Halloween Day Special | Spooky Spider Lentil Stew | Mummy Rice and Lentil Wraps | Jack-o'-Lantern Stuffed Bell Peppers

Halloween, a thrilling and mystical holiday celebrated on October 31st each year, is a captivating blend of ancient traditions and modern festivities. As the air grows crisp and leaves turn shades of fiery orange, the world transforms into a realm of enchantment. At its core, Halloween is a time to embrace the eerie, the mysterious, and the supernatural. It harkens back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, a moment when the veil between the living and the spirit world thins, allowing ghostly apparitions and otherworldly beings to roam the Earth.

However, modern Halloween is a fusion of traditions, featuring a tapestry of spooky decorations, intricate costumes, and sweet treats. Haunted houses and eerie mazes beckon the brave-hearted, while families carve intricate jack-o'-lanterns, each with its own unique personality. Trick-or-treating, a beloved tradition, sees children dressed as witches, vampires, and superheroes as they venture door-to-door, filling their sacks with sugary treasures. And let's not forget the allure of horror movies and ghost stories told by the flickering light of a campfire, all adding to the enchantment of Halloween.

Yet, beyond the surface, Halloween carries a deeper meaning. It's a time to confront our fears and acknowledge the mysteries of life and death. It is a celebration of creativity, where people of all ages unleash their imagination through costumes and decorations. It's a moment of connection, as communities come together to share in the eerie fun. In essence, Halloween is a magical day that invites us to explore the shadows, embrace our inner monsters, and revel in the extraordinary.

Celebrate this Halloween Day with friends by cooking super simple Halloween dinner recipes.

Ingredients-

• Indian Whole Brown Crimson Lentils 
• Extra Long Indian White Basmati Rice 
• Pride of India- Minced Onion 
• Pride Of India- Garlic Minced Whole 
• Pride Of India- Natural Curry Leaf Powder Ground 
• Pride of India – Black Pepper Ground 

Recipes-

1. Spooky Spider Lentil Stew Recipe

Instructions-

• In a large pot, heat a bit of olive oil over medium heat.
• Add 2 tbsp of minced onion & 1 tbsp of garlic. Sauté until they become translucent.
• Rinse 1 cup of lentils and add them to the pot along with 4 cups of vegetable broth, 2 diced tomatoes, 1 tbsp ground cumin, salt & pepper.
• Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cover the pot.
• Let it simmer for about 20-25 minutes.
• In a separate saucepan, combine 1 cup rice, water, and a pinch of salt.
• Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes until the rice is cooked.
• While the lentil stew and rice are cooking, prepare spooky spider garnish. Slice black olives into rounds to create spider bodies and cut additional black olive slices into strips for spider legs.
• Once the lentil stew and rice are ready, serve the stew over a bed of rice in a bowl.
• Place a black olive round in the center of the stew as the spider body.
• Attach olive strips as spider legs around the olive body to create a spooky spider effect.

2. Mummy Rice and Lentil Wraps Recipe

Instructions-

• Cook 1 cup rice and 1 cup lentils separately according to package instructions. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Lay out the tortillas or flatbreads on a clean surface.
• Spread a generous spoonful of cooked rice along the center of each tortilla.
• Add a spoonful of cooked lentils on top of the rice.
• Carefully fold the sides of the tortilla over the rice and lentils, leaving a small opening at the top for the mummy's face.
• Place two whole black olives at the top opening to create eyes for the mummy.
• Using thin slices of black olives, create bandage-like strips across the wrapped tortilla to give it a mummy appearance. These strips should cover most of the tortilla's surface, leaving only the eyes visible.

3. Jack-o'-Lantern Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe

Instructions-

• Slice off the tops of the bell peppers, keeping them as lids & remove the seeds and membranes from inside the peppers.
• Using a small, sharp knife, carefully carve jack-o'-lantern faces on the front of each bell pepper. Get creative with spooky faces!
• In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of cooked rice and 1 cup of cooked lentils.
• Season the mixture with salt, pepper & paprika.
• Carefully spoon the rice and lentil mixture into each carved bell pepper, filling them to the top. Place the pepper lids back on top of each stuffed bell pepper.
• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Drizzle a bit of cooking oil on the bottom of a baking dish to prevent sticking.
• Place the stuffed bell peppers in the baking dish and cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes or until the peppers are tender but still hold their shape.
• Carefully remove the stuffed bell peppers from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes.
• Place them on serving plates, and your spooky Jack-o'-Lantern Stuffed Bell Peppers are ready to serve.

4. Creepy Cauldron Curry Recipe

Instructions-

• In a large pot, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat.
• Add the chopped 2 tbsp onion and 1 tbsp minced garlic. Sauté until they become fragrant and translucent.
• Stir in the 2 tbsp curry leaf powder and continue to cook for a minute or two until the spices become aromatic.
• Rinse 1 cup of green lentils and add them to the pot along with 1 cup of white rice.
• Stir to coat the lentils and rice with the spices and oil.
• Pour in 4 cups of vegetable broth or water and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer.
• Cover the pot and let it simmer for about 20-25 minutes, or until the lentils and rice are tender and the liquid is absorbed.
• To create the cauldron effect, serve the Creepy Cauldron Curry in individual bowls or cauldron-shaped dishes.
• Garnish with extra curry powder or fresh herbs for a spooky touch.