Download - RoomPlanners magazine - Oct '10
roomplanners www.roomplanners.com
OCTOBER 2010
frightfully good Halloween treats plus terror-ific dinner ideas… if you dare!
scary rooms is there one in your home? (and how to fix it!)
faceless decomposed
scaly
orange!
… its many moods
2
taking cues from the season Nature may be getting ready for a good long sleep about now. But ironically,
inside our homes, Fall inspires new life. After a season of beach days and BBQs,
it’s comforting to nestle inside, surrounded by autumn colors, favorite textures,
comfort foods and prospects of holidays to come.
For this issue, we used the Fall season to inspire a fresh look at our homes. First,
we took the liberty of using Halloween as an excuse to highlight three decorating
mistakes that haunt rooms more than any other.
Whether decomposed, faceless or scaly, our scary
room design criteria will help you understand why
some rooms don’t feel right…. and what you can
do to fix them. We analyze eight rooms to see
what makes them a little scary (or a lot). We hope
you agree that the fix can be pretty easy! We also
hope our case studies will help you take the toil
and trouble out of reshaping your rooms to some-
thing you like better.
Changing leaves, zesty pumpkins and other
ripened fruits and vegetables inspire our article on
the color orange. This favorite Fall hue really does
makes a better-than-expected choice for interiors!
Finally, we dare you to try some of our scary Halloween treats. From desserts to
full-course menus, we hope you’ll get a laugh… if not a taste... at everyday,
simple ingredients transformed into frightfully tasty treats.
Whether or not you count the days until the holidays, your next ski vacation or
the first opportunity to stack the fireplace full of wood logs… we hope you’ll let
Fall inspire some new possibilities for your home.
about roomplanners
RoomPlanners.com is
committed to making professional quality
interior design easier and
more affordable.
We invite you to visit our
web site to browse hun-
dreds of rooms for ideas, rate your own rooms or to
take our survey to identify
your environmental
personality profile. We
offer a variety of free home decorating articles, a
no-fail paint color selection
system and an array of
RoomCues™... concise,
practical guides to help you pull together a look you
love.
Find us online at:
www.roomplanners.com.
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roomplanners
on the cover
Fall colors inspire this
warm, charming kitchen. Like a ripe garden, earthy
yellows, greens and oranges add warmth and a
one-of-a-kind quality to even the simplest kitchen.
This feast-inspiring color
scheme speaks comfort food—and it’s sure to
warm our home as much as entice our appetite.
Loreen Epp President, RoomPlanners Inc.
All written information herein is copyright ©2010 Room Planners Incorporated. All rights reserved. No part of the material protected by this copy-right may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means without written permission from Room Planners Inc..
www.roomplanners.com
3
If you’ve been shopping for new bedroom furniture
recently, you’ll notice nearly every new collection
comes with an assortment of bed options.
Sleigh beds and poster beds are no longer relocated
to 18th century styles. A modern collection is as
likely to have a sleigh bed as a platform bed. New
hybrid styles are mixing chaise longue headboards
with platform-style footboards. Storage is being inte-
grated into almost any style.
We thought it’d be interesting to see which bed styles
are getting the most monthly online searches these
days. Then we compared bed styles most searched in
the U.S. versus those searched around the world.
Did you know, for example, that Americans are
more likely than the rest of the world to search for
platform beds, canopy beds and Murphy beds… but
less likely to search for sofa beds and leather beds?
Below, see how your preferences align with what
others are looking for!
THIS MONTH
www.roomplanners.com
which bed type is searched most?
more free home decor tips!
A new online magazine is
available from furniture
giant, Ashley Furniture.
The company is offering
the magazine free every
month, along with tips on
how to use furniture and
furnishings to create the
looks you love and key
home furnishing trends to
look out for.
To subscribe, simply sign
up on their web site at
www.AshleyFurnitureHomeStores.com.
dining rooms go elegant & casual If you’re not sitting down to a formal dinner as much as you used to, you’re not alone. In fact, casual dining is a growing trend in dining room furniture these days.
Casual dining doesn’t mean you don’t cook up a storm or don’t have friends over for beef bourguignon. It just means you don’t get worked up over it. You’re also perfectly ok dispensing with fancy china. In fact, you may or may not own any.
If a more casual lifestyle sounds right for you, but you’re not ready to give up a little sophistication and elegance at mealtime, it is possible to bridge the two! Along with the right new dining room furniture, a few simple tips can help you perfectly blend refined and relaxed styles.
