Sunday, October 30, 2011

Cheesey Horror Movie, Devilish Eggs, & The Ramones - Happy Halloween!

For Halloween this year A, Z, C, & B decided to do it up punk-rock style - Ramones & Ramonas.  This meant ripped jeans, leather jackets, Converse sneakers, & Ramones T-shirts all around - oh & one very authentic-looking black wig ala Joey Ramone. 



Many options exist on Halloween weekend throughout LA/OC for a spooky evening -- Knott's Scary Farm, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios, Haunted Queen Mary, & parties a plenty.  Thanks to Zoo Croo at KXLU, our punky 4-some decided to follow the hipsters over to LA's The Silent Movie Theater for Cinefamily's Disco Dracula Halloween Party complete with live music, free beverages, a costume contest, and a screening of the great Nocturna - A 1978 low-budget, poorly-acted horror-comedy movie.  This campy little flick falls under the category "it's so bad it's good".  In brief, the heroine, Nocturna (Nai Bonnet), despite her grand father, Count Dracula's disapproval, follows her love interest, rock guitarist (Tony Hamilton), from Transylvania to Manhattan where she also visits her kooky, but wise, aunt, Jugulia Vein (Yvonne DeCarlo aka Lily Munster).   The dated special effects, the cheese-ball lines and delivery, and the uber-70s dancing make this a Halloween classic for me.  Check out this short clip to experience it yourself! 



After the movie, we headed out to the Cinefamily patio for some air (laced with the wafting smell of Maryjane) and a gander at the costume creativity.  Admist the Beetlejuices, Pee Wee Hermans, slutty whatevers, Ramones, Waldos, ETs, and various non-descript Zombies, the best costume was a dude dressed as the movie "Weekend at Bernies" complete with a dead Bernie slung over his shoulder.  Another notable costume - a gent dressed as spitting image of Russel Brand with accent to match.

It was an LA Halloween fab eve... and to the iconic punk-rockers who inspired our attire - a classic tune (and my former ringback tone) "Sheena is a Punk Rocker", and as an homage to Halloween, "Pet Semetary".  RIP Johnny, Joey, and Dee Dee.





And now on to Food!!!  Our recipe is Devilish Deviled Eggs - A Halloween party staple  - and as we race into the holiday entertaining season, this is a tasty and easy recipe to keep on hand. 

I love Deviled Eggs because the filling possibilities are endless and they can be served elegant or simple and informal!  Also, it's impossible to mess them up because if you add too much of one ingredient,  you counter-balance with a little extra mayo and mustard.   

Here is my version of Deviled Eggs - and you can adjust to taste per your preferences.

Here is what you need:
-8 hard-boiled eggs (I boil a couple extra in case I have trouble peeling one or two - also good to have extra yolks to add to the mix if need be). Click here for how to precisely boil an egg.
-3 tablespoons mayonnaise
-1 teaspoon yellow mustard
-1 teaspoon sweet relish
-1/2 teaspoon hot sauce (adjust to taste)
-1/2 teaspoon white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar (be sparing - a capful is enough!)
-Salt
-Pepper
-Paprika, for dusting
-1 teaspoon finely chopped chives as garnish

Here is what you do:
Cut the eggs length wise and place yolks into a bowl.  Add in all the ingredients minus paprika and chives.  Smash together with a fork until combined.  Then spoon into egg whites.  If you want to be fancy, put the yolk mixture into a piping bag with a star tip and fill the egg whites.  Dust with paprika and chives.


You could also add jalapenos, caviar, sour cream, cheese, salsa, capers, celery, bell-peppers... Go nuts!  Your Halloween guests will pop them into their bloody mouths with abandon!  And for a sweet after bite, here is a recipe for Halloween banana pumpkin bread and some additional spooky tunes perfect for creepy party playlist.   

And finally I leave you with another short 15 second clip from Nocturna featuring Jugulia Vein (Yvonne DeCarlo aka Lily Munster).  Check her out here and then a much younger version as Lily Munster below in the TV-Land classic, The Munsters.





Happy Halloween! 

Hugs and Kisses.