Nibbles of Tidbits, a Food Blog

The true annual treat is spending time with best friends decorating Halloween Cookies, Cupcakes and Candy.  Each year we take home trays and boxes of homemade and hand decorated treats after a fun evening of trickery — It’s quite a funny bunch (below).

I’m truly grateful for all!

This year’s decorating ideas are posted here and others from previous years are linked here.

We’re no design professionals, but have a lot of laughs and the Cookies always taste great.

It’s also possible that you may learn how not to decorate your Halloween Cookies here. 😉

Halloween Appetizer Idea — Deviled Eggs with Olive Spiders.  You can figure it out.

Happy Halloween from Nibbles of Tidbits and friends.

Happy Halloween — If ever there was a time to carve, decorate or eat a Pumpkin, it’s now.

This year especially, Pumpkins are available in a lot more colors than orange.

Though it kicks off scary, Pumpkin’s purpose is a magnificent thing — It’s simply stylish & tasty.

I cherish its Seeds, Soups and Pies in Fall (or anytime at all).

They’re diverse on the table as decor, a side or dessert, or as the table for snacks and apps.

Several large and small examples are posted for reference.

Post was inspired by this day and our food coloring series — Some shown here.

Photo credits are here, here, here, here, here, here and here — Thanks!

More keep landing here to view our Halloween Cupcake and Cookie decorating ideas.

I’ve posted much about it previously — A link to all is here.

Pictured are the latest and hopefully greatest, though certainly not professional samples.

Trick or Eat is adopted from the Trick or Eat Dinner at The Cellar in Fullerton.

Happy Halloween from Nibbles of Tidbits!

Growing up some of the best times were spent trick-or-treating and trading Candy.

Now it’s fun to decorate and give away Cookies and Cupcakes to/from/with friends/family.

The kids love them too — Halloween is a creative time.

Enjoy the possibilities — Eyeballs bring anything to life.

Halloween Cookies — I’ve decorated a lot of them.  Samples (visual only) are linked here, if you’re searching for Halloween Cookie decorating ideas.  This year I’m most excited about the Candy Corn Cookies shown on the Howdini Video above.  They look credible and are so cute.

I’ve added Candy Corn Cookies to my ‘To Make List’ since they’re too easy to make, a bonus.

It’s Halloween all around the neighborhood.

Trick or preferably a TREAT.

Do you think these houses give out good CANDY?

Some decorations emphasize the scary and others are simply stylish.

Lots of cobwebs, always a Pumpkin, and some straight up facades amuse.

And the house ship takes the Candy. 

Below might be my favorite and some were just too gross to post.

Fancy cobweb work was happening this year — Next year it’ll cover the whole house.

Ralph’s Halloween Bakery Cupcakes for a party on the way out.  They go over well.

Now on to Orange November with more Pumpkins and remnants of Trick-or-Treat Candy.

We see that you’ve been searching for Halloween ideas, thus we’ve gathered our previous posts and linked them here for easy access.  How about some Fruit Punch with skeleton shaped Ice Cubes?  The hands are easily made with rubber gloves filled with water and then frozen, but you’ll need to find a creative cast to make the face.  Do you plan to decorate Halloween Cookies or Cupcakes?  If so, several ideas can be found here, here, here, and here.  Are you looking for the perfect Vodka for your Halloween Party?  How about Dan Aykroyd’s Crystal Head?  Or how about a Trick-Or-Eat Dinner at The Cellar in Fullerton?  We went a couple years ago, though unsure if it’s happening again this year.  We’ll report back about it and other Halloween ideas.  Who’s gonna check me Boo?  Happy Halloween.

Note:  Thanks goes to our Guest Blogger Steven Woo in Washington, DC for the photo.

Happy Halloween!  These Cupcakes can easily be made using any Chocolate Cake Mix — Just add Frosting to a pastry bag with a Basket Weave Tip, then pipe it back and forth strategically over and around Edible Eyes.  That’s it.  Since I got the flu this year (from the flu shot mind you, no mas para mi), I was sadly unable to participate in our annual Halloween Cookie Decorating Party, thus post links from last year here and the year before here.

We’ll be making lots of Cookies, Cupcakes and Halloween goodies to be posted here soon.  Until then, if looking for more Halloween action than that, I just published a list of unique events happening throughout the county.  It’s posted with links on Examiner.com, where I write as Orange County Food Examiner.  Above photos were taken by Steven Woo at a DC Halloween Party last year — Hover above to learn more.