For more ideas on how to do this, check out Hooker Furniture’s blog (Oct. 7th and 13th). Their handsome new Legends dining room (right) illustrates the trend.
http://blog.hookerfurniture.com/2010/10/how-to-create-a-casually-elegant-dining-room-part-1/
Type of Bed
Global
Searches
U.S.
Searches
% of
Total
% of
Total
Bunk bed 550,000 368,000 28.6 27.4
Platform bed 301,000 246,000 15.7 18.3
Sofa bed 246,000 110,000 12.8 8.2
Canopy bed 135,000 110,000 7.0 8.2
Sleigh bed 110,000 90,500 5.7 6.7
Storage bed 110,000 90,500 5.7 6.7
Metal bed 110,000 5.7 74,000 5.5
Poster bed 90,500 60,500 4.7 4.5
Murphy bed 90,500 74,100 4.7 5.5
Leather bed 74,000 3.8 33,400 2.5
Futon bed 49,500 2.6 33,100 2.5
Panel bed 40,500 40,500 2.1 3.0
Upholstered bed 14,800 .07 12,100 .09
TOTAL 1,921,800 100.0 1,342,700 100.0
4
You don’t need to see ghosts or hear voices to live with a scary room.
Scary rooms don’t just appear at night or at the onset of a serious thunder storm. They can haunt us day and night, in good weather or bad. They go well beyond creaky floorboards, drawn shower
curtains and kitchen knives in unexpected places.
In fact, it’s usually easier to define scary rooms more in terms of what they’re not. That’s because something doesn’t feel right about them. Something’s missing, out of place, out of sync… causing an uneasiness that’s as unsettling and
eerie as Halloween night itself.
And so, in honor of the scariest time of year we could think of, we present the three room types that are scariest of all. Some rooms suffer from all three of these maladies, others just one or two. But any one of these maladies may
is there a
room scary
in your home?
cast a haunting spell on even the most stylish furniture or magnificent architecture.
So here they are… the scariest room types of all - and how to avoid them.
The Decomposed Room Scary rooms often have a dismembered or disjointed quality. Items that are similar in look or function, are spread evenly around a room rather than grouped together. Pictures are hung anywhere rather than closely aligned with furniture. Sofas and chairs are lined up along walls rather than grouped together to create an inviting conversation area.
Decomposition is common in large rooms where there’s pressure to ’fill space’. But it’s just as likely to occur in small rooms where furnishings are scattered too randomly around a room. But the fix is easy. Simply bring furniture closer together and anchor it with rugs, accents and pictures. You can then leave the rest of the room empty and it’ll look just fine!
The Faceless Room You don’t need to be a headless horseman to suffer an identity crisis. A room without a style, or point of view can be as faceless as a phantom at the Opera or a horse rider from Sleepy Hollow who lost his head.
5
www.roomplanners.com
We’ve contrasted two
living rooms to illustrate
common problems found
in scary rooms!
Both rooms have a nice
sense of style. But Room
#1 is decomposed and
scaly, while Room #2 is
well-composed and scaled
to perfection!
Here’s what’s scary and
sensational in these two
similarly-styled rooms.
in Room #1, the
seats are placed in
galley style (seats
A faceless room occurs when furnishing styles, colors or patterns are combined without enough regard to compatibility.
Without a definable style or attitude to furnishing selections, a room can feel a bit like a skeleton—all bones with no flesh to fill in the physical features that create differentiation or personality.
The fix? Find a style you like and stick with it! Choose items that share a similar style type, color palette or texture.
The Scaly Room Rough, dry textures can be irritating enough. But a scaly room has more to do with proportion problems, or too much contrast in size between items. A coffee table that’s too small for the sofa, a picture that’s too large for the cabinet under it, a window that’s too small for the room... all add up to a sizable issue.
Fixing a scaly room means balancing the objects on either side of it - the same way you’d balance weight on a boat or plane. That doesn’t mean everything has to be the same size… large items can be balanced with a collection of smaller items.
The perceived size of an item can also be adjusted with simple tricks. Long or wide curtains make a too-small window look bigger. A rug makes a too-small table look more substantial. A too-big piece of furniture looks smaller when the wall behind it is painted a similar color.
from scary to sensational similar rooms… a world of difference
placed on either side
of a straight line).
