Post Sandy Mexican Halloween

Maniac Pumpkin Carvers, thank you

Every year we have a few families over for Halloween. The challenge when you host the same holiday annually is to find new ways to keep things fun. Maybe some people wouldn’t feel that way but I extend my type-A-ness to hosting. Trust me, I wish I was  the laid back, wing it hostess but that’s not in the cards. And there was no way we were going to let scary Sandy dampen our plans, in fact one friend emailed at 10am asking if it was too early to come over. After all...

I recall having more candy before Sandy and my 8 year old really likes these

First item on the agenda is the candy. There is no way to boycott candy giving. There will be no money, toys or inedible items handed out from our house. Instead, I try to seek out better candy. I was excited to learn of Unreal Candy. Unreal  “unjunks” candy and uses no corn syrup, no hydrogenated oils, no artificial dyes and contains no GMOs. You can find unreal at Target and Kroger.

What's "way better" than a bag of these chips? Um 2.

Two of our friends are guac-masters. When they offered to bring guacamole for our festivities I thought a whole Mexican theme would work. And if you have guac you need chips Way Better sprouted chips in Sweet Chili are my #1.

We called these Spicy Scary and Autumn Margaritas

And if there’s going to be guac and chips, you need margaritas. My all time favorite margarita is from a restaurant called Gran Electrica. Gran Electrica was nice enough to share this piece of perfection with me and I have the pleasure of passing it on to you.

Margarita de Toronja Picante (in our house aka Spicy/Scary Margarita)

1 ½oz Habanero-infused Blanco Tequila (we use Pueblo Viejo)

½oz    Combier (or Triple Sec of choice)                                        

1oz     Fresh Lime juice                                                

1oz     Fresh Grapefruit Juice

½oz    Jalapeno syrup

Rim a rocks glass with Grapefruit Salt (we make this in house - but regular salt would do)

Shake vigorously and strain over ice into rocks glass                                                          

Garnish with a Grapefruit slice

*note we used Tanteo Jalapeno Tequila and Morris Kitchen Ginger Syrup and lime garnish

When my time comes, can I put in the request to be laid to rest on a bed of kale?

And if a nutritionist is going to have a margarita and guacamole, there has to be greeens (and this nutritionist has to be in the office at 8am) so I snuck in a Kale/Butternut/Pepita salad. This recipe from Jenna at Rosaberry and has become a family favorite. There were also mini corn empanadas from Empanada Mama and I had spicy tuna on rice crackers (I know sort of Japanese but I made it Mexican with my friend cilantro).

We had a little family Batman theme

What, you don't know who I am?

I was so happy that our friends rallied with the city still a mess. And the fact that Maniac Pumpkin and Empanada Mama didn’t disappoint was amazing. New Yorkers make things happen.

How did you spend Halloween? What type of hostess are you- obsessive or relaxed? Did you give out candy? Think I should consider green hair?

Good Manners or Good Health?

On Friday, I was a guest on “Whole Living” on Martha Stewart radio talking healthy holidays. We discussed holiday parties and the holiday mindset and then, my favorite part of the show, we opened up the phone lines to callers. One caller, I believe his name was Brad, said that over the holidays there would be one day where he would be at 4 different homes.  He asked the best strategy for his day. While four family visits in a day sounds like a doozy, many of us will be confronted with some sort of hostess or host dilemmas in the next couple of weeks. So how can you manage good manners and good health?

First, what I find when I’m hosting a party is that I really want people to take whatever is being offered. Whether it’s a welcome cocktail or a passed hors d’ouerve, your radar is up for who accepts and who declines the food and drink. As a guest, remember you can accept without needing to ingest. Politely receive your plate of food or glass of wine and nobody will notice what you actually consume.

Second, I am a fan of strategic eating. If, like Brad, you have a day or week filled with family and food you should have a strategy too. Once you’re at a gathering and the holiday music plays and delicious aromas infuse the air, it’s too late. Pick one “forbidden fruit.” I’m sorry if this doesn’t sound festive but a fruitcake on each butt cheek isn’t the way I want to deck my halls. For one gathering you may say you’re laying off the desserts, at another you may curb the carbs. The nice thing (yes there are nice things) about family is that you generally know what to expect. If Grandma Edna has baked Christmas cookies at EVERY Christmas, chances are there will be a cookie jar. Traditions apply to food and there will be few surprises.

Finally, never underestimate the value of a thoughtful hostess gift.  Grandma Edna above doesn’t want a bottle of Absolut (or maybe she does) and the calorie counter doesn’t want chocolates. A delicious tin of  tea, your favorite sweet treat work well. Some of my favorite gifts have been special vinegar or hone. It is the thought that counts and let’s be honest the bottle of wine in the tin foil wine-store wrapper doesn’t show much thought. If you’re going to pass on the pie (or accept it but not ingest it), better if you brought something special with you. With these tips you’ll fine you can be polite and not portly, well-mannered and well.

Any host or hostess horror stories to share? Do you eat to please at family or holiday gatherings? What are your favorite host or hostess gifts?