31 Days of Halloween! Day17- Recipe: Guacamole 'dy with Creepy Crunchings

guacamole mold ingredients (*optional):

1 packet gelatin, plain
cup water
3 avocados, chopped
3 Tbsp lime juice
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped small
1 tsp chile powder or cumin
pinch of cayenne*
1/4 red pepper, cut very thinly*

salsa ingredients*
salsa ~> fresh or store bought
4 medium tomatoes
2 peppers (hot or mild, to taste)
1 medium onion
3 garlic cloves
1 tsp salt

creepy crunchings (chips) ingredients:
fresh tortillas (assorted packets)
oil or butter
seasonings: salt, pepper, garlic, chile powder, etc.

Guacamole Foot (increase recipe for large molds):
These molds are available at most craft and party stores.
Combine the avocados, lime juice, salt, cilantro and spices in a bowl and blend well.
*Add red pepper and stir until well mixed.
Mix packet of plain gelatin using 1/2 the water stated in directions on the box.
Let gelatin cool a bit and add 1/2 of the gelatin into the avocado mixture, blend thoroughly (you ONLY use half of the gelatin mixture, so you can make a half packet, double the recipe and use the entire packet, or have another recipe ready to go... our brain mold is larger than our foot mold
; )  .
Brush the mold lightly with olive or vegetable oil. Pour your guacamole mixture into the mold. Cover and refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours.
Remove from mold by dipping mold in warm water and break contact along the edge with a knife, then put the serving plate over the mold and turn the mold over onto the plate.

Salsa:
If you have time roast or lightly char/grill (in pan/ baking sheet to retain fluids) the tomatoes, onion, peppers, and garlic cloves, about 10 min.
Combine garlic and peppers and coarsely puree together in a food processor. Add the tomatoes and juices to the mixture and chop.
Chop the onion and put the onion and tomato mixture into a bowl and stir thoroughly. Season to taste with salt, generally ~1tsp.
Garnish around/ over the guacamole foot.

Tortilla Chips:
You can serve with regular tortilla chips or make these baked or fried creepy crunchings at home!

Start with packets of fresh tortillas (we like to include assorted flavors/ colors: multi-grain, spinach, tomato, etc.)... you could make your own tortillas, but we usually cheat on this step! If baking, pre-heat oven to 350°F and brush both sides of the tortillas lightly with oil or melted butter (ignore this step if deep frying : ) . Use Halloween cookie cutters to cut the tortillas, on a cutting board, into creepy shapes. Set aside the shapes and the scraps as you cut, you will use both. 
Baking: place the shapes and scraps in a single layer on cookie sheets, season, and bake for ~12-15 minutes (until browning lightly).
Frying: follow directions on your deep fryer. Fry shapes and scraps lightly (until crisp) and remove to dish for immediate light seasoning.


Enjoy! 
 
DeWyk