Although Halloween is officially over, our DC Correspondent, Steven Woo sent us a few photos we just had to post.  He reports:  “Arghhh — I was in the Port O’ Baltimore for a Halloween Party, hosted by a zombie bride and groom.  They had some very creative decorations, including a skull ice sculpture that chilled the punch kettle, chili with and without flesh, mad scientist lab jars (cauliflower = brain, grapes = eyes, fennel = heart) and an inflatable coffin with ice cold beverages.  The last shot was some of my intake for the evening.  Are Rolaids available in fun size?”

Thanks Steven — It looks like it was a morbidly fun party.  They certainly were creative with the use of food.  Hopefully that’s not a real finger on the chopping board!  And I agree that Rolaids (like candy) should come in fun size packs too.

If interested, be sure to mark your calendar to try Taco Bell’s New Black Jack Taco FREE on Halloween.  After dark (6PM to be exact), Taco Bell will be giving away its spooky black shelled Taco – (1) per customer.  Since we’ll hopefully be enjoying a costume party during that time, we tried one on our own dime ($0.89 to be exact) and it’s not bad.  Three of us tried one this day and all thought it was relatively good.  Aside from the shell that doesn’t taste any different than a tan one, the Sauce makes it different and flavorful.  We may have another before its limited time expires.

As a fairly new tradition, a group of us get together to decorate Halloween Cookies.  These photos are from our 2nd annual gathering.  Above the Wicked Witch of the West is melting into several Cupcakes — They’re made with green frosting, a upside-down Fudge Striped Cookie, a Hershey’s Kiss and orange piped icing.  And the other is what the Wicked Witch of the East must have looked like after the house landed on her.

All the professional looking goodies in this post were prepared by our host, Loretta Shaw (a Personal Trainer by day and Creative Baker by night).  She seamlessly prepared the Chocolate Dipped Oreos and Graham Crackers, the White Chocolate Tangerine Bark and the Eyeball, Finger, Hand and Gummy Worm Cupcakes, while the rest of us decorated the Cookies she baked.

As noted in previous posts, decorating holiday Cookies, Cupcakes and Candies is a fun way to spend time with friends.  We have a blast, then get to take home the goodies to our awaiting families, who are much appreciative.  Enjoy the ideas and have your own Cookie party.

Be sure to check back every year, because we 5 Cookies (and another BFF missing from the photo) plan to keep decorating edible Cookies for many years to come.  Loretta (middle) is located in Orange County — If interested in having professional looking (and tasting) goodies prepared for your holiday party, please leave a detailed comment here and we’ll get back to you.  Happy Halloween!

Crystal Head Vodka— I haven’t yet tried it, but love the bottle.  It’s created by Dan Aykroyd.  Inspired by his long-time fascination with ghosts, spirits, and other un-worldly presences, as well as his interest in the legend of the 13 Crystal Skulls, screen legend Dan Aykroyd has created Crystal Head, a super-premium Vodka that’s quadruple distilled and then triple crystal-filtered through Herkimer diamonds, which are said to emit positive energy.  Dan’s favorite cocktail for Halloween is The Cranium: 

It’s 1 ½ oz. of Crystal Head Vodka, Cranberry Juice and Grenadine — Pour Crystal Head Vodka and Cranberry Juice over ice, then add a splash of Grenadine (unstirred) on top.  Garnish with a Blood Orange slice and you’re ready for Halloween.  It makes me want to party.

They’re so easy to make.  Just dip Oreo Cookies in melted Milk Chocolate and vuala.  To add the contrasting stripes, melt orange Chocolate pieces and drizzle over the Cookies.  We got ours from Michaels — They offer various colors.  The Pumpkin and BOO Cookies were made with Chocolate molds.  If you’ve never tried a Chocolate Dipped Oreo Cookie, you’re missing out.  It’s a simple tasty treat.  Happy Halloween to you!

Related Links:

http://www.ineedtext.com/FoodBlog/?p=1214

http://www.michaels.com/art/online/home

Decorating Halloween Treats is now a super fun tradition with my best friends.  One friend makes all the basics and the rest of us just get to show up and decorate them.  I’m one of the lucky decorators. 🙂

The Cupcake topping in the main photo is made from ground Oreo Cookies and the goodies in the bags above are Milk Chocolate dipped Oreo Cookies.  The Halloween Cookies are homemade with my friend’s favorite Sugar Cookie recipe, then cut into pumpkins, bats, witches, cats, ghosts, Frankenstein and more.  The Cupcakes are Chocolate.  All are fresh baked and yummy.

