The art of wonderful food presentation was not lost on the Victorians. A mix of Halloween faire was recommended alongside foods that we would look upon as mundane, but what the culture, at the time, deemed fancy. Here are a few recipes and oddities for your Halloween table.

Apples and nuts
Both were used extensively for Victorian gaming purposes (read HERE), and were placed on the food table as h'ors doevres. Salty peanuts is a perfect snack. Apples were often de-cored, and "salads" of "crushed nuts and mayonaisse" (ooh, yummy), or "chicken salad with mayonnaise" were added into the center. Clearly, use your own judgement as to what you add to the center of the apples.

Halloween Sandwiches
Curiously, sandwich setups seemed to be the rage for these Halloween parties. Cute presentations consisted of of either using "open faced sandwiches" (those without bread at the top), or where the bread was presented in halves--one side might contain a slice with one ingredient, and across from it, it's "partner" slice had the opposite ingredient.
Some good ones we liked:
Cream cheese, and currant jelly (or any fruited jelly)
Cream cheese, and chopped dates
Chopped Ham, and mustard relish
and so on.....

* Another cute way to serve sandwiches:
Make sandwiches with the ingredients of you choice, top with second slice of bread, then cut into Halloween-type shapes, or use a LARGE cookie cutter in the shape of your choice, and cut through the sandwich this way.

Enchanted Food
For Halloween, sometimes it was simply enough to create magical names, for magical food:

Witch Fingers: Lady Fingers covered in red icing.
Our version: You can also create another version of witch fingers by dipping thick pretzels in chocolate, laying on wax paper to dry, and sprinkling with nuts (for warts) as the icing is drying.

Moon Sandwiches: Take a two slices of sponge cake and cut them into the shape of a new moon. Add marshmallow filling in between them for a tasty "sandwich".
Our version: We like this alot! For a fast version, you can buy pound cake, cut in half, add the marshmallow, or whipped topping, and also add these ingredients, as you like: Blueberries ("booberries), chocolate or butterscotch sauce, pumkin icecream (or icecream of your choice). Mondo yummy!

Elf and fairy pies: these were baked SMALL pies. You can now either buy or bake small, individual sized pies. The Victorians recommended that you frost faces, moons, or other Halloween shapes onto the tops of them with chocolate, or whipped cream.
Our version: Hey, we like this the way it is!

Deviled Eggs: self - explanatory.
Our version: Use your regular deviled egg recipe or "spice it up" with paprika, a little curried powder, or pickled relish.

SOUL CAKES:
This is based on the old story of people (sometimes early Christian clergy)who, in ancient times, would go from door to door during the Hallows season, and ask for cakes, in exchange for praying for the souls of the people in each house that was visited. This activity was sometimes called "Souling" or "Going A-Souling". The cakes that were given were consequently known as "Soul Cakes". Here is a modern version:

You will need:
* 1 cup butter
* 3 ¾ cups sifted flour
* 1 cup sugar
* ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
*1 teaspoon cinnamon
* 1 teaspoon ginger
* 1 teaspoon allspice
* 2 eggs
* 2 teaspoons cider vinegar (you can usually find this in health food stores and larger supermarkets)
* 4-6 tablespoons milk

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Mash the butter into the flour with a pastry blender or a large fork.
3. Blend in the sugar, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon and allspice; beat eggs, vinegar, and milk together.
4. Mix with the flour mixture until a stiff dough is formed.
5. Knead thoroughly and roll out 1/4-inch thick.
6. Cut into 3-inch rounds and place on greased baking sheets. Prick several times with a fork and bake for 20-25 minutes.

Sprinkle lightly with powdered sugar while still warm.



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