(NewsUSA) - The kids may be out trick-or-treating, but 70% of U.S. adults say they are celebrating Halloween at home, and approximately half of them will be hosting a party, according to a recent survey by the National Retail Federation. A suitably ghoulish gathering calls for a spooktacular and memorable menu.

When planning your Halloween party, you can keep it fun and simple without the hassle. Try these easy, delicious ideas that will let you spend more time enjoying the party and less time prepping.

Scoop narrow dollops of sour cream onto a serving platter, add peppercorns for eyes, and transform them into sour cream ghosts to pair with your spicy dip and chips. For a spooky twist, drizzle caramel in a spider web pattern over apple slices, or melt chocolate into a large spider web on a wooden board. Once it hardens, top with pretzels just before guests arrive, and sprinkle edible spiders or candy bugs to complete the creepy-crawly look!

For your Halloween drinks, Seagram's Escapes makes it easy to brew up a wickedly delicious Monster Margarita—no tricks, just treats! Whether you're serving party guests or sipping at home while handing out candy, this spooky cocktail features the citrusy burst of Seagram’s Escapes Jamaican Me Smile and takes less than 10 minutes to conjure up. Perfect for a frightfully fun night! 

Monster Margarita

Makes: 4-5 servings

Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

- 2 cans Seagram’s Escapes Jamaican Me Smile

- 1 cup apple cider

- 1/2 cup tequila blanco

- 2 limes, juiced

- 1 lime, sliced

- 1 orange

- Black sea salt, for rim

Additional equipment for more Halloween flair:

- Pumpkin shaped cookie cutter

- Halloween cocktail picks

Directions

1. Prepare the Fruit: Slice 1 lime into rounds. If desired, use the peel of half of an orange to create orange peel pumpkins with a cookie cutter. Slice the other half of the orange into thin slices.

2. Prepare the Glasses: Pour black sea salt to a shallow dish. Run a lime wedge around the rim of each cocktail glass. Submerge the rim of the glass in the black salt until coated.

3. Prepare the Cocktail: Combine Seagram’s Escapes Jamaican Me Smile, apple cider, tequila, lime slice, and orange slices in a large pitcher. Stir until blended. Pour the mixture into the prepared glasses over ice. Garnish each glass with a bit of orange or pumpkin peel and a cocktail pick if desired.

 Visit seagramescapes.com/seagrams-recipes for more ideas and information.

(NewsUSA) - Have you ever thought about how you can buy most fresh fruits year-round?  Think hemispheres: The U.S. is located in the Northern Hemisphere, so when certain fruits are out of season here, they are being grown, harvested, and shipped to your local grocery store by countries in the Southern Hemisphere. 

This fall, when you see fresh citrus fruits such as mandarins and navel oranges, they are likely coming from the South American country of Chile, which ships citrus to the U.S. from late spring through fall.

You can enjoy Chilean mandarins from June through November and navels from July into early November.  From June through October, the U.S. also receives fresh lemons from Chile to complement our domestic supply.

As we "fall" into the cooler months of autumn, take advantage of fresh, delicious Chilean citrus fruits for some frightfully delicious treats for your Halloween party!

Bubbling Witches Brew:

3 1/2 cups fresh Chilean mandarin orange juice

1/2 cup fresh Chilean lemon juice

1 cup chilled sweet sparkling soda

Chill freshly squeezed mandarin orange juice and lemon juice.  Before serving, pour the orange juice and lemon juice mix into a punch bowl or pitcher. Stir in 1 cup chilled sweet sparkling soda and ice cubes. Taste for sweetness, and add a bit of sugar if needed. To garnish, peel and slice mandarin oranges and arrange them in glasses or a punchbowl.  Serves 5.

Spook-tacular Fruit Cups:

1 orange for each Fruit Cup
Orange pieces
Melon balls
Grapes
Blueberries

Use one orange for each fruit cup. Cut off the top 1/5 of the orange and use a paring knife to separate the fruit from the inside of the orange, being careful not to cut through the peel. You don’t need to get all the flesh out, just enough to fill with the fruit. If necessary, shave a small amount of peel off the bottom so the cups sit level, being careful not to create an opening in the base. Use a paring knife to carve faces and fill each cup with your choice of orange pieces, melon balls, grapes, and blueberries.

For recipes and more information, visit fruitsfromchile.com/recipes.

(NewsUSA) - Nearly half of Americans (46%) report eating at least three snacks per day, according to research from data insights firm Circana. While many people reach for not-so-healthy snacks, there are many options for intentional snacking on foods that are deliciously indulgent and pack a nutritional punch.

Kiwifruit is one example of a food perfectly suited for smart snacking. These fuzzy little fruits are packed with vitamins and flavor. Just one serving of kiwifruit contains more vitamin C than 2 oranges! Also, kiwifruit delivers 89% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin K, which helps the body make proteins needed for blood clotting and bone-building.

Want better digestion? Kiwifruit has 5 grams of fiber in a one-cup serving (21% of the recommended daily value). Just slice, scoop, and enjoy! Kiwifruit also provides 21% of the recommended daily amount of potassium, which plays a role in maintaining heart health.