Above are just a few of the tools and below is just some of the fun.  After all, we each get to take home trays of Cookies, Cupcakes and Chocolates.  It’s a lot of laughs too, especially with this crazy bunch. 🙂

I rarely post people pictures on this blog, since it’s all about the food, but I’m wearing my Foodbuzz Apron, so I’d thought I’d let them know.  Thanks Foodbuzz!  And a big THANKS to Loretta for doing all the hard work so we can just show up and have fun.

Related Link:

http://www.foodbuzz.com/

My husband, Matt recently went on a 3/4 day sport fishing vessel called The San Diego and caught some nice-sized Yellowtail.  He brought home approximately twenty pounds of fillets and one whole Yellowtail for smoking.  It was Operation Yellowtail at our house.  We prepared several dishes immediately, gave a few fillets to neighbors and co-workers and froze the rest.

The San Diego is known as one of the best sport fishing vessels in San Diego and Matt agrees. He loves fishing and even holds a state record for catching the largest California Sheephead Fish at 30lbs., 8oz., from his kayak in 2009.  It was quite impressive, like the Yellowtail above.

As shown, we smoked the whole Yellowtail for 4 1/2 hours and it turned out amazing.

It was tender and flaky with the perfect amount of smoke flavor.

Smoked Yellowtail is a real treat with Cocktail Sauce, Lemon Caper Dill Sauce, Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Cream Cheese, Red Onions, Capers, Pickles, Crackers, Red Bell Peppers and Pickles.

On the first day, I made Ceviche and Poke with a few of the Yellowtail fillets.

The Ceviche was simply made with Red Onions, Red Bell Peppers, Jalapenos, Cilantro, Lime and Lemon Juice — The Yellowtail marinated quickly and was ready to eat in 15 minutes.

Another batch of chopped Yellowtail was mixed with Soy Sauce, Ponzu Sauce, grated Ginger and Green Onions to make Poke, which was pretty much ready to eat immediately too.

We grilled Yellowtail fillets and ate ’em with a Mango Salsa made with fresh cut Mango, Red Bell Peppers, Red Onions, Jalapenos, Cilantro and Lime Juice — It was all so fresh tasting.

We fried Yellowtail fillets to have with leftover Lemon Caper Dill and Cocktail Sauce.

Yellowtail fared well with all preparations — Raw (Hamachi), rare, smoked, grilled and fried.

The rest was frozen to later prepare differently — Perhaps bake, stew and/or broil, etc.

Preparation of the frozen Yellowtail fillets shall be posted as updates below.

Yellowtail Recipe Update:  Yellowtail Chowder.  Check back for more to be linked here.

To me, Veterans and Active Duty Military matter the most — Thank you for your sacrifice!  It’s because of that I live free.  And because of that, they’re most deserving of a FREE meal at Applebee’s this coming Veteran’s Day.  Nice job Applebee’s.  See their special menu here.

The 2 for $20 meal — It’s a real deal at Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar.

Right now at Applebee’s you get (1) Appetizer and (2) full size Entrees for $20 – See MENU.

This was our first time to an Applebee’s and we learned it’s hipper than we thought.

It’s a welcoming place for the young and the old — I like that.  Its full Bar helps too.

We happened upon “$5 Sangria Saturdays” and appreciated the generous size glass too.

For an Appetizer, we opted for the Spinach & Artichoke Dip and would do so again.

And for Entrees we chose the Chipotle Cream Steak & Shrimp and the Three Cheese Chicken Penne.  Both were good.  Top Sirloin was served as the Steak (above) and it was tender, a must for any Steak — I never like to chew and chew and chew a Steak.

The ‘Welcome Back!’ sign shall apply next time, since we’d go back for this deal.

Cheers to 2 for $20 at Applebee’s and other specials like it — The service, atmosphere and lighting was pleasant too.  We also like the T.G.I. Friday’s 3-Course Menu for (2) for $20.  And Chili’s Grill & Bar has a $20 Dinner for Two that we plan to try (and report on) soon.

They were easy to make, but it seems the Sugar Cookie Dough I used (Pillsbury) isn’t conducive to the recipe shown below and linked here — The Candy Corn Cookies baked up well-formed on the video, but my wannabes didn’t end up as triangularly cute or colorful.

The pictured Cookies didn’t stay triangular and basically baked into blobs.

The wannabes were entertaining to make and not bad to eat, but not what I wanted.

Our Food Coloring Series kicked off with orange to spotlight Orange County Food Blogs, then explored shades of purple, yellow, green, blue, red, white, black, brown, and now PINK. 

Pink is sweet, tart and familiar to me — “All of her lovers all talk of her notes.”  Indeed they do, but we talk food here.  I’d guess that to be true in the lead photo too.  Pretty in pink.

