October 21, 2016

#SparScarefest : Which Came First? The Turnip or The Pumpkin? The Facts Might Surprise You!

October 21, 2016/ Claire Spence

Ask any thirty something or above in Northern Ireland about their childhood Halloweens & in particular what designs they carved into their pumpkins and they'll reply the same thing, "pumpkins? You mean turnips, right?".

Because in the 80s in October a nation of spoons would get bent out of shape trying to scoop solid, rock hard turnip insides out. A very simple face would be cut into the vegetable and a candle placed inside filling the whole house with a very 'organic' smell, to use a euphemism for the holiday scent Yankee Candle need never produce!

Then, about ten years ago we seemed to take a funny turn and Halloween went from a one night affair into something closer to how the Americans celebrate. Home decor, garden signs, spooky themed food and drink, and ... pumpkins. We knew the States used pumpkins rather than turnips from watching their tv and movies, but what I didn't know was that turnips came first there too.

Spar NI sent us a Halloween care package today, with locally produced foods to get us in the mood for half term. Inside with a carving kit was both a pumpkin AND a turnip, to keep everyone happy. Also included some facts, and I was very interested to know that it was us Irish emigrating to the States in the mid-19th century that brought the Halloween celebrations, including turnip carving. Here's where it gets interesting- when they were unable to find the turnips, instead they use pumpkins- so turnips always were first, even there.

They would hang the lit up lanterns on their door to ward away lost souls and evil spirits.

You can buy Armagh grown turnips or North Down pumpkins at your local Spar, as well as a selection of locally produced treats. Your traditional monkey nuts are from Portadown, as are the toffee and chocolate apples made by Fosters.

If you are feeling adventurous why not visit the Spar NI recipe page, where there are several Halloween themed foods to make yourself.

October 01, 2016

Halloween 2016 at Marks and Spencer- Spooky Treat Time In Store Now!

October 01, 2016/ Claire Spence

3 for 2 on all the Halloween goodies, so you'll have bucket loads of sweetie swag for the inevitable trick or treat brigades heading to your doorstep soon

It's one of my favourite blog posts of the year to do, and one I know you guys are waiting for- because I've lots of daily hits on my M&S Halloween blog posts of years' before right now.

Marks & Spencer has pretty much their whole Halloween range in stores right now. There are costumes, baby clothing, sweets and snacks. There is sometimes a Halloween cake design, but if there is one this year it'll not be in store until closer to the October 31st date. Ditto with pumpkins, they will be available in a couple of weeks.

Should you have a Halloween party before then, there's a very cute, autumn, Harry hedgehog chocolate cake, which serves 14 people, for £10. Alternatively M&S's food editor Emma Sleight suggested buying one of their ready-to-serve desserts, like the chocolate orange tarte, printing a Halloween stencil and dusting with icing sugar. The spiderweb design looks very cool.

You could also make pumpkin seed granola with one of the easy-make mixes, for £1.50

Harry hedgehog £10 : granola mix £2.50 : witches' fingers £1.50

For your Halloween party snacks there are some unusual savoury offerings. Fizzy orange popcorn, pumpkin corn bites and salted bat & ghost shapes.

For nostalgia you cannot beat the jelly sweets with the peel off back. All these items are 3 for 2 mix and match.

Orange popcorn £1.50 : Pumpkin snacks £2 : Ghosts & Bats £2

The Haunted House party box for six is just £5 and comes with gummies, popcorn, chocolate balls & fruit tubes.

Inside the haunted house box, which makes a cool stand alone decoration too by the way, are masks you can pop out. The elastic for fastening them comes in the box too.

There weren't any specific Halloween drinks, but from parties past I know fizzy red lemonade can be 'blood', and fizzy green lemonade is 'slime'. For the adults, how about the Bloody Mary mix? This concoction looks extra spicy and costs £4.50, just add spirits. The glass & other Halloween props are from some of the poundshops.

The chocolate skeletons come with a free keyring. Look out for the Creepy Coated Chocolate Beans, £2. They come in a long line and are the perfect size for handing out to trick or treaters.

Bloody Mary mix £4.50 : Chocolate skeletons with keyring £2 : 6 packs of chocolate beans £2

There are more trick or treat sized sweets in the form of chocolate eyeballs & pumpkins, and popping candy spider coins, both £1 a pack and all included in the 3 for 2 offer.

Lastly, help yourself to a bumper pack of 50 Zombie Jelly Brains for £3 or a chocolate lolly for £1.50

Happy Halloween everyone!

Tiny turnips, what we carved rather than pumpkins in the 80s! £2

October 19, 2015

Ridgway Homemaker Inspired Treehouse of Terror Simpsons' Mugs- From Poundland!

October 19, 2015/ Claire Spence

It may just be my Ridgway Homemaker obsessed eye, but doesn't this mug from Poundland in Bloomfields have a bit of a nod to the classic black & white striped background 50s' design?

Simpsons' fans should call in and get the set, a steal at £1 a mug.

October 12, 2015

Halloween 2015 at Lidl NI- Pumpkin Print Sausages & Crisps So Hot They Carry a Warning.

October 12, 2015/ Claire Spence

Today Lidl NI's Halloween stock for 2015 arrived in store, and this year is bigger than ever. The pumpkin print sausages are back, but this year the food range includes home baking, trick or treat supplies, and even crisps so spicy they come with a warning that they aren't suitable for children!

Here's what we found in the Bangor store, and you can check out the clothing & fancy dress options on the Lidl NI website.

October 21, 2014

Halloween Fun at Lidl- You Can Win £50 Each Day Until the 31st

October 21, 2014/ Claire Spence

Lidl NI are giving away £50 of vouchers every day until Halloween, but you'll need a laptop or PC as the game is Flash-based. I called into the Bangor Lidl store this afternoon to check out what fun, spooky wares they have in, as last year we had some ghostly shaped nuggets! The nuggets are back this year too, but my favourite product by far are the sausages with pumpkin prints through them.

There are lots of trick or treat supplies at great prices, and party supplies for next week.

The frozen section also holds some surprising Halloween themed treats.

There's also a selection of costumes for all ages, and home decorations.

October 11, 2014

Halloween Goodies at M&S

October 11, 2014/ Claire Spence

I always get excited to see what Marks and Spencer will have in store for Halloween each year, and this year they don't disappoint. Spicy scorpions, witches' fingers and jellied green ghouls, here's what you can pick up. Right now all the treats are 3 for 2 too!