The Brain Platter
The brain platter is simple to make and kids love to poke at it. The brain mold can be purchased in mail order catalogs around Halloween or from many websites for apprximately $7.00. It comes with the recipe to create a life-like looking brain. A few days before Halloween, I make some spaghetti. I put half of it in one ziploc bag with blue food coloring and the other half in another ziploc bag with red food coloring. Mix the food-coloring with the spaghetti and let it sit in the refrigerator. The spaghetti will absorb the food coloring and turn dark blue and red. Take the brain and put it in the middle of the platter and spread the blue and red spaghetti around it. Then add some eyeballs, fingers, insects, etc. to the platter.
I call attention to the platter by putting it on a black box. It is illuminated with bloody candles. I also add a sound-activated rubber rat caught in a trap, which starts thumping around when the kids approach. Since they usually carry flashlights, they point their light to the hollow-sounding thumping coming from the box and are startled by the rat and brain platter.
How to make the Brain.
Wash entire cavity of the plastic mold using a soft sponge. Use dishwashing soap and warm water before and after every use. Take care not to puncture holes in the thin areas of the plastic mold during washing. (The recipe should be combined under adult supervision.)
Recipe and Instructions for Flesh-Toned Brain
Ingredients:
(3) Large boxes (net wt. 6 ounces each box) of peach or watermelon-flavored gelatin
(1) Can (net wt. 12 ounces) lite evaporated skimmed milk (99.5% fat free)
(note: No other milk will work)Green food coloring
3 1/2 cups of water total (2 1/2 cups boiled and 1 cup cold)
1. Spray or smear a small amount of vegetable oil (2 teaspoon) to entire cavity of the plastic mold. Wipe out excess oil from cavity and set mold aside. Make sure cavity of mold is completely dry before applying the oil.
2. Put flavored gelatin in a large bowl. Add 2 1/2 cups boiling water. Stir until completely dissolved. (approx. 3 min) Use whisk for stirring. Large fork will do.
3. Stir in 1 cup cold water.
4. Stir in skimmed milk (stir 2 min.)
5. Add a few drops of green food coloring to darken. Use green coloring only when making flesh-colored brain.
6. Pour gelatin mixture into the plastic mold, but, don't fill to the top. Fill the mold, leaing approx. one inch of space from the top. Set the mold on stand and refrigerate overnight.
(If clear brain is desired, leave out skimmed milk and add an additional 1 1/2 cups of cold water.)
