What a Circus!

Every year at FOOD & WINE, the art department celebrates Halloween in a big way. We're not just talking pumpkins and spider webs, here. We really transform ourselves into some obscure theme, and this year we went with Under the Big Top. Past years have included Octoberfest, an old time saloon, a pizza parlor and even the band Devo. Take a look at some of the days highlights. Judging by our costumes, maybe we have become a little too comfortable around each other...what do you think?

Smooth as Pierre, the tight rope walker, yours truly as the gender defying Claud(ine), LeAnna as Esmerelda the fortune teller and Rory as strongman

Some of our circus features included: a popcorn and cotton candy machine, black cherry rum cocktails, fried oreos, corndogs, apple pies, bacon popcorn and excessive spandex. Hey strongman, you could have at least stood up to weightlift.A few trips to Goodwill and a dress from high school dances past made the ultimate sacrifice for my gender defying costume. We printed out vintage circus posters and pasted them all over our desks. The fried Oreos were really simple to make. Now, I don't condone making these as a snack every day, but everyone should try a fried Oreo at least once in their life!

Fried Oreos

(makes about 20)

INGREDIENTS

1 cup pancake mix

1 egg

1 cup milk

2 tsp. vegetable oil

1 15.5 oz. bag of Oreos, frozen for about an hour (this helps when frying)

about 2 quarts vegetable oil for frying

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large, deep saucepan, heat your oil to 375 degrees. (You'll know the oil is ready when you place a drop of batter in, and it immediately rises to the top and starts to fry. If it falls to the bottom of the pan, the oil's not hot enough.)

2. Mix pancake mix, egg, milk and oil in large bowl. 

3. Working with three Oreo's at a time, place the cookie in the batter, and using a fork, coat each cookie thoroughly with the batter. 

4. Fry the Oreo until batter is golden brown and puffed up. Using a slotted spoon, remove and place on a rack over paper towels to cool. 

5. For a finishing touch, sprinkle fried Oreo's with 1 tablespoon confectioners sugar. Enjoy! 

Black cherry soda made the cocktails a perfect side show! (Check out the menagerie) 

Did I mention it was work as usual all day long?