The distance between
them make this a less
intimate seating
arrangement - plus
there’s no good
position to watch the
TV! Placing chairs
and seats at right
angles to each other,
like they are in Room
#2, feels much more
intimate and
composed.
in Room #1, a small
wall-mounted TV
steals the focus of
the room... in com-
parison to the lush
window wall in
Room #2. The small
TV or picture looks
lost on the large wall
and would look bet-
ter grouped with
other small items,
anchored to a piece
of furniture or
concealed behind a
wall of curtains.
Walls look best
when they draw
attention to furniture
or a fabulous view.
in Room #1, the
coffee table is too
small. Compare it
against the more
substantial table in
Room #2. An L-
shaped seating
arrangement also
allows for a square
table that feels in
scale with the sofa.
In Room #1, the
color of the walls
isn‟t repeated any-
where else - adding
to the decomposed
look. In Room #2,
the sofa’s color is
repeated in curtains
and artwork.
in Room #1, each
piece of furniture
looks separated by
space rather than
linked together. In
Room #2, the area
rug, tables and lamp
pull the seating to-
gether, creating a
tighter, inviting
composition.
#1
#2
6
A hunter-colored sectional mixes with dark woods in this living room. But despite the
rich furniture finishes and colors, the room feels bland and lifeless. Why? Because rich
furniture requires an equally rich backdrop. Too many white and off-white colors and
too little detail are too strong a contrast to the furniture, making the room look
faceless—like it’s struggling with it’s style identity.
In addition, the set of matching pictures are separated—one on either side of the
window, add a decomposed quality (...pairs of pictures are meant to be hung together).
Finally, plants placed in places where they couldn’t possibly survive (under a table and
inside a bookcase) adds to the disjointed, unnatural look.
www.roomplanners.com
THE FIX!
Add more color to the
walls—choose a color
that‟s in the pillows.
Hang curtains on the
window; choose a
rich color and texture
inspired by the toss
pillows or upholstery.
Hang the matching
pictures together;
stack them on one
side of the window.
Add an area rug that
complements the
upholstery colors and
walls - it‟ll anchor the
sectional and soften
it‟s too-stark contrast
with the carpet.
Stack books, baskets
and brass or leather
accents on shelves
instead of so many
plants.
rooms (...and how to fix them!)
scary
7
www.roomplanners.com
Things started out well here. The saddle-colored leather sofas are bulky and earthy
enough to work with the heavy stone fireplace. The coffee table is a little too classic for
the hearty upholstery, but its bulky scale and dark color make it almost work. But
things deteriorate quickly with the contemporary bar stool. It causes us to question the
room’s style identity, creating a faceless, inconsistent point of view. The bare white trim
on the windows looks a little modern for the rustic fireplace... exaggerated with the
lack of curtains or blinds.
The L-shaped seating group keeps the room from looking decomposed. But the end table
next to the window is an awkward appendage—and the lamp on top of it too small and
delicate. The over-sized mirror that presides over the room is weighty enough to
balance the stone fireplace and it works with the table. But it’s too dressy, a little too
large and hung a little too high to look like it belongs to the seating group.
THE FIX!
Add an area rug to
anchor the seating
area. Use a strong
color or texture to
balance the fireplace.
Move the end table to
the other side of the
sofa (between the
sofas); use a rustic,
bulkier lamp.
Pull the sofa grouping
away from the wall so
it‟s closer to the
fireplace.
Lower the mirror so it
hangs just above the
dado. Or use it as a
floor mirror: turn it
vertically and lean it
against the wall,
partly behind the sofa.
Choose bar stools in a
more casual style.
8
If you’ve ever bemoaned the fact that your house is too small, take heart. A large
house can be as challenging as a small one. Having to raise your voice to be heard by
guests sitting in the same room is only slightly less scary than the money you’ll have
to fork out to furnish that big room!
The badly decomposed living room above is typical of big living rooms. The furniture is
spread out to fill the space, with nothing the right distance from anything. Intimate
conversation… or a feeling of warmth... won’t happen here.
www.roomplanners.com
At first glance, this living room is rather stylish. The color palette is urban and chic. The
furniture is well-chosen; the pillows well-placed. But something’s not working. The lamp
is scaly (out of proportion with the rest of the furniture) and the artwork is decomposed…
it’s forcing us to look at each of the pictures as separate and apart from each other and the
seating composition.
THE FIX!
Pull the furniture into
the center of the room.
Use the extra space to
create a walkway
around the furniture
rather than in front of it.
Place the furniture in an
L-shaped or U-shaped
seating cluster; use the
area rug to visually pull
it together.
Use end tables to fill in
the corners between
sofas and chairs.
Get comfortable with
empty wall space! Use
large artwork or no art-
work. The seating area
alone can be the center
of attention, with the
area around it left bare.
