vitauta
Executive Chef
trick and treating was innocent good fun in small town upstate new york when i was a kid. we knew most of the people whose houses we went to for treats, knew where the best candies were to be had, who was good for homemade sweets, who handed out money, and the ones who would give each treater a piece of fruit. it was a festive time, we were invited into the living room where the hostess would ooh and ahh over our mostly homemade costumes, elaborately guessing who we were dressed up as, and who we really were. at most of the houses, a separate table was set up with halloween goodies, cider drinks, and fun party type toys. back then, halloween tricks were pretty tame and limited to waxing and soaping of windows, some egging and toilet papering, and a few smashed pumpkins in the streets. it was many years later before stories began surfacing about poisoned candy, razor blades in apples, and abductions. loose candy, popcorn and peanuts, homemade cookies and bakings, and apples and oranges summarily disappeared from the halloween trick or treat scene across the land. surprising enough, the spirit of halloween continues to live on despite obstacles and complications--determined trick and treaters will be knocking on many of our doors come halloween eve, bags extended, eyes smiling, demanding in high pitched voices, "trick or TREE-EET!!".....