Kiwifruit are available from California during the fall and winter months, but at this time of the year, the kiwifruit you'll see at your local supermarket comes from Chile. With its location in the Southern Hemisphere, Chile offers access to many of the fruits we love during the opposite season from when they are available in the United States!

The easiest way to eat a kiwifruit is to simply slice and scoop, but kiwifruit makes a colorful and refreshing addition to many dishes and drinks, both sweet and savory. If you want to take your kiwifruit snacks up a notch, try these easy, tasty recipes.

 Kiwifruit Parfait: This parfait is a simple treat that feels fancy and tastes great at any time of day. Peel and chop 5 Chilean kiwis into bite-sized pieces. Layer the pieces in a tall glass or pint-sized jar with granola and yogurt. Drizzle honey on top for an extra dose of yum!

Tropical Smoothie: A quick and savory smoothie is perfect for busy mornings. Blend 4 Chilean kiwis, 1 banana, 1 cup of spinach, and half a cup of milk in a blender or food processor. Pour into a glass or mug, or take along in an insulated cup or thermos and enjoy a nutritious, delicious start to the day.

For more information and recipe ideas, visit fruitsfromchile.com/recipes.

(NewsUSA) - It's that time of year again! The time between summer and fall when some people start thinking about leaves and football, while others aren’t quite ready to trade in their flip-flops for flannel.

Join us in raising a glass to "sum-all" season! It's the perfect time to enjoy the best of both worlds, blending the warmth of summer with the crispness of fall. Whether you’re clinging to those last beach days or eagerly anticipating cozy evenings by the fire, this season lets you do it all. So, grab your drink of choice, fire up the grill, and make the most of this special time of year.

Check out this sampling of sum-all favorites made at the Genesee Brewery in Upstate New York and available at select retailers across the U.S.  

-Black Cherry flavor provides bridge to fall. Genesee Black Cherry Vanilla Kellerbier continues the Genesee tradition of releasing seasonal beers on the cusp between seasons. The Black Cherry Vanilla Kellerbier combines the tart sweetness of black cherry with a hint of smooth vanilla that is refreshing on a warm summer day and also a perfect complement to a brisk fall game day afternoon.

-Light beer wins through late summer. Labatt Blue Light Grapefruit, a summer seasonal beer, is perfectly suited to shift into fall and enjoy on the golf course.

-Green and citrusy “sum-all” to a T. Nothing says summer like iced tea, but the right tea flavors span the seasons. Lipton Hard Iced Tea Citrus Green Tea works on the patio by the pool, or at an early fall outdoor concert or sporting event.

-Kick off the fall with pure refreshment. Made with real cane sugar and fruit juice, Seagram's Escapes Refreshers are available in fruit flavor combinations including Strawberry Acai, Pineapple Cherry, Mango Orange and Kiwi Lime. Refreshers are a perfect ready to enjoy option for any social gathering.  

Visit Fifcousa.com and Genesee Brewery (geneseebeer.com) for more information on these and other “sum-all” drinks made at the brewery. Also, be sure to share your sum-all moments with #GennySumAll and be part of the “sum-all” celebration.

(NewsUSA) - As Fourth of July approaches, so do summer celebrations. Festive occasions indoors or outdoors, call for great food and summer favorites like hot dogs and barbeque. No matter where the party or what menu you choose, a signature drink is sure to enhance any summer get together!

Make your Fourth of July or any summer occasion sparkle brighter with Star-Spangled Punch. Featuring the sweet and tangy pineapple flavor of Seagram’s Escapes new Jamaican Me Sunny, the punch recipe combines just a few ingredients and fresh fruit to make a delicious, creative summer sipper to enhance any event.  

Star-Spangled Punch

1/4 cup blueberries

1/4 cup sliced strawberries

1 lemon, sliced

Watermelon

2 7.5 oz cans Seagram’s Escapes Jamaican Me Sunny

1/2 cup whiskey

1 1/2 cups lemonade

Mint leaves, as desired

½ cup of club soda

To prepare the punch, cut a thin slice of watermelon and use a cookie cutter to cut watermelon into star shapes. Prepare and slice other fruit.

Fill a pitcher with ice and add all the prepared fruit to the pitcher. Then, add Seagram’s Escapes Jamaican Me Sunny, club soda, whiskey, lemonade and mint. Stir to combine.

To save time on party day, slice the fruit and make your watermelon shapes in advance and keep refrigerated until it’s time to assemble the punch. If serving a crowd, multiply the above recipe as needed, get out your favorite festive punch bowl and ladle, and float the watermelon shapes in the bowl.

Divide into glasses and enjoy at a Fourth of July cookout, graduation party, birthday, wedding, or any other summer celebration.        

As with any recipes in the Seagram’s Escapes collection, you can make this one your own. Create a unique drink for a particular event, customize with extra spirits or your favorite fruits. Have other cookie cutters? Try mixing up the stars with sun shapes, hearts, or flowers.

As warmer weather kicks in, try freezing any Seagram’s Escapes flavor or even mix with lemonade then blend for the ultimate adult slushy.