THE FIX!
Move the pictures on
the wall closer
together and hang
them lower—they‟ll
look like they belong
to the sofa rather than
floating awkwardly
above it.
Add a larger lamp
between the sofa and
loveseat.
Pull the round
ottoman closer to the
sofa and add an area
rug underneath to
visually hold the pieces
together.
9 www.roomplanners.com
It’s hardly the scariest room we’ve seen, but something isn’t working here. The
furniture is stylish and the ceiling light fixture is a perfect choice. The hardwood floors
are well maintained and the color scheme is pleasant. So what’s wrong?
The room isn’t completely faceless—the point of view is clearly contemporary. though
the candelabra on the cabinet is too fancy and competes with the chandelier for our
attention. But the biggest problem here a decomposed feeling.
All three walls don’t seem to hang together. The window wall is more of a distraction
than a backdrop. A matching set of pictures are split between opposite walls (not
good!), the cabinet between the windows looks cramped and plants are placed too
randomly on both sides of the room.
THE FIX!
Lower the light fixture
to 36” above the
table—it‟ll reinforce
the table composition
rather than drawing
our eye to the ceiling.
Add an area rug under
the table. With the
lowered light fixture,
it‟ll help „anchor‟ the
table.
Move the cabinet to the
right or left wall and
stack both pictures and
the silver candle stands
above it.
Hang floor-to ceiling
curtains across the
entire window wall for
a clean, elegant
backdrop.
Center the bench under
the windows.
10
We’ve got a seriously decomposed room here. The furniture, fabrics and artwork are
consistent in style and well chosen, but their placement makes them a liability. The lack
of a headboard make the problem worse—there’s nothing to anchor or draw attention
to the bed. The stark contrast of modern white walls and floors against rich furnishings
makes the dismembered quality of this room even more obvious.
www.roomplanners.com
THE FIX!
Lower the tall
picture above the
cabinet so it
„belongs‟ to the
flower and lamp
composition.
Cluster the smallest
wall pictures
together as their
own group, or
group them with
larger pictures.
Remove or lower
objects that are
within 12” of the
ceiling. They draw
our eye up rather
than into the room.
THE FIX!
Add a headboard to
anchor the bed and
create a feature wall.
Angle an area rug
under the bed.
Hang the large picture
to the right side of the
bed, connected with
the night stand & lamp.
Lean the smaller
picture above a night
stand or cabinet.
Cluster 2 of the pillows
on the left side of the
window seat.
Move the large plant
next to the night stand;
remove the plant on top
of it.
A cluttered, well-filled cottage style can be endearing and charming. But the pictures are
a problem in this living room, as they often are in decomposed rooms. Even in a cottage-
inspired rooms, pictures looks best when they ’belong’ to something. The picture hung
above the cabinet is too high, the picture hung to the side of the fireplace is hardly in a
position to be viewed and other pictures are too randomly placed.
11
Ok, it’s not a train wreck. The simplicity of this rustic dining room is refreshing. Mini-
blinds inside painted window frames have a quaint charm and who can argue with
Windsor chairs for a casual dining room? .
But this room is struggling a little with its identity. It’s not entirely faceless, but its face,
or point of view, isn’t convincing. The layered, lacey tablecloth and white painted trim
is too delicate for the black painted chairs. The brass-framed mirrors work with the
lacey tablecloth but are too elegant for the rustic Windsor chairs.
The random placement of the mirrors on the wall look decomposed. They’re not
connected to anything, too small to matter and more distracting than charming.
www.roomplanners.com
THE FIX!
Paint the chairs a milky
white finish. Or sand
down the black paint a
little to create a
weathered finish.
Replace the wall
mirrors with a collage
of pictures. Add frames
in a variety of shapes,
sizes and styles—hang
them close together for
a cluttered, English
Cottage look.
Replace the wall
mirrors with a set of
botanical prints or
watercolors in white-
washed frames.
Add a painted country
buffet cabinet on the
wall.
Layer light cotton or
soft sheer drapes over
the mini-blinds.
12
It‟s not the first color we
think of for interiors.
Maybe that stems from
orange’s long association
with fast-food restaurants,
modern fashions, 1970’s
flower power and shag rugs
that, yes, had to be raked.
But orange has many faces.
Made up of both red and
yellow, it claims traits of
both these warm, attention-
getting colors.
The color of sunrise and
sunset, of zesty tropical
fruit, spices, fall vegetables,
dry leaves and the earth
itself, orange has a variety
of moods. In its deepest
versions, orange becomes
brown.
