Halloween Queso Dip

This weekend, Shaun and I really got into the Halloween spirit. After meeting for happy hour after work on Friday near our apartment, we spotted the marquee at the Loews Landmark Jersey Theater advertising a showing on Saturday night of Nosferatu. Nosferatu is a silent film from the 1920's that essentially copied the story of Bram Stoker's Dracula. In fact, many original copies of the film were destroyed due to copyright infringement, though a few survived. Cool right? And this version would be shown at the Loews Jersey with a live organ accompaniment. We couldn't wait to get in the Halloween spirit in our very own neighborhood with this rare experience!

Imagine our surprise when we arrived for the 8:20 showing to a line wrapped around the theater, block after block. The restored theater holds 3,100 people, and I think it was almost full for Saturday's show! There's just something about an old theater that really makes a movie feel magical. Loews Jersey did not disappoint.

We had passed by the theater countless times since we moved into our new apartment, we had yet to see a movie there. The theater was unbelievable and the film was just the right amount of spook and old-world cinema charm. Oh and the live organ wasn't too shabby either. It was the perfect way to kick off the Halloween season. And you know I wouldn't forget to mention the food. The theater sold boxes of hot, salty popcorn for $1 a pop. Now this is a Saturday night I could get used to. 3-D and CGI, who?

Meanwhile, it got me thinking about all the delicious Halloween eats and all the fun ways to incorporate holiday colors into food for upcoming Halloween events. So this week I'll be bringing you some fun yet grown-up ideas to incorporate the season into your own parties! Yesterday, though neither the Giants or Jets were playing, I whipped up some queso dip with blue corn tortilla chips for football Sunday, you know, to mimic the colors of the season. Festive, no? It was warm, cheesy and had all the right moves to grace any Halloween party.

Queso Dip
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp flour
1 C milk
1 1/2 C cheddar cheese, grated
6 slices American cheese, cut into pieces
1/8 tsp chili powder
1 can Rotel, I used mild
1 can chili, if desired

In a small saucepan, bring the milk almost to a boil. In a separate saucepan, melt the butter and then whisk in the flour until it is combined and a light paste is formed (this is a roux). Whisk the milk into the roux over medium low heat until all is combined and the mixture starts to thicken. Whisk in the cheddar cheese until completely combined (this should happen quickly) and then the American cheese.

Once all combined, add the chili powder, Rotel and chili, if using. Mix altogether and serve. I used a baby crock pot (not shown) which keeps the dip warm, but if serving immediately, a small serving dish should work too. Keep the rest of the mixture on low on the stove so the small dish can be refilled.

 

I thought that starting with a standard Bechamel (white) sauce would be the best way to keep the mixture creamy and saucy, rather than thick and lumpy - that's the roux/scalded milk mixture for ya. And I'm happy to report that I was right! It was creamy without being thick and clumpy, which is exactly how it would have been had I not used this as the base of my sauce. And if you're feeling non-meaty, simply eliminate the chili since it was just as delicious without it. But don't skimp on the Rotel!

So there you have it. An easy, grown-up way to add some Halloween fare to your upcoming party or gathering. Oh and it works just as well as a Sunday Game Day Eats dish too! So what I want to know is...what's on your list of delish eats to make for Halloween? Are you hosting? Or bringing some delectable grub to a party?

Halloween (Candy) Hangover: Still Nursing?

And this time I'm not talking alcohol. I, for one, am still hopped up on Halloween candy and trying to adjust to Daylight Savings (ever notice how even though we gain an hour, it still makes you tired? Am I the only one?). While traditionally I've never been a candy or chocolate fan per se, this year I was beyond psyched for the chance to pick out candy for Trick or Treaters...bottom line is that all I really wanted this Halloween was a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup and gosh darn it, I was going to get it. Of course, it didn't occur to me until Saturday afternoon that I actually had to purchase candy, so off to the store I went, only to find picked over, bare bins of small candy bags - no giant family sized bags to speak of. Quietly, I was overjoyed because it meant I could pick the candy I wanted instead of variety pack where I generally don't care for all of the options. Case in point, earlier that week I saw one bag containing Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Kit Kats...and Whoppers. You had me at Reese's and Kit Kats, but for me, Whoppers just aren't making the cut (sorry Mom). Instead, I pick out a veritable palette pleasing variety of my own.

$20 on 6 bags of candy later, here's my Halloween candy bowl breakdown:
Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Minis (couldn't find the big size! Grrr!)
Take Five
Milky Way
Snickers Minis
Butterfingers (somehow this fabulous candy bar was almost lost in my childhood brain, until I stumbled upon the picked over bags at A & P)
Butterfinger Crisps
3 Musketeers (a late addition by Shaun)

Since I did the candy buying this year, and Shaun is never one for chocolate (even less so than me) I picked out all of my own favorites (except for Milky Way and 3 Musketeers...though Shaun generally isn't a candy craver, I know he prefers the Milky Way nougat and despises the Reese's 'fake' peanut butter. I say, Yum! however.) And obviously I wasn't going to give out candy to young children without personally taste testing each variety...just to make sure they were all up to standard.

Though I was stoked for the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, I'm thinking I should have buckled down and went with the famed giant holiday version - The Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkin. The minis just don't pack enough peanut butter goodness. Instead, I'm claiming Take Five as the clear winner here. Chocolate, Reese's Peanut Butter, pretzel bits, caramel...this candy bar basically has it all. And in case you haven't noticed, I'm a sucker for the sweet 'n savory and this bar packed it all into a few little bites. I applaud you, makers of Take Five.

The only problem now is, Halloween has passed and I may have overestimated the number of Trick or Treaters we'd get. I've eaten approximately my body weight in chocolate. What to do with the leftovers?
Bring 'em to work? Send 'em with Shaun to work? Knock on doors finding little children to give more candy?

So how about it...What do you do with your Halloween candy leftovers? Go to town on 'em? Get 'em out of the house like they're on fire?

And most importantly, what was your favorite candy this Halloween?