When I was a young child, we celebrated Halloween by dressing up in a bin bag, using hairspray to make my hair all volumised and bedraggled and my face was painted green. Every year, I was a witch. We would go to an event held at Shugborough Hall (20 plus miles away) where we would do apple bobbing and see lots of other people dressed in costumes. I’d go back to school and tell my friends and most of them hadn’t done anything for the event and couldn’t believe that we had.
Fast forward to now, years later, when I’m a Mum myself, Halloween has advanced so much more here in the UK. Aisles full of Halloween costumes and attire, various Halloween Sweets that you can purchase, banners, balloons, grazing boxes based around Halloween. You name it and you can probably get it. Even Pumpkin Picking is a huge thing, just look at Instagram this weekend and see how many people headed to a PYO field. If you are Midlands based and are still hoping to go, do check out our PYO Pumpkins Midlands guide here: https://smallhousebigtrips.co.uk/pyopumpkinfields/ . We have tried both Essington Farm (https://smallhousebigtrips.co.uk/pumpkinpickingatessington/) and Lower Drayton Farm this year (https://www.instagram.com/p/CGcpFcrlWGO/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link) . Halloween is now something fun to be celebrated and most people are on board. I think this year, 2020, children are even more excited, after what has been a hard year for many.
Halloween doesn’t just stop at places to go and decorations, Halloween is a time to have fun food too. Can you make your Halloween meal scary?
We gave it a try using Ye Olde Oak Hot Dogs. Currently on sale in all supermarkets, including Aldi on the Halloween Special Buys for just 99p a can. Perfect if you want to use our Chopped Off Fingers recipe.
Recipe:
- Empty One Tin of Ye Olde Oak Hot Dogs (American Style or Fiery) into an empty saucepan (add the brine from the tin too)
- Place your saucepan onto the hob and heat gently for about 5 minutes. If you don’t have a hob, you can add the hotdogs with the brine into a microwaveable bowl, cover loosely and cook on high (850w) for 60-90 seconds
- Remove the sausages and allow to cool for a couple of minutes until they are at a temperature where you can hold them without injury
- Get a sharp knife and cut out a fingernail at the top of the sausage
- Using the same knife, draw lines to act as knuckles
- Place the finger into a hot dog bun
- Add tomato ketchup to look like blood
What other recipes can you think of?
We discovered hot dog mummies, burger pumpkins and a fresh fruit platter pumpkin. How great do these look too?
Share this with your friends if you can. Every one should have some chopped up fingers for Halloween Dinner.
Disclaimer: The hot dogs were gifted to us, in return for a Halloween Recipe