13 Days of Samhain 2021- Day 1

Photo courtesy of Tiko Maciel

Welcome!

It's Day 1 of our Samhain 2021 Celebration! I am your host and sponsor, Alexis Kennedy. We're here to enhance your Samhain season over these 13 days, and it's my job to make sure it all runs smoothly. Each day, we'll feature a new article, cocktail, recipe, music, and giveaways.

Our rules for giveaway entries can be found at the top of the page (PLEASE READ THEM FIRST), and you can register for the giveaways, so you don't have to enter your name and email into the comments section each day (protects you against spammers). We'll only use your information to notify you if you've won, and to send your prizes to you. After that, we delete your information, and you'll need to sign up for the next season's celebration again (next after this is Yule.) 

If you haven't been following our Facebook Page, please do so. Also, if you haven't gotten to know our Sirens yet, check out the "Meet the Sirens" page to learn more.

If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach out to me at sirensallaround@gmail.com. I'm happy to help you.

Now, let's get started!

Today's Song: "Samhain" by Lisa Thiel

Today's Cocktail: Candy Corn Shots with Ciel Luciole

Ingredients:

1 package orange Jello

1 package lemon Jello

1 packet unflavored gelatin

Vodka

Oranges or clear shot glasses

Instructions:

If using oranges, slice the oranges in half and scoop out the meat of the orange leaving an orange “bowl”. If you don’t like oranges (or have an orange allergy) clear shot glasses will work as well but won’t be nearly as cute (an acceptable trade off in the case of an allergy). 

Boil one cup of water. Pour into a bowl with one package of the Jello (each flavor will need to be made separately and layered) and stir until the Jello has fully dissolved (yes, I know, we all know how to make Jello, but do you know how to make it with booze? Okay, still probably yes). Pour in ¾ cup of vodka and stir. Fill the orange bowls or shot glasses one third of the way and place in the refrigerator until Jello has set. Repeat for each flavor of Jello so that you get layers of orange, then lemon, then unflavored/clear to create the candy corn effect.

If using you are using shot glasses your job is done! You can top with a bit of whipped cream if you like or simply leave them as is. If you are using oranges your next step is to slice the oranges. Since we are attempting to mimic candy corn try to slice them into as triangular a shape as possible. Don’t judge, I tried. 

Next step: eat and enjoy!

These are a Halloween season favorite. They are so cute when finished and are perfect for any Halloween/Samhain party. They are also infinitely tastier than actual candy corn, in my ever so humble opinion!

They are easy to make but can be time consuming as you have to wait for each individual layer of Jello to set before adding the next layer. The original instructions said 20 minutes to set but I found it took about 40 minutes for each layer to properly set. You definitely want to make sure the Jello is solid (well, as solid as Jello can get anyway) before pouring in the second and third layers. The new layer will be warm and can cause the colors/flavors to mix if the Jello in the orange/cup is not fully set.

If you’re going with the orange method, I will warn you it is something of a challenge. The oranges do not like to sit level and can cause the liquid to gel unevenly. You may find that you have to trim off ends of the orange that end up without any Jello attached but that is easily done when slicing the oranges into triangles.

You can use unflavored vodka for it all or play around with the various flavors of vodka available. There are a lot of options so get creative!

Today's Recipe: Boxty Cakes with Alexis Kennedy

Photo courtesy of Deposit Photos

Yield: about 4 servings

Ingredients:

1 cup raw, grated potatoes

1 cup leftover mashed potatoes

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp salt

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1/4 cup (about) milk to mix

Butter or oil for frying

Sugar (optional)

Method:

• Place the grated raw potatoes in a clean cloth and twist to remove excess moisture.
• Whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder.
• Combine the flour mixture with the raw potatoes, the leftover mashed potatoes, and the eggs.
• Add enough mix to make a batter.
• Heat a heavy skillet over medium heat and add butter or oil.
• Drop potato batter by the tablespoon into the hot pan.
• Brown on both sides (about 4 minutes per side).
• Butter each boxty and serve hot with or without sugar. (I prefer it without)

Today's Giveaway: (US residents only)

Samhain Spirit Doll by Silvia Aguayo at Silvia's Spirits

List Price: $57 USD 

Description: Moon Witch 

How blessed are we to have moon wisdom guide us during these times? We have been blessed by its beams of strength when we need it most! Dressed in mystery and embellished in majesty, she displays pure Witchy energy 💕. She craves the light of the moon more than her very breath... she seeks through its shadows for the parts of her soul that were stolen by its magical enticement...

May her energy and light guide you through the darkest of days and provide wisdom when you are weary and worn ❤️. She carries a genuine Quartz crystal ball at her center. Quartz is the most powerful healing stone of the mineral kingdom, able to work on any condition. It is known as the stone of power, it amplifies any energy or intention. Clear Quartz protects against negativity, attunes to your higher self, and relieves pain.

Copyright © Silvias.Spirits, Silvia’s Spirits

How to enter: 

In the United States:

Visit Silvia's Spirits Website. Come back, and tell us which doll is your favorite here in the comments.

Bonus chances:

• Like/Follow Silvia's Spirits on Facebook
• Follow Silvia's Spirits on Instagram
• Follow Sirens Life on Facebook

For each entry, you MUST enter a separate comment below. We need your name and email address for entry. Should you not wish to give those publicly, you can use the entry form we've provided for you on Google Docs. Please note: we do not share your personal information, nor do we keep it from one season to the next. 

In Canada, your laws dictate that you have to "earn" your chance, so for four chances at this beautiful giveaway, tell us in the comments below: 

Who is the Prime Minister of Canada? 

Your entries will be pulled tomorrow morning, east coast time, and will be numbered by Alexis Kennedy (sponsor). She will then run a number generator at random.org, and will announce the winner on tomorrow's blog post. The winner will be notified first via email. The winner has 36 hours from announcement to claim the prize, or it will go toward the Grand Prize Giveaway on October 31.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email sirensallaround@gmail.com and we'll happily respond.

Note: The sponsor is not eligible for any giveaways.

Good luck everyone!

That's all for today! 

Wishing you the best for the Samhain Season!