By it’s very nature, and in
it’s purest form, orange
feels extroverted, happy
and friendly. But deeper
and duller versions of
orange add maturity and
warmth. It’s these complex
tones that are among the
most welcoming colors we
can add to our homes.
Fall-inspired versions of
orange are most popular
for interiors. Toned-down
from bright, attention-
getting oranges, these
earthy hues feels spicy,
delicious and warm.
Given its association with
food, orange is a favorite
for dining rooms. In it’s
richest, zestiest hues, it’s
believed to enhance taste
and improve digestion.
Orange works well with
other warm colors; red and
yellow in particular. Its
complementary color, blue,
brings out its intensity and
truest character. It pairs up
with black at Halloween
for a knock-out duo that’s
memorable and striking.
As a rule, the brighter the
orange used, the more
modern, youthful and
energetic a room feels.
Deep oranges feels exotic
or established. Light or
pastel oranges feel soft and
feminine. Dull or faded
oranges feel sophisticated,
organic or nostalgic.
People who prefer orange
over other colors tend to be
optimistic, energetic and
adventurous. They’re
prone to choose rooms that
are physically comfortable,
fun or sensuous over rooms
that are steeped in history,
nostalgic or ultra efficient.
many moods the
orange of
The color of sunrise and sunset, of zesty tropical fruit, spices, fall leaves and the earth itself… orange has a version for everyone.
13
www.roomplanners.com
ORANGE RULES!
Use bright orange in small
areas. It‟s best suited to
strong shapes and sharp
angles, but always in
moderation.
Use bright orange with
other warm colors to
avoid too much contrast.
Reds and yellows help
tone down its brightness.
Use deep or dull orange on
larger areas—and with
any variety of cool or
warm colors. Equally deep
blues, greens and yellows
will brighten each other.
Use orange to draw
attention to important
areas. Use it on the wall
behind the bed to anchor
the sleeping area. Or place
large furniture in front of
it to moderate its strength.
Use brighter orange where
you don‟t have to look at
it for long periods… a
front entrance, hallway,
or wall behind large
furniture.
Pair the orange you
choose with colors that
have a similar brightness
or dullness.
warm or cool?
Warm oranges have
yellow undertones; they feel
earthy and relaxed.
Cool oranges are still
warm in spirit. But with
red undertones; they feel
substantial and mature.
Decide on the effect you want in your room.
Here’s a simple way to
choose the orange that’s
right for you. Decide on
how you want your room
to feel, then look for an
orange that creates that
kind of feeling.
Here are three ways to
think about this color, with
the corresponding effects!
light or dark?
Light oranges have white
undertones; they feel cool,
sweet, young and feminine.
Dark oranges have black
undertones; they feel old-
fashioned and established.
bright or dull?
Bright oranges look clean
and clear; they feel youth-
ful, modern and dynamic.
Dull oranges look gray or
faded; they feel complex,
nostalgic and weathered.
how to pick the perfect orange!
warm cool light dark dull bright
14
tangerine Behr 270D-5
From the modern palette, tangerine is
friendly, energetic and fun. It’s fresh,
youthful and looks best with modern
furniture, white and synthetic hues.
coral Behr 210C-3
From the couture palette, coral feels feminine, delicate, summery, fresh and
soft. It works best with fancy, carved or shapely furniture, delicate silk,
floral bouquet patterns, embroidered textures and other pastel-like colors
inspired by fruit and flowers.
brick Behr 200F-6
From the traditional palette, brick feels old-fashioned,
reliable, mature and intellectual. It works best with
stately, well-detailed furniture, burnished leathers, plaid,
tapestry and other deep, mature colors.
iced tea Behr 240D-5
From the country palette, tomato and iced tea are warm,
friendly, aromatic and earthy. They work best next to
rustic pine or oak furniture, cotton, rag rugs, folk art and
other colors inspired by the rural lifestyle.
tomato Behr 200D-6
orange
favorite! pick your for interiors.
