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7 foods to freak out your trick-or-treaters

Halloween is the one time of year where grossing out friends and family with spiderweb cupcakes, worm-studded treats, and kitty litter cake is encouraged. If you’ve ever been “sliced” with a shard of glass — with a sharp-edged ice cube, or a chunk of candy glass, of course — then you know the kinds of tricks that are admissible. If not, try it for yourself this year. Turn off the light

Halloween is the one time of year where grossing out friends and family with spiderweb cupcakes, worm-studded treats, and kitty litter cake is encouraged. If you’ve ever been “sliced” with a shard of glass — with a sharp-edged ice cube, or a chunk of candy glass, of course — then you know the kinds of tricks that are admissible. 

If not, try it for yourself this year. Turn off the lights, and have your “victim” roll up their sleeve. Then complete the experience with a dribble of "blood" for an authentic experience right out of a horror movie. Or instead, opt for another one of these gross tricks you can play with food.

1. Eyeballs of naughty children

Just-washed grapes are slippery enough. When the dark skins of red grapes are peeled off, and the fruit tossed with a bit of olive oil, things get a whole lot worse. Close your eyes and stick your hands in — it’s just like human eyeballs, no? 

2. Human brain

This one isn’t for touching, but admiring. With a brain-shaped mold, pour in a bit of strawberry purée and then a plain vanilla panna cotta mixture. Chill, unmold, and place under a glass bell jar for a specimen that will send chills down guests’ spines. 

3. Witches’ boogers

Young kids have a fascination with boogers — the real ones — not sure why. Indulge those childhood fantasies on Halloween and offer guests a different kind — those of witches (also known as green apple-flavored Jelly Bellys) — served in a cut-crystal bowl. Open your mouth, and close your eyes — you’re indeed in for a big surprise.

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4. Flesh-eating maggots

Maggots, or fly larvae, are gross, if you’ve ever been “lucky” enough to have seen them in real life. Trick guests by making them stick their hands in a big bucket of cooked white rice mixed with some warm water — then divulge what it is — still-warm maggots, fresh from the garbage can.

 

5. Sections of human skin

When lightly blanched for a couple of minutes in boiling water, then tossed with olive oil, leaves of green cabbage take on a whole new quality — they're just like human skin. Place the segments of skin on a cake plate or platter for guests to admire, and touch, if they dare. 

6. Werewolf hairballs

Imagine your guests' horror when you pop one of these delicious balls of mashed avocado gently blended with alfalfa sprouts that look just like hairballs into your mouth. Ah, fresh from the belly of your cat.

Rain Blanken

7. Blood of those who don’t tell the truth

When gently warmed, light corn syrup has a viscosity similar to that of blood. Mix in a couple drops of red food coloring, warm it to about 100 degrees, and place it in a simple glass pitcher (or try this life-like recipe). Then ask, “Would anyone like a teaspoon of my sibling’s blood?”

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