Posted on Sep 29, 2014 in
DELICIOUS
By Stephenie Cox –
Halloween fun is in the air, and it is contagious. From toddlers to teens, everyone is up for neighborhood block parties and trick-or-treating. As I reflect on my own youthful Halloween experience, the nostalgia of digging through drawers and borrowing things from friends to pull a costume together floods my mind. That angel costume from a church play is now the beginning of a ghost, and a pile of beads and hoop earrings are on their way to becoming the centerpiece of the perfect gypsy costume. The possibilities were endless. How different it is today with costume super centers everywhere and decorations galore with neighbors vying for the scariest house. Back then, we just tried to avoid the creepy guy’s house.
Some things don’t change. First stop for trick-or-treating is the house that gives out full-size candy bars and of course, to avoid the dentist who gives out toothbrushes. Neighborhood families come together to entertain and enjoy the fellowship of their neighbors. It’s a great time to share some spooky treats. Here are a few ideas for your Halloween get together that the entire family can have a hand in making.
Pumpkin Rice Krispies Treats
T o make these, you will need to use a Wilton Ice Cream Cup Pan or just roll treats into pumpkin shape balls with your hands. Use your favorite Rice Krispies treats recipe, and while you melt the marshmallows and butter, add a little orange, red or yellow to create a nice, bright orange color.
When the molded treats cool, place two together to create a pumpkin shape. Use green cookie icing to draw on some vines and black for the eyes and mouth. Place a tootsie roll on top for a great looking stem.
Yummy Mummies
For a savory party treat, you can’t go wrong with a spooky version of pigs in a blanket. Use your favorite hot dogs and crescent rolls. Follow the preheating instruction for crescent rolls while assembling the mummies. For each mummy, make strips from the crescent rolls and wrap on hotdogs creating the hat and the body to look like they are wrapped in gauze. Follow baking instructions for the rolls. Let cool slightly, and use mustard for the peeking eyes.
Scared Berries
Wash 30 fresh strawberries, and gently pat with paper towels until dry. Melt eight ounces of chopped white baking chocolate with one teaspoon shortening in the microwave, and stir until smooth. Stir in 1/3 teaspoon of almond extract. Dip strawberries in chocolate mixture and place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Before the chocolate hardens, add mini chocolate chips for the eyes. Freeze for five minutes. Melt some of the mini chocolate chips and use a toothpick to draw a mouth on each strawberry.
Boo Cupcakes
What is Halloween without a little booing? For these, you will need one container of Cool Whip, three dozen mini chocolate cupcakes – your favorite box mix works fabulous – mini chocolate chips and regular chocolate chips.
Use a plastic bag with a corner snipped off. Fill the bag with Cool Whip and pipe the cream into peaks on each cupcake. Place two mini chocolate chips as eyes and one regular chocolate chip as a mouth on each ghost, flat ends facing out. Refrigerate for a few hours before serving, and prepare for all of the smiles and giggles you will receive when they are enjoyed.
Marshmallow Pops
These adorable morsels are a non-cook’s dream for a big “wow” at Halloween festivities. All you need to make these are orange and yellow Wilton candy melts, a bag of large marshmallows – the bigger the better – some pop sticks, clear treat bags and Halloween ribbon.
Dip 2/3 of the marshmallow in the orange candy melt, let it cool and fully dry, and then dip the bottom third of the marshmallow in the yellow candy melt. Once the marshmallow pop is completely cooled and dried, wrap and tie the pops with ribbon, and they are ready to go. Sit back and enjoy a festive dessert to go.