Pictured is a collection of pink favorites and parallels — Continuing top down it goes.

A Pink Grapefruit Salad, Beet Juice as a dye, and a path I’d love to walk.

Beef (Rib Eye Steak), well qualified for the brown, red (when less cooked) and pink posts.

Have you tried Dragon Fruit?  I haven’t yet, but plan to.  How about you?

Not exactly my dream kitchen, but I like, especially the mixer I’ve yet to buy.

Lick?

I still eat Cotton Candy at the OC Fair.

Pink Lemonade for a Garden Party to reminisce with old friends.

Always time to donate $ to find a cure for a nuisance that ruins too many lives.

Watermelon Ice Cream Cake.

Part of the dining community under the wondrous sea.

Cupcakes made by our very own Kids in the Kitchen.

Cured salmon, another shade of pink.

Adorable miniature bites in pink — I always fall for tiny things.  They’re so cute!

A refreshingly beautiful Gelatin mold to see, couldn’t find the recipe.

Cheers to sharing Cupcakes and Milkshakes together.

Black is the new black — Continuing our Food Coloring Series at midnight in recognition of all shades of black.  Is there a color with more associations?  See its depth in relation to food.

Nobu Black Cod With Miso and Squid Ink Pasta start our black mack pack.

Black Pepper Crusted Tuna Steaks on the BBQ.

Steamed Mussels in Curry Broth and the recipe.

A black and white kitchen with dining — I see laughs and passionate happenings there.

The above foods aren’t really black — Sshhhhhh. 😉

Pretty in pink Chocolate Cake or a Chocolate Cake on fire — It’s a good look either way.

Black Coffee in bed?  The stain on my notebook says nothing to me, just sayin’.

And now back to Black Food Coloring — It’s available too.  I just learned that.

Food related words above — It’s a bit repetitive I now see, but initially looks interesting.

Creative use of Black Licorice and Candy Corn in the Haunted Licorice Forest — Love it.

I’ve burnt many a Toast, as proven here — Is it me or the Toaster Oven?  Mostly me.

Blackened Catfish and the recipe.

Do you remember Davey and Goliath in black and white?  I loved watching it as a kid.

Olive, Cream Cheese & Carrot Happy Feet Penguin Appetizers and step-by-step instructions.

Who is behind the bar?  Many chairs pulled-up over and over again in time.

Blackberries, a bucket of purple pickins amongst black nuance.

Olive — I’ll live, Lord willing.  Thanks for this food.  Amen.

Black Bean Soup and its origin, Black Beans, rock hard first.

Black Tea telling you so.

A simple life is a beautiful thing — My Mom knew the car-hop experience with school friends.  She tells the stories.  Sonic Drive-In is the closest thing to that for me.

Colorful Salad Greens against a striking black background — I just like it.

The next color in the series will be                  .

Stopped by to learn more and will be donating time to Someone Cares Soup Kitchen in November and December when it’s needed most.  How about you?  Come do it too.

Read more and watch a video about the volunteer experience here.  Also appreciate the Rosemary bursting through the fence at Someone Cares Soup Kitchen — We’re always on the lookout for Herbs planted around the city.  An abundant find saves money and inspires new dishes.  In this case, a Rosemary sprig will come in handy for Union Square Cafe Bar Nuts.

Don’t toss the SEEDS, bake ’em — Pumpkin Seeds are too easy to make, especially in October.

Quick Dip — Is that an oxymoron?  Chocolate was melted in the microwave and Oreo Cookies were being dipped 5 minutes from commencement.  And Mickey Moused, because Chocolate wasn’t tempered, nor mixed with wax, cream or butter.  Instead, Milk and White Chocolate Chips were separately melted at 50% power, in approx. 50 second intervals and stirred in between.  It was fast and turned out good, but not as great as those you buy, or the ones my friend Loretta makes.  I don’t think she’d approve of these, but we’re always experimenting.

I was most proud of the design I created on the White Chocolate Dipped Oreo above.

Dippin’ leftover Oreos in Chocolate, from the Cookies and Cream Cheesecakes we made.

Haphazard about thickness and decoration, but wanted to make ’em quick.

All was made in about 10 minutes, which is obvious looking at some.  Next time I’ll pipe the Chocolate through a baggie tip rather than use a spoon — Better design control, less sloppy.

Funny thing, growing up I wasn’t an Oreo Cookie fan and when I did have them, I’d eat the outsides and throw away the middle.  I hadn’t purchased them in years and this time didn’t need to ditch the middle.  Is there less than there used to be, like too many things?