a slit for the nose. Add mushroom faces to the soup and cook for an additional ten minutes.
Broomstick Bread Sticks
Ingredients:
1 Can 11 oz each Pillsbury™ refrigerated original breadsticks (12 breadsticks)
2 TBLS. Olive Oil
3 TBLS. Romano Cheese
3 TBLS. Parmigiano-Reggiani
Directions:
Heat Oven to 350 degrees
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Unroll breadstick dough into two sections—separate breadsticks.
Twist breadsticks three times; place 1 inch apart on ungreased nonstick cookie sheets.
Twist and make the rope into 8-inch-long, slightly press and flatten the other side, and cut it into ½- 1-inch pieces around 5-6. And tie a small rope around the tip, brush with olive oil, sprinkle the cheese, and bake it in a preheated oven for 11 minutes or until it is slightly golden.
Pumpkin Dip With Ginger Snaps
Ingredients:
4 Ounces Cream Cheese, Softened 1 cup Powdered Sugar 1/4 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream 3/4 cup Pumpkin 2 Tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice 1 TBLS. Maple Syrup Gingersnaps
Directions:
Using an electric mixer, whip together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and heavy whipping cream for about 2-3 minutes. Add the pumpkin, spices, and maple syrup – whip again for 2-3 minutes (the longer you whip, the more fluffy it becomes). Add a drizzle of maple syrup and crushed gingersnap crumbs on top for looks. I serve my dip in a hollowed-out small pumpkin lined with plastic wrap. Dip with gingersnaps or apple slices!
I found these easy, convenient recipes on the following websites: The Magical Slow Cooker, Zesty South Indiana Kitchen, and Pinch of Yum. Sometimes cute and convenient outways made-from-scratch. The above recipes are cute, kid-friendly, and party-wow-worthy. I hope you enjoy them. What are you making if you are attending a Hocus Pocus II watch party? I’d love to read your clever ideas. On this fun, autumnal weekend, stay safe, be smart, do something fun, and keep washing your hands.
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