Attic Heirlooms, Broyhill Furniture
www.broyhillfurniture.com
Varsity, Lea Furniture
www.leafurniture.com
Waverly Place, Hooker Furniture
www.hookerfurniture.com
15
From the chic palette, champagne is sophisticated and sul-
try, dramatic, stylish and sophisticated. Light, dull and
cool, it feels sophisticated next to contemporary, art deco
furniture. Mix with white, black and other cool, chic
neutral colors.
www.roomplanners.com
terracotta Behr 260F-4
From the romantic palette, terracotta is complex and
moody, genteel, generous, smooth and quiet. It looks best
next to weathered antiques, shabby chic furniture, roman-
tic floral patterns, botanical prints and other nostalgic
colors that look weathered by time.
paprika Behr 230D-6
From the global palette, paprika is zesty, aromatic, spicy, fascinating and
abundant. Warm and deep, it works best next to heavily carved or rustic
furniture, ethnic prints, folk arts, hand-crafted artifacts and other colors in-
spired by spices and vegetable dyes.
amber Behr 260D-5
From the classic palette, amber is
distinct, regal, robust and timeless. It
works best with Louis Philippe
furniture, velvet, damask, stripes and
diamond patterns. Mix with jewel
tones such as emerald, saffron, black
or other colors from the classic
palette.
champagne Behr 760A-3
Tribeca, American Drew Furniture
wwww.americandrew.com
Hills of Tuscany, Thomasville
www.thomasville.com
16
Want to create a terror-ific atmosphere at your
Halloween dinner table this fall? Unleash your
imagination and stir up little home-brewed
ambiance by simply renaming your favorite
foods.
Need some inspiration? Check out our menu
for a terror-ific Halloween dinner your ghosts
and goblins will love!
good ideas
www.roomplanners.com
Dinner is served
… if you dare!
MAINS
Worms and eyeballs -
spaghetti & meatballs
Witch’s fingers &
slime sauce - chicken
strips & ranch dress-
ing dyed green
Barbequed bat wings
- chicken wings
Witches’ brew &
Dracula diggers -
chili & tortilla chips
SIDES
Grass & weeds with
sliced toadstools &
witch’s teeth -
salad greens with
mushrooms &
sunflower seeds
Maggots - rice
Rotting teeth - corn
Lizards’ tongues -
sautéed red pepper
strips or carrot sticks
DESSERTS
Shrunken heads -
baked apples
Ghosts - white
chocolate-covered
bananas
Pond scum - Jello
with gummi worms
Bones - bone-shaped
meringue cookies
BEVERAGE
Swamp water -
lemonade
concentrate, lemon-
lime pop & lime
sherbet
for Halloween!
frightfully
17
(Makes 6 servings)
3 medium baking apples (e.g. Empire, Cortland,
Golden Delicious, Ida Red, Honeycrisp)
Lemon juice
5 tbsp (75 mL) packed brown sugar
3 tbsp (45 mL) butter or margarine, melted
1 tsp (5 mL) ground cinnamon
Vanilla ice cream
Chopped nuts (optional)
Wash apples. Cut in half lengthwise; remove cores. Brush
cut sides of apples with lemon juice. Carve eyes, nose and
mouth on peel side of apple halves.
In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, butter and
cinnamon. Brush mixture over face sides of apples.
In a greased or sprayed baking dish, place apples, cut side
down. Pour any remaining brown sugar/butter mixture
over apples.
Bake in a preheated 400F (200C) oven for 10 minutes.
Spoon sauce in bottom of baking dish over apples.
Continue baking until apples are tender, about 8 to 10
minutes longer.
To serve, place one or two scoops of ice cream in 6
dessert bowls. Drizzle sauce over top. Place a warm apple
head in each bowl. Sprinkle chopped nuts over ice cream,
if desired.
Wendi Hiebert is a home economist and food writer, living in Kitchener, Ontario.
For more of her recipes, visit www.CookingQuarters. wordpress.com
quarters cooking
shrunken apple heads (Makes 6 ghosts)
3 bananas
6 popsicle sticks
6 oz (200 g) white chocolate or white chocolate candy
melts, coarsely chopped, or white chocolate chips
12 chocolate chips
Peel bananas; remove any stringy fibers. Cut bananas in
half widthwise. Push a popsicle stick into each half
through the cut end. Cover each banana with plastic wrap
and freeze until firm, about 3 hours.
Place white chocolate in a microwaveable bowl and heat
on High (100% power) for 1 minute; stir. Continue
heating, 30 seconds at a time, until white chocolate is
mostly melted but a few pieces remain. Stir to melt
remaining white chocolate.
Spread or spoon white chocolate over frozen banana
halves. Press chocolate chips in place for eyes.
Set banana ghosts on a waxed paper-covered plate and
place in the freezer until serving time.
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banana ghosts
These dessert ideas will help set the tone for your fright-night menu. If you wish, let everyone carve their own
“shrunken head” dessert or dress their own “ghost”.