Misc. Horror: Sweeney Todd: Demon Barber Of Fleet St. (2007)

Art: Blood Feast (1963)

Pagan Era Finnish Christmas Cookies

In some area of Finland traditional shapes for the Pagan era Winter Solstice Fertility ceremony (the real "Christmas") are still made.  Some of them any modern Christmas sweets connoisseur would recognize:  evergreen trees, figures that look like Santa and reindeers.  Others are clearly more pagan nature:  suns, moons, ripened apples, fertility couple.  But there is one...yeah that one close to the upper right...that swastika looking thing!  It's a very old symbol and is curiously found in most human communities in some form the world over.  Usually it represents a type of sun wheel.  In regards to Finnic pre-Christian believe it is supposed represent a power that may relate to women and stars that shine brightest on the Solstice, since that is the shortest day of the year.  These days these cookies are still made is a much more modern fashion and include jam.

Ratatouille

This is one of The Peanut's favorites!  He knows every single word, and even does the sound effects....very percussive!  It's a favorite of mine as well, as I am actually a trained chef, but was never quite crazy enough to try to own a restaurant....and I'm almost as short as Chef Skinner....(voiced by the great Ian Holm).  I've mentioned this before, but it bears repeating  that the character of Colette, voiced brilliantly by Janeane Garofalo, is based on one of the first truly independent successful chefs in France by the name of Olympe Versini.  I will admit that I am not that big a fan of haute de cuisine of France, especially Paris, but I have been a fan of hers for decades.  Good stuff.  Her photo below. Sorry, I know this is a "horror blog," but the chef in me just can't quite resist.

On In The Den: Scooby Doo And The Hassle In The Castle