Halloween is right around the corner; and many of us will be attending parties this weekend, including yours truly. But, for those of you hosting Halloween parties, here are several great cocktail recipes to ensure your guests have a ghoulishly good time.

Dracula’s Kiss (Top Left)

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz. SKYY Infusions Blood Orange
• 1 oz. Blood Orange Puree
• 1.5 oz. Blueberry Pomegranate Juice
• .5 oz. Lemon Juice
• .5 oz. Simple Syrup

Preparation. Combine all ingredients, shake hard, strain into a martini glass. Garnish with an orange.

The Creepy Crawler (Top Right)

Ingredients

• 2 oz. SKYY Infusions Blood Orange
• 1 tsp of passion fruit syrup
• .5 oz. of orange juice
• .5 oz. of pineapple juice

Preparation. Shake all ingredients, pour into a low-ball glass, and fill with ice. Top with a hibiscus flower and a teaspoon of hibiscus flower syrup.

Midori’s Spider Kiss (Bottom Left)

Ingredients

• 1 part Midori Melon Liqueur
• 1 part SKYY Vodka
• Juice from half lemon
• Chocolate syrup
• Grenadine
• Chocolate dipped orange slice for garnish

Preparation. Draw a chocolate web into a martini glass. Place in freezer and chill for a ghostly effect. Shake all ingredients and strain into glass. For a blood effect, drizzle grenadine down the side of the glass. Garnish with a chocolate dipped orange slice.

The Itsy Bitsy (Bottom Right)

Ingredients

• 1 oz. X-Rated Fusion Liqueur
• .5 oz. SKYY Vodka
• 1.5 oz. Black Raspberry Liqueur
• 3 blackberries

Preparation. Muddle 2-3 blackberries in a shaker. Place remaining ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled martini glass rimmed with black rimming sugar. Garnish with blackberries on a cocktail pick.

Cocktail Recipes and Images: Uptown Magazine

Now that your Halloween party bar will be stocked with chillingly delicious cocktails. Serve your guests a tasty Pie a la Apple dessert.

Image: The Pretty Domestic Kitchen (Smile!)

Pie a la Apple

Ingredients

• 5-6 Granny Smith apples that can stand on their own
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• Pie Crust (homemade or pre-made)

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F.

Preparation. Cut the top of 4 apples off and discard. Remove the inside of each apple with a spoon or melon baller very carefully. Remove skin from remaining apple(s) and slice very thinly. These apple pieces will give you the additional filling needed to fill the four apples you are baking.

Mix sliced apples with sugars and cinnamon in a bowl. If you prefer more or less cinnamon make adjustments as desired. Same goes for the sugar. Scoop sliced apples into hollow apples.

Roll out pie crust and slice into 1/4 inch strips. I added a strip inside the top of the apple, which can be seen in the photo above.

Cover the top of the apple in a lattice pattern with pie crust strips. Place apples in an 8×8 pan. If your apples are big you may need a bigger pan. Add just enough water to the cover the bottom of the pan. Cover with foil and bake for 20-25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes or until crust is golden brown and sliced apples are soft. Serves 4.

We are big on holidays at Maison Pretty Domestic; and never miss an opportuntiy to decorate with the appropriate theme. Check out our carved pumpkins from last year and this weekend.

You can pick up a Pumpkin Masters carving kit from Ace Hardware or your local grocery store. We’ve used the same set each year. Here’s a hint, purchase two kits, the tools are a little flimsy.

I hope that I’ve given you some fun ideas for your Halloween celebration. Leave me a comment and share your favorite Halloween cocktail recipes and decoration ideas.

Until Then, Trick & Treat … It really can be both!

~ L.

The Pretty Domestic