Happy Halloween

[marutidas]

Greeting on this All Hallows Eve.
What is everyone dressing up as.
I am dressing up like a monkey.
Send pictures if you can.

Hope you get lots of candy

[Lydia]

Not dressing up this year, but I will be baking some halloween cupcakes.

[Mia14]

The holiday came so quickly for me this year and things were so jumbled that I really didn't have time to prepare. Today I'm going out in search of a pumpkin and I'm going to carve it and roast the seeds. Later tonight, feeding the trick-or-treaters. Last year we didn't get a single one despite a well-decorated and well-lit house! I don't have a costume, but my girl and I talked about going as Gepetto (sp?) and Pinocchio.

[Jamie McDaniel]

Something silly I put together about 3 years ago.

www.soulforcelexington.org/soulforce_halloween.html

[Jennifer5]

Jamie that is too cool! I love the pumpkin!!!

Halloween! Altough people have been trying to convince me that I'm getting to old for trick-or-treating I'm going anyway.... with my sister and a few friends. I'm supposed to be a pirate, but the costume has gone horribly wrong and looks horrible... but it's the only one I have so I don't care, I'm going anyway, I can't miss this day, dressing up and taking candy from strangers only comes once every 365 days.

*If I can get batteries before tonight I'll take pictures.

[Dash]

I dressed as "V" from "V for Vendetta"--quite the opposite of nonviolent activists....but creepy.

The handsome man beside me is one of my young baritone friends. He likes the girls, but his hands never fail to find my waist....

I like to keep him nearby...hahahah!!

[Daniel]

I'm sitting next to a lady friend who also happens to me my writing teacher and is wearing a Venetian mask. The cigarette holder is something I found at the flea market last year and the fake cigarette is from the theatre where I work. I don't smoke! (well....I only cheat a little in Carmen on occasion). She just looked like she needed it to complete the look. We had pumpkin stew (pumpkin and poblano peppers and pomegranates wih cumin and tumeric) and the street outside was awash with kids and the window was open because it was very warm. Having a party gives me a great excuse to clean the apartment. I didn't dress up much - I had the mask on hand- since I was preparing and cooking like mad (I like that actually) until the witching hour.

Originally Posted by stew

Beef and Pumpkin Stew with Pomegranates

One 2 pound cooking pumpkin, seeded, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes

3 poblano chiles, 1 pomegranate, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 tablespoons butter, 2 garlic cloves crushed, 1-1/2 pounds beef chuck roast cut into cubes, 1 tablespoon flour, 1 teaspoon ground tumeric, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1/2 cup dry read wine, 1 cup beef broth, 1 cup water

Steam the pumpkin cubes until just tender, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat a boiler or gals grill, or light a fire in a charcoal grill. Place the chiles on a broiler pan or grill rack and broil or grill until the skins are charred and blistered, 2 or three minutes on each side. Transfer the chiles to a plastic bag, close it, and let them sweat for about 5 minutes. Remove from the bag and slit lengthwise. Remove the stems and seeds, and using your fingers, peel off the skins. Cut the chiles lengthwise into 1/2 inch wide strips and set aside.

Cut the pomegranate into half and using your fingers, remove enough of the seeds to measure 1/4 cup. Using a juice extractor or reamer, juice the pomegranate halves. Strain the juice to remove any bits of the bitter white pith. Set the seeds and juice aside.

In a deep, heavy saucepan over medium heat, heat the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter. Add the garlic and saute for a minute of two. Add the beef and saute, stirring often, until brown on all sides, about 7 or 8 minutes.

Sprinkle the flour, tuneric, cumin, 1/4 teaspoon of the salt, an 1/4 teaspoon of the cayenne over the meat. Stir the meat to brown the flour and spices, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the red wine and stir to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Add the beef and water, reduce heat to low, and simmer until the beef is fork-tender, 1-1/2 to 2 hours.

While the stew is cooking, melt the remaining butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the pumpkin and increase heat to medium high. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne and saute until browned, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove and set aside.

When the meat is tender, add the pumpkin, chile strips, and pomegranate juice. Simmer of about 5 minutes, the serve, topping each serving with a sprinkle of the pomegrante seeds.

Serves 4 to 6

[BruceChris]

That the creator of "V" was doing his best to visualive the Michael Jackson from Hell?

[Giancarlo]

I was at West Hollywood this year. It was fun. There were like half a million people there. But of course there were a few christian fundies there trying to cause a ruckus with their misguided signs and incorrect beliefs, waving their signs of hate. I'm tired of people like that. They couldn't stay away and leave us alone... they just had to get in our faces. But for the most part, everything was cool.