If you are a Halloween person, you may already have a favourite fake blood recipe....
There are Hallowe’en people and non Hallowe’en people. Yes, yes. Of course, there are Thanksgiving people who feel compelled to hit every store, sharp-eyed and determined, to find absolutely he biggest, lumpiest, vacuum packed turkey bird out there to feed to their overwhelmed family of four until Christmas when, once again, the hunt will be on for the next Super Bird to tide them over until spring. And, of course there are legions of Christmas people, justifying every bizarre purchase at any time of year with the blanket phrase, “stocking stuffer”. Of course it is commercialism, wrapped snugly in a cozy blanket of sentimentality to make it palatable. Families, rosy-cheeked and smiling with eager anticipation, gathered around that huge too often overcooked bird. Or merry children, eyes all aglow, decorating the perfect tree. We buy in to to the Norman Rockwellesque dream that our relatives will be charming, or at least normal, and our children will be well-behaved. And no matter how many times the relatives appear with the same old quirks and axes to grind, and the children, either irritable or glued to their tech toys, Mother, collapsed in an exhausted heap with visions of over-extended credit cards dancing in her head, no matter how often the cycle repeats, when the season rolls around next year, we all buy in, with hope in our hearts, to the Hallmark vision. Perhaps if we buy this wreath, it could be perfect? That platter?
Which brings us to the madness that is Hallowe’en. Hallowe’en, yes, yet another commercial lure, really has no unrealistic expectations. Grownups can tap into their inner child and just get silly. It is a time to be take your crazy out for a spin! Convenient bite-sized candies come in convenient bags. We start buying them the minute they appear on store shelves, as though we intend to dispense them to visiting children. Ratty flower beds form convenient resting places for zombies and skeletons. Motion activated bats and crows hover near the front door. Costumes? But of course. Halloween, ostensibly for children, is really for the inner child in us all. No presents to buy. No complex, pre-mandated meal. Just a bit of nonsense. A bit of candy. Purely for the fun of it.
Here’s an essential recipe for all you zombie wannabe’s out there!
With sincere appreciation to SteveSpangler.com!
THE BEST FAKE BLOOD… SO FAR
This recipe combines everything you’ve learned so far about making fake blood and adds a few ingredients that pack a great punch (pun intended… as you’ll see below).
- 1/2 cup Tropical fruit punch (Hawaiian Fruit Punch® works great)
- 1 cup corn syrup
- 2 tablespoons of red food colouring
- 1 tablespoon of chocolate syrup
- 2 tablespoons of cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon of powdered cocoa
Combine all of the ingredients in the blender and mix for 10 seconds. Since different brands of fruit punch vary in colour, you’ll need to use your vast experience in making fake blood to tweak the recipe to arrive at your perfect batch of fake blood.
Some fake blood connoisseurs recommend a cup of coffee in place of the fruit punch. You may need to reduce (or eliminate) the amount of chocolate syrup and powdered cocoa used in the recipe. Remember, it’s all about experimentation!
Take the white towel test… drip a few drops of blood onto a white towel to see how realistic it looks. Or better yet… roll up your sleeve and drip a little on your arm if you run into a neighbour!
Let the fun begin!
And if you’re a non-Hallowe’en person, look at the bright side. Christmas is just around the corner gathering momentum by the hour!