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Monkey's Brain Bread oozes with holiday spirit

Photo by Michelle Baker

Monkey's Brain Bread is the perfect Halloween party treat. Guests can dissect the brain as they pull buttery, sticky, creamy layers from this unearthly cerebrum.

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By GREG and MICHELLE BAKER | Tribune correspondents

Published: October 21, 2009

It's the most wonderful tiiimmmmmeee of the year!

We don't hear you singing! Oh, wait. Didn't we open last year's Halloween column like this? Yes. Yes, we did. But that's because, "It's the most wonnnnnnderful tiiiiiiime of the year!"

Some would say we're enthusiastic about Halloween. Others might say we've got some issues that blur the lines of obsession and good taste. We think that it's a little from column A, a little from column B.

Of course, we have already been to Busch Gardens' Howl-O-Scream and Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights … twice. We'll be hitting up Lowry Park Zoo's ZooBoo (because it's awesome and SO cute). Jobsite Theater just opened a stage performance of one of our all-time favorite zombie flicks ever, "Night of the Living Dead" (running through Nov. 15) and "Saw IV," "Zombieland" and "The Final Destination" are still on the Ybor Muvico list. Not to mention, we're hosting our own party this year!

For the latter, transforming Chez Sherpa into a ghoulish, zombie-infested graveyard was a must-do. So we called in the help of a few friends with the only bargaining chip we have: food. We thought a buffet of body parts would be just the ticket for getting our buddies into the proper decorating spirit. After all, this year's theme is "The Butcher Shop."

All right, we admit it. We just really wanted to make Leg-O-Meatloaf, Eyeball-olies and Monkey's Brain Bread.

Monkey's Brain Bread is the perfect before, during and after party treat. Make it ahead of time and reheat it just before serving to get the blood … flowing. Guests can dissect the brain as they pull buttery, sticky, creamy layers from this unearthly cerebrum.

MONKEY'S BRAIN BREAD

• 1 can non-stick Canola spray
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 3 cans of refrigerated biscuits (10 pack, any flavor)
• ½ stick of butter
• ½ cup of brown sugar
• ½ block cream cheese
• 2 tablespoons red food coloring

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray an oval-shaped baking dish with the non-stick spray. Mix the cinnamon and sugar in a bowl. Cut biscuits into quarters. Toss biscuit quarters (4-6 at a time) into the cinnamon mix, ensuring that you completely coat each. Transfer coated biscuit quarters to oiled baking dish. Repeat process until all biscuit quarters are coated and in baking dish.

Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl in your microwave on medium-high for 30 seconds. Stir in brown sugar. Continue heating for another 15-30 seconds until butter is completely melted. Using a fork, stir butter/ brown sugar mix until brown sugar has completely melted. It will resemble melted chocolate.

Pour mixture over the biscuits in the baking dish. Bake at 375 for 40-45 minutes or until the middle is fully baked. Immediately after removing from oven, using oven mitts or towels, turn the baking dish upside-down onto the serving plate. Set aside. In a sauce pan on medium-low, melt the cream cheese. Add 2 tablespoons red food coloring and whisk until smooth. Using a spoon, frost the Brain Bread with the warmed cream cheese frosting allowing the frosting to ooze through the cracks. Remove excess frosting with a paper towel or wax paper. Serve hot.

Visit the Sherpas at www.cooksncompany.com and www.culinarysherpas.com.

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