Visit seagramsescapes.com for more information and other summer recipe ideas.

(NewsUSA) - Being a mom can be challenging, but celebrating Mother’s Day and other spring events can be easy. What better way to celebrate moms and spring than with a brunch or an outdoor cocktail hour on the deck or patio?

Festive spring occasions call for a menu to match. For a spring party, think airy quiches, fruit parfaits, flaky croissants, and refreshing drinks.

Make Mom’s day or any spring celebration extra special with a Seagram’s Escapes Strawberry Mamarita featuring the perfectly sweet and tangy flavor of Seagram’s Escapes Jamaican Me Happy, a unique blend of lemon, watermelon, strawberry and guava.

The directions are simple; five minutes and a few ingredients and you have the perfect spring cocktail that enhances any event and adapts to any menu, from casual to elegant.

Seagram’s Escapes Strawberry Mamarita

-  1 strawberry

-  1 oz. tequila

-  1 lime, juiced

-  1/2 cup Seagram’s Escapes Jamaican Me Happy

-  Sea salt, for rim of glass

-  Watermelon slice and strawberry, for garnish                                                                                                                                         

To prepare the Mamarita, start by adding sea salt to a shallow dish. Take a lime slice and run it around the edge of a margarita glass, then dip the glass into the salt until the rim is well coated.

Slice the strawberry into a cocktail shaker and muddle until it is broken down, then add tequila, lime juice, and ice, and shake until chilled. Strain the chilled mixture into the prepared margarita glass over ice. For the grand finale, top with ½ cup of Seagram’s Escapes Jamaican Me Happy, and garnish with another strawberry and a watermelon slice, if desired.

As with any recipes in the Seagram’s Escapes collection, you can make this one your own. Create a unique drink for a particular event, customize with extra spirits or add your favorite fruits.

Enjoy at a Mother’s Day event, bridal shower, wedding, graduation, or any other spring celebration.

As warmer weather kicks in, try freezing Jamaican Me Happy or any Seagram’s Escapes flavors mixed with lemonade, then blend for the ultimate adult slushy.

Visit seagramsescapes.com for more information and other recipe ideas for spring and summer.

(NewsUSA) - As every adult knows, Halloween is not just for kids. Grown-ups may not be out ringing the neighbors’ doorbells, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be having fun.

When planning your adult Halloween party, don’t be afraid to get creative with food and drinks based on your theme. Dress up your hot dogs or pigs in a blanket as severed fingers, draw a spider web on your bowl of dip with sour cream for savory, whipped cream or chocolate for sweet. You can’t go wrong with ghost or pumpkin cookies, and the variations are endless.

For drinks, what’s a Halloween party without a punch bowl. Take your drinks up a notch by serving them in a cauldron. If you really want to freak your guests out, you could even buy a zombie hand that can hold the ladle for serving.

These boozy Halloween punch recipes are definitely a treat and not a trick. However, you can make your guests think twice by chilling the drinks with eyeball or skull ice cubes.

Did you know that dry ice emits a foggy substance when it mixed with a liquid? If you want your cauldron to steam, try adding some food-grade dry ice to the punch right before guests arrive. Since it’s cold, it’ll also work to keep the drinks chilled.

Finally, fill your cauldron (or glass) with Witch’s Berry Brew, made special with the distinctive flavor of Seagram Escapes Berry Mimosa.

- 3/4 cup Seagram’s Escapes Berry Mimosa

- 1 oz vodka

- 1/4 oz blue curacao

- Lime wedge

- 1/4 cup berries, plus more for garnish

The directions are frightfully simple. Combine Seagram’s Escapes Berry Mimosa, vodka, blue curacao and juice from the lime wedge to a mixing glass or pitcher and stir to combine.

Next, add 1/4 cup of berries to a 17-ounce wine glass. Fill the glass with crushed ice. Pour the cocktail mixture into the glass. If desired, garnish with berries.

Visit seagramescapes.com/seagrams-recipes for more ideas and information.

(NewsUSA) - A cookie is a baked or cooked snack or dessert that is typically small, flat and sweet. It usually contains flour, sugar, egg, and some type of oil, fat, or butter. It may include other ingredients such as raisins, oats, chocolate chips, nuts, etc.

We also enjoy chocolate chip cookies.

In most English-speaking countries except for the United States, crunchy cookies are called biscuits. Many Canadians also use this term. Chewier biscuits are sometimes called cookies even in the United Kingdom.[3] Some cookies may also be named by their shape, such as date squares or bars.

Biscuit or cookie variants include sandwich biscuits, such as custard creams, Jammie Dodgers, Bourbons and Oreos, with marshmallow or jam filling and sometimes dipped in chocolate or another sweet coating. Cookies are often served with beverages such as milk, coffee or tea and sometimes "dunked", an approach which releases more flavour from confections by dissolving the sugars,[4] while also softening their texture. Factory-made cookies are sold in grocery stores, convenience stores and vending machines. Fresh-baked cookies are sold at bakeries and coffeehouses, with the latter ranging from small business-sized establishments to multinational corporations such as Starbucks.