Cauliflower Miso Mashed Skulls and Hairy Spaghetti Squash Monster

As a child, I could never contain my excitement every time Halloween rolled around. I loved the mystery of not knowing what candy “swag” I would find in my bag at the end of the night, visiting the houses with the most terrifying Halloween lawn decor, and the costumes lovingly (though perhaps not skillfully) made by Mom.

20 some odd years later, this excitement has not faded, but my anticipation for candy has been replaced by an eagerness to brew up new spooktacular recipes, the lack of horrific suburban lawns has been made up by my proximity to the NYC West Village Halloween Parade, and the role of costume seamstress has passed on to me, making me realize that Mom was a much better costume maker than I ever will be.

To get ourselves in the mood for the fright-fest, I conjured up a few savory Halloween delights to start our night:

Cauliflower Miso Mashed Skulls (the orange edition)

Eye of newt, and toe of frog:

1 full cauliflower head
2 carrot fingers (peeled)
3 tbsp of miso paste “blood”
1/4 cup milk of a cow
eye and lips of nori (a sheet of sushi seaweed)

Round about the Cauldron Go

Chop the cauliflower head and carrot fingers into pieces and drop into scalding, boiling water
Boil and torture the head and fingers until soft and tender.
Drain liquid, and add salt & pepper. Mix with a spatula.
Transfer the ingredients into a blender or food processor, add in miso paste and milk and puree until desired smooth consistency is reached
Shape the mash into skulls and bones.
Take the sheet of seaweed, and with a small knife, cut out circles (for eyes) and thin strips (for a “X” shaped lip).
Serve warm

Hairy Spaghetti Squash Monster with Mozzarella Eyeballs

Double Double Toil and Trouble:

1 spaghetti squash
3-5 fresh mozzarella balls
3-5 green  olives, pitted
3-5 black olives, pitted
1 strip of roasted red pepper (or sliced fresh red pepper, or anything that is red and resembles a mouth, such as beets)
Morningstar Veggie Crumbles
2 Tbsp Oil of Olive
2 Tbsp Mixed Herb Seasoning (I used a blend of dried rosemary, marjoram, oregano, basil, and tarragon)

Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble!

Cut the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise, rub with herbs and olive oil, and roast in a 400 degree oven for 30-40 min.
Using a fork, scrape off the meat of the squash (once cooked and tender, it will come off easily in strings)
Mix 1/3 of the squash with veggie crumbles to create a worms/maggots in hair effect
Cut off the edge of a green olive (it should be dome shaped with a hole in the middle). Stuff a bit of black olive in the whole and balance the olive on top of a mozzarella ball (repeat to make multiple eyeballs)
Arrange the squash to create a round face, framed with worm-infested hair, stick a couple of creepy eyeballs on top and around, and garnish with a fiery mouth.