Monday, October 24, 2016

Meet the Broccolis!



It's Halloween week at Mystery Lovers' Kitchen, and I'm itching to try the first two recipes from Mary Jane and Roberta. Interestingly, they hit on two things that I thought about regarding Halloween recipes. Mary Jane considered the needs of the reader, and Roberta worried that her recipe wasn't much of a recipe.

My thoughts went to the harried parents and grandparents. The ones who might not have time to bake and have the lousy luck to live next door to a Natasha (or Martha Stewart) type who creates amazing creepy-crawly masterpieces that are the awe of the neighborhood.

Not that you couldn't do the same. But who has the time?

So, like Roberta, I worry that this isn't much of a recipe, but for Halloween, it isn't so much about a cleverly novel recipe as it is about presentation. To that end, I have a solution for you. The one thing that will propel your regular dishes and your usual recipes to exotic Halloween worthiness.

That's right. ONE THING!

When you stop by the store in a huge hurry, this is the one thing you need to buy.


EYEBALLS!

Don't ask me why, but eyeballs make the difference. You can skip the nose. You can skip the mouth and the teeth. But two (or one or five!) eyeballs change everything.

You can pop them on just about anything edible. Even healthy food! If they won't stay, use a dab of jam as glue. Don't believe me? I offer these for your consideration.



You met The Broccoli family at the beginning of this blog. How cute are they? It's not a well known fact, but baby Broccolis start with one eye and sprout another as they grow older.

Then there's the pumpkin sandwich and the one-eyed ghost sandwich. Use a cookie cutter and make whatever your kid will eat: tuna salad; chicken salad; baloney and cheese; or peanut butter and jam. Add eyes and viola!







Or add them to pudding or applesauce. There's no limit to what can come to life with fun eyeballs!

You can certainly make your own eyeballs, too. I cut pumpkin shapes out of bread to make this super quick and simple French toast. If you don't have a large cookie cutter, make French toast or your favorite pancakes (even if they come from the toaster) and add eyeballs. Instant Halloween!

Quick French Toast

vegetable oil
1 egg
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
sprinkle (pinch) of nutmeg
2 slices bread
1/4 of a banana
anything green (and still edible) in the fridge (broccoli, green pepper, green grape)
eyeballs or chocolate chips
maple syrup or fruit salad

Pour 1-2 tablespoons (eyeball it) vegetable oil into a pan over medium heat. Whisk together the egg, cinnamon, and nutmeg and place the bread into it, one piece at a time to soak it up. Add the bread to the pan and cook until light golden, flip and cook until second side is also light golden.

Slice the banana and cut triangular "eyes". Use the leftovers to cut a few teeth. Cut a tiny "stem" out of a green food as the stem of the pumpkin and place it at the top. Serve with maple syrup and/or fruit salad.



   
Cut bread with a cookie cutter or use the whole slice.
Whisk egg with cinnamon and nutmeg.

With eyeballs.

With chocolate chip eyes.


14 comments:

  1. Krista, the eyeballs on the broccoli made me laugh so hard I spit out my coffee this morning. But I agree, good eyeballs make a difference! And I ok with adding them to the French toast or chocolate pudding!

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is great! Amazing what you can do with a few good eyeballs!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Isn't it amazing? Who would have thought eyes would make such a difference?

      Delete
  3. Eyeballs really do make a difference in the creep factor but I've never thought about adding to broccoli -- love it!!! When I have leftover royal icing from a decorating project I always make eyeballs to keep on hand for cookie or cupcake decorating projects on down the road. Royal icing eyes, once they dry hard, can be stored and used for about forever as long as they are stored away from light and moisture.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kim, that's a brilliant tip! I never considered that. Great idea!!!

      Delete
  4. It's good to have the broccoli eyes number clarified.
    Where else can we go for such special information?!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Libby, you can always rely on Mystery Lovers' Kitchen for the latest in scientific facts!

      Delete
  5. This is great! Yesterday I was searching things to make with "googly eyes" and food was top on the list. Fun and easy!! This year all our treats will have eyes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What fun! I hope you'll post pictures on Facebook. Be sure to @KristaDavis me so I won't miss them!

      Delete
  6. Replies
    1. Add eyeballs and they come alive. Who'd have thought it?

      Delete
  7. This is so much fun, Krista! I must find eyeballs. I see happy kids in my future! Thanks for a wonderful post. Happy Halloween!

    BTW. you too, Roberta! I was out of town yesterday and couldn't comment, but you nailed it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Well, of course eyeballs make the difference! I want them. I haven't seem them in any of my stores, but I'll look.

    ReplyDelete