Holy Pumpkins Batman, it’s that time of year again, Halloween! The stunning red and orange foliage, apple picking, and chilly weather that require increasingly more cups of your seasonal favorite pumpkin spice lattes, all signal that fall is officially here and so is a favorite holiday for so many.

If Halloween is your favorite holiday, it’s probably safe to assume that you’ll be playing host to your favorite ghosts and ghouls on October 31, or the weekend proceeding it.

If so, here a few Halloween food and drink ideas:

Themed Food Options

Although several Halloween party tables will include dishes made with pumpkin or candied apples, the most fun and creative Halloween dishes adhere to a creepy crawly theme, decorated in the spirit of the holiday.

Think treats designed like mummies, snakes, spiders, eyeballs, monsters, pumpkins or even just a theme of orange and black.

Spooktacular Witches’ Brew Cocktails

We all know the best Halloween party options are festive, stiff, and just a bit creepy.

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At Catering by Michaels, we have to admit that one of our most favorite meals is one that many wouldn’t consider “necessary”. Of course, we’d beg to differ—dessert is the most important meal of the day (ok, after breakfast that is).

Our obsession with sweets is apparent when taking the time to look through our current menus. We pride ourselves on a dessert menu that is as innovative as it is delicious. Check it out. Who knows? You may find a new favorite.

A LA CARTE

MINT RICE KRISPY SQUARES

Garnished with peppermint patties.

OREO® RICE KRISPY SQUARES

Garnished with an itty bitty Oreo®.

MINIATURE TIRAMISU PUSH-POPS

Layers of cookies and mascarpone mousse garnished with a chocolate covered coffee bean.

CANDY BAR PIE 

Layers of salty caramel and peanut butter nougat baked in a chocolate crust, and garnished with chocolate covered pretzels. A staff favorite!

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Yom Kippur, marking the day of God’s forgiveness, is one of the most important holidays on the Hebcal Jewish Calendar. It closes the “Ten Days of Repentance”, which started with Rosh Hashanah.

The holiday literally translates as “Day of Atonement”, as the faithful ask forgiveness for their sins in the past year and blessing as they begin the New Year.

Yom Kippur, part of the High Holidays, is characterized by fasting and feasting as the members of the community strengthen their bonds. Because the months of the Jewish Calendar follow the lunar cycle, Yom Kippur is not held on the same day of the civic calendar every year, though it usually occurs between September and October.

This year (2017) it will begin Friday, September 29 and ends the evening of September 30.

The feasting starts the day before Yom Kippur, with everyone eating and drinking in abundance. On this day, two celebratory meals are consumed: one early in the day and another moments before the onset of Yom Kippur, as the holiday’s central component is in fact fasting.

Because the fasting period lasts for a little more than 25 hours, after the Erev Yom Kippur meal until the following evening, those who are too feeble, sick, or young to safely fast are not required to do so. However, healthy females from the age of 12 and males from the age of 13 must fast as part of the tradition. Those well enough to do so often add a few minutes to the beginning and end of the day of fasting, which is known as tosefet Yom Kippur.

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The Jewish New Year traditionally kicks off in Fall with Rosh Hashanah, which translates from Hebrew to “Head of the New Year.” Marking the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, Rosh Hashanah comprises the first two days of a 10 day period of prayer, repentance, and charity in Judaism.

The holiday takes place at the beginning of the Hebrew month of Tishrei. Because the Hebrew calendar measures months based on the lunar cycle and years in correspondence to the solar cycle, the celebrations slide around on the secular calendar, but usually occur between September and October.

This year (2017) it will start on Wednesday, September 20 and end on Friday, September 22.

Rosh Hashanah serves as the first of the “Ten Days of Repentance”, which marks man’s first sin and his repentance. The Ten Days of Repentance begin with Rosh Hashanah and end in celebration with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

Some of the customs that take place during Rosh Hashanah include:

• Sounding the shofar, which is to alert listeners of the coming judgment
• Eating a round challah, which symbolizes the circle of life
• Eating apples dipped in honey to usher in a sweet New Year
• Eating of pomegranate to bring a year full of mitzvot and good deeds

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Have you met the lovely Cynthia (call her “Cindy”) Senecal? She’s an amazing member of the Catering by Michaels team, working in the Accounting Department as the Accounts Receivable Specialist since 2008.

It’s always fun to see what makes our staff tick, and Cindy had a lot to say about her time at Catering by Michaels, and what she likes to do outside of work!

What did you do before working here?

Did I even have a life before CBM?  Honestly, what I did was nothing exciting: Banking, Management Office of Currency Exchanges.

I will say that regardless of where I’ve been and where I’m going, I’m all about Accountancy – only.  Accountancy is my life. I wouldn’t be as happy in another role!

What does a typical work day look like?

It involves lots of computer time divvied up between bookkeeping, invoicing, accounts receivable, and assisting with accounts payable. But I make sure to take breaks as I need them to sample the delicious dishes being cooked up in the kitchen!

What’s the best part of your job?

I love my team – from the executive level on, they are great people to work with! It wouldn’t be the same without the amazing people I share my time with.

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