Dessert Can Be Deadly...

As some of you might know, Ghost Adventures recently traveled to Salem, Massachusetts; this week Travel Channel aired the episode filmed at the famous Witch House (better known as Jonathan Corwin House). It's the only remaining structure in Salem with direct connections to the world-famous Salem Witchcraft Trials. Of course, humor ensues when Zak meets witchcraft. I'm not sure asking random people on the street if they are witches is good form. But this is Ghost Adventures, after all, and we're used to an unlimited amount of intentional (and unintentional) laughs.

A lot of the places I recognized from my past trip to Salem for a book signing and pleasant stay with psychic medium Jeffrey Justice. Even before I heard this episode was coming out, I had been thinking about my trip. I do miss Essex Street and all the history. So, I did a little shopping and finally made a few postponed purchases with connections to my trip: a few herbs from Hex: Old World Witchery and some dinnerware from an artist I discovered at the delightfully morbid Life And Death in Salem. After all this time, her work still called to me.

While browsing the shop, waiting to visit Jeffrey on one of his breaks, a pair of empty eye sockets stared back at me from a dinner plate. It was part of the "Skull and Cross Utensils" design series of refurbished restaurant ware created by ceramicist Meredith Host. While the artist lives in Missouri, she received her Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics from Ohio State University in 2008. Some of her work is quite unique (if not downright comical), though I'm partial to her depictions of skulls, bones, and organs on stark white plates, bowls, and cups. There's something about serving a slice of Death By Chocolate on a plate decorated with a grinning skull that seems too fitting for me.

So I broke down and began my collection this week with a set of four dessert plates. I'll warn you now; the dinnerware is highly addictive. Perhaps it's my odd sense of humor, but I love the idea of skull plates and zombie brain bowls laid out on a table. I'll slowly add to my collection provided I can resist the temptation of breaking the bank to fill the cupboards. Unique, well-crafted, morbidly-amusing things are so hard to find. Not only that, I'm a picky person. When I find something that screams "I must have that" it's a rare surprise.

I couldn't mention macabre dining without touching on another delight from "Professor Paranormal" himself, Loyd Auerbach. While I am eagerly anticipating his book, Haunted by Chocolate, to be released, you can find some spooky treats on the related site. His decadent "Ghost Drops" are available by mail, or you can schedule a chocolate tasting for an event or party.

Bake Me a Cake as Fast as You Can...

They say it's the thought that counts.

When you're a perfectionist, little things like that are worse than a mosquito buzzing in your ear.

I should have learned my lesson from Chef Duff at Charm City Cakes: buy pre-made frosting. But no, silly me... I ignore the negative reviews of the recipe and charge forth. The cake itself came out wonderfully. Making the rolled fondant frosting last night instead of today? Well, that was a bad decision. As was using all the powdered sugar called for. And substituting simple syrup for corn syrup. And trying to be different and unique instead of simple and plain.

Still, with the hours of aggrivation, I will admit it does look like it's intended replication. I still have 5 more hours to worry about a few small details. I don't foresee any major disasters, though they wouldn't surprise me. Still, it's just cake. All that matters is that it tastes good and shows some thought and care. After a few cocktails, everything looks better anyway, right?

In about 7 hours, all will be forgotten. The cake will be a devoured pile of crumbs and a memory to laugh about. After all, it really is the thought that counts, right?

Happy birthday, Bill. I hope it's one of the best ones yet!