Spiders, Ghosts, Frankenstein and plain Cookies and Cupcakes

Fall is here.  October happens to be a favorite month for many.

It ends in one of the most scariest days ~
Halloween!

I admit I am a huge fan of Halloween.  Dressing up as someone/thing else, getting a bag full of candy from going door to door, going to parties and just being wild and crazy.  But the best part is all the wonderful creations one can bake up and I don't just mean food!


My sister who lives in Chesterfield, Missouri goes all out decorating her home for Halloween.  She has 3 grandchildren under age 11 ~ Kath is a hit throughout the neighborhood.  Spiders, eerie music, elaborate craved pumpkins (both from grandkids and 'Chef Michael' - my #1nephew), witches hung from the garage overhang, scarecrows lining the front yard, plus a ton more I don't have time to list ~ Well your getting the picture!  It's scary!  And kids love it!


I happen to live in an older neighborhood here in Anchorage, Alaska - we also usually have SNOW for Halloween so it's even more exciting to see how the costumes go over the parka's and snow boots!

Thus living in an older section of town most of the kids are now in the final years of high school or most have gone on to college where I'm sure the Halloween parties have more than just pumpkins glowing on the tables.  We seldom get Trick or Treaters.  But I always have a bowl of mixed candy bars for the handful that decide to visit.

My mind goes more to what I could bake for Halloween and other holidays that soon will be following.

I have been thinking about purchasing a certain cookbook with all sorts of recipes for little cupcakes that are decorated into spiders, pumpkins, Frankenstein and so forth. I still may go back and get that book...right now I did up some simple favorites of mine.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies 

filled 

with 

orange cream frosting.

Surf and Turf Love Affair

We are a divided house of who likes any seafood and who like redmeat.

Even as a child not even in school I had a love affair with seafood.  I adore any fish, shellfish, and just about anything that moves in salt or fresh water.  I ate red meat although it seemed a chore. 

As I grew into an adult my red meat always had to be well cooked and I was very picky about what parts got cooked or eaten.

Seafood still remained a favorite with shrimp, crab, scallops, lobster and any type fish being the choices.  Now living in a state that 3/4th's of its border is ocean I'm in heaven.  Plus fresh water fish such as Salmon is a just about an everyday affair.  I believe I have about 50 different recipes for cooking salmon.  Then there is halibut Oh My another favorite.  These two fish will have to wait for another post I'm sorry to say.

Moving on ~

I've gotten to that stage in life where I've learned the finer arts of cooking to excite my taste buds and how to entertain those who I serve.  Plus I can pick or choose what, when and how I eat.

Sharing my life with a man who prefers red meat over seafood I have to find balance for both of us.

So the other night I cooked favorites for both of us.

SURF & TURF

I selected for me a  1/2 pound of Large Sea Scallops.

For him a  nice thick Sirloin Steak.

Sea Scallops correctly cooked are heavenly.  Wrapped in foil with a pinch of salt, pepper, and butter place on the grill are wonderful.  Pan seared in butter are heavenly.

Sirloin Steak on the grill is heavenly with fresh herbs, seasoning and a marinate.  When weather does not permit one to grill (a rainy day that we experience the night I wanted to grill his steak) a quick broil will work nicely also.

                                                                                  Pan Seared Scallops YUMOooooo!

                         Sirloin Steak with Teriyaki Marinate -medium rare