Halloween Party Food Ideas with Chef Kelli

Halloween is usually all about the treats, but good food can be the key to hosting a great party to celebrate 

• Banana leaves for wrapping, thawed if frozen 
• 1 Turkey Thing and 1 drumstick 
• 3 cups poultry stock  
• 1 small onion, unpeeled
• 3 garlic cloves, unpeeled
• 8 whole black peppercorns
• 2 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
• 1 1/2 cups  Pumpkin mole negro (see attached Recipe) 
• 8 ounces (about 1 cup) lard (preferably home-rendered; see Tips, below)
• 1 1/2 pounds (about 3 cups) coarse-ground fresh masa, homemade or bought from a supplier, or reconstituted masa made by mixing 2 1/4 cups masa harina with 1 3/4 cups chicken stock (preferably homemade) or water (see Tips, below)

• 2 Spanish onion Charred (blackend)
• 2 sweet potatoes
• 1 medium sized roasting pumpkin
• 2 large carrot
• 2 #g Mexican chocolate
• 3 cups Peanuts (unsalted)
• 9 ea cinnamon sticks
• 2 & ¼ cup Tomato paste
• ¾ cup  Pepitas
• ½ cup garlic
• ¼ cup sea salt
• 15  ea dried Ancho, pasilla, mulato, Guajillo, chipotle peppers
• ¼ cup sesame seeds
• 2 TB cumin
• 2 TB Oregano (fresh)
• 1 TB caraway
• 1TB  thyme (dried)
• 1 tsp Nutmeg
• 1 tsp  Clove

1. Combine all ingredients and simmer on low heat for 6-8 hours.
2. Remove Cinnamon sticks and Puree in a vitamix or blender.
3. Strain through a fine sieve.
4. Return to simmer for 45 minutes. Adjust seasoning and consistency as needed.

• 1 large white onion, halved
• 1 pineapple, peeled, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick rounds
• 1/3 cup fresh orange juice
• 1 TB grated orange zest
• 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
• 2 Tb Cider vinegar 
• 1/4 cup guajillo chile powder
• 3 garlic cloves, halved
• 2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano (preferably Mexican)
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 large or 2 small chipotle chiles and 1 to 2 teaspoons adobo from canned chipotle chiles in adobo
• 1 2 1/2-pound boneless pork loin, cut into 1/2-inch slices
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• Corn tortillas
• Salsa
• Lime wedges

• 1 Tbs. olive or vegetable oil
• 1 large ripe tomato, cored, seeded (if you wish) and cut into 1/4-inch pieces
• 1 medium white onion, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
• Hot green chile(s) to taste (roughly 1 large jalapeño or 2 large serrano's), stemmed, seeded (if you wish) and finely chopped
• 3 Tbs. tequila, preferably a silver tequila
• 8 oz. Mexican melting cheese such as Chihuahua, quesadilla o or Monterey Jack, mild cheddar or brick, shredded (you'll have about 2 cups)
• 8 oz cooked Chorizo 
• 3 Tb chopped cilantro