Treat of the Week: A Sweetly Spooky Treat

Since King George V and Queen Mary presided over last year’s Halloween celebration at my parents’ house, we thought it only appropriate that we go back in time one reign further so that King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra could do the same this year. 

Here we have Their Majesties in pumpkin form. King Edward looks quite regal in a paper version of the Imperial State Crown. Meanwhile, Queen Alexandra sports her own ear trumpet since she was, after all, quite deaf. “Bertie I can’t hear you,” she seems to say as they guard this year’s gorgeous Spider Cake and cupcakes—a family Halloween tradition. But, more about that later. 

We started the evening with a lovely frittata of egg, cheese, potatoes, broccoli and artichoke hearts. Served up with crust ciabatta rolls, pancetta, imported cheeses and a hearty salad of spinach, olives, radishes, artichoke hearts, hearts of palm and other fresh greens, it was a beautiful contrast of flavors, hot can cold. 

And, then…the famous Spider Cake! I look forward to this each year. Rich, moist chocolate cake in split layers, this year it was filled with vanilla icing. Of course, the chocolate frosting is adorned with big orange spiders—each with his own expression. They’re happy spiders and they don’t mind being eaten. Gorgeous cupcakes, each with their own happy arachnid completed the feast. 

Take a look!