Halloween Haunt at The Krazy Kitchen

Hullo Boils and Ghouls and Velcome to Frrrightfull Fun here at The Krazy Kitchen's Halloween Haunt! I am so delighted to play along as we gather Tricks and Treats for this All Hallows Eve and Day of The Dead!

Before I share a most favorite recipe of the Fall season, I wanted to show you a couple of my Halloween traditions and decorations.

This includes my display of my collection of Villians and Super Hero Dolls.
I really get a kick out of my Jack Skellington dolls from Nightmare Before Christmas and the Halle Berry as Catwoman. (Yes, I need to Get Out More.)
My absolute favorites are the Disney Villains dolls including Ursula the Sea Witch and Cruella DeVil. I must have those puppies! (The original animated Cruella, not the Glenn Close live action yawn version.)The Michael Myers Action figure from the movie, Halloween is signed by the actor who plays him, Tyler Mane, a friend and neighbor. He is surrounded by all the women villains to keep him in line.

This is the Halloween Themed Bra for a Cause I won at a recent Breast Cancer Charity Luncheon and yes, it's my size. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, Happy Self Breast Exam and Mammography to you!

I hope you enjoy this recipe for an easy and elegant dessert, Apple Calvados Croustade that is perfect for the Fall Holidays. Thank you so much for visiting for The Halloween Haunt! Boo to You!

Apple Calvados Croustade
Total time: 1 hour, 5 minutes

Servings: 8

Note: Adapted from a recipe for apple and Armagnac croustade in the "Café Boulud Cookbook" by Daniel Boulud and Dorie Greenspan. Boulud's recipe is traditional from Gascony, hence the Armagnac, but Calvados, the apple brandy from Normandy, is also wonderful. Feel free to use the traditional Armagnac, if you prefer. Be sure to use a large enough skillet (13 inches is perfect) so the apples caramelize properly.

1 stick plus 2 tablespoons butter, divided

6 Black Arkansas or Rome apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1/3 -inch slices

1 moist, plump vanilla bean

1/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup Calvados or other Apple Liqueur like Apple Jack

8 sheets filo dough

1/2 cup powdered sugar (or more, as needed)

1/3 cup sliced almonds, divided

1. Melt 4 tablespoons (one-half stick) of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Place the apple slices in a bowl. Cut the vanilla bean lengthwise in half and, using the tip of a small knife, scrape the seeds over the apples and drop the pod on top. When the butter is foamy, add the apples with the vanilla and the sugar and cook, stirring very gently but frequently, until the apples are lightly caramelized and soft, about 15 to 20 minutes. Add the Calvados liqueur and, using a long match and standing well back, set it aflame. When the flames subside, turn the apples over in the Calvados; when the flames have died out and the Calvados has reduced to a glaze, transfer the apples to a bowl and allow them to cool to room temperature.

2. Center a rack in the oven and heat it to 350 degrees. Place a 10-inch tart ring on a baking sheet lined with a silicon mat or parchment. Melt the remaining 6 tablespoons butter and set it aside. Unfold the filo dough on your work surface and cover it with a damp towel.

3. Remove the top sheet of filo (re-cover the remaining sheets), brush it lightly with butter, and dust it with powdered sugar shaken from a fine-mesh strainer. Gently and loosely crumple the dough into a circle and lay it into the pastry ring. Sprinkle it with about one-fifth of the almonds. Repeat this procedure three more times, until you have four buttered, sugared and almond-sprinkled sheets of filo layered in the ring. Do not press them together -- let them keep some height.

4. Spoon the apples into the center of the croustade, leaving a 1-inch border bare. Working as you did before, butter, sugar and crumple a sheet of filo, fitting it over the apples. Sprinkle this layer with the remaining almonds, and cover this with another crumpled sheet of buttered and sugared filo. Do a little styling and draping; arrange the filo so it looks good.

5. Slide the croustade into the oven and bake for about 10 to 12 minutes, watching the top of the tart carefully to make certain it doesn't brown too much. The top should be just lightly browned. Remove the croustade from the oven.

6. Increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees. Butter and sugar another sheet of filo, loosely crumple it and place it on the last layer to make a light, airy crown. Bake the tart for 5 to 10 minutes, or until lightly browned, then remove it from the oven again.

7. Butter the last sheet of filo and, once again, crumple it to make a crown. Place it on top of the croustade and dust it heavily with the remaining powdered sugar. Return the tart to the oven and bake until the top layer caramelizes evenly, about 5 to 10 minutes. Check the progress of the sugar frequently because it can go from brown to burned in a flash. Pull the croustade from the oven as soon as the top is a golden caramel color and allow it to cool for 5 to 10 minutes.

8. To serve, lift off the tart ring and, using two large, wide metal spatulas, transfer the croustade to a serving plate. Serve the tart warm or at room temperature the day it is made, with crème fraîche, whipped cream (or even better, crème fraîche lightened with whipped cream) or vanilla ice cream.

Each serving: 363 calories; 3 grams protein; 46 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams fiber; 18 grams fat; 10 grams saturated fat; 38 mg. cholesterol; 95 mg. sodium.

from The Los Angeles Times Magazine

Pink Bras for A Cause

Last Sunday, I went to a Soroptimist Bras for a Cause Breast Cancer charity luncheon. A friend and I went to support another dear friend who is active in this organization and a 7 year survivor of the disease. (Disclaimer: This is my one and only annual charity luncheon, I am not a lady who "lunches" but this particular charity is near and dear to my heart. Actually, breasts are near all of our hearts!) This is a fun affair with a delightful silent auction, delicious food, spectacular scenery, and enjoyable company. Plus, it does give me the rare opportunity to dress up which I often think I have forgotten how to do!

The signature silent auction items are the Bras decorated to reflect the Overall theme for the event which this year was "Sisterhood of the Traveling Bra", featuring bras from around the globe.

Here is the Geisha Bra from Japan.
This feather embellished bra represents Venice, Italy.
This bra is Gay Paree, the City of Love.
And here is France herself, complete with The Eiffel Tower on her shoulder.
A much more local entry, let's give a shout out to my favorite park, Placerita Canyon in North Los Angeles.
And to finish our tour of the pink bras at this luncheon, what would be more perfect than a slice of Pink Bra Cake?
Please check your breasts or have your partner do it! You fellas too! (Men can get breast cancer.)

Thank you to the gracious host of Pink Saturday, Beverly who requests that we bloggers mingle and link up to a newly found blogger each week and I would like to introduce the mouth watering inducing blogger, Mimi from Our Family Attic. Her food photographs cause an immediate Pavlovian response, amazing.

As a special thank you to my bloggy friends, I am having a Giveaway of your choice of a handcrafted pair of earrings or bracelet made by yours truly. Please enter if you would like a chance to win.

Thank you so much for your visit, Martha

Bras for a Cause

My friend, Kathy and I attended a Charity luncheon "Bras for a Cause" to benefit breast cancer research. It was a fun fashion show with a delicious lunch held at Mountaingate Country Club in Los Angeles. Another dear friend, Donna is a 7 year breast cancer survivor and helped organize this event. I am privileged to support her and delighted she is considered cured. I thought you all might enjoy some photos showing the bras that are auctioned off to raise money.


Here's a favorite, the Tequila Shooter Bra! Talk about well equipped for any Fiesta!


I totally love this Plumber's Bra complete with Hot and Cold Water Faucets!


What woman doesn't want to be Wonder Woman with matching skirt and cape?


I found this Garden Bra to be inspiring, the inscription on the rock reads, "The Earth Laughs in Flowers". So true.


Here's a picture of yours truly with my buddy, Kathy. Thank goodness for girlfriends IRL or in Blogland!

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so please check the "girls" and don't forget the boob taco press aka Mammograms! Okay, that's it for my public service announcement. Sending my best to you and please let me know which bra you like. Thanks so much.