October first is just around the corner and that means the countdown is on for Halloween!!
Children of all ages look forward to the time honored tradition of wearing a great costume and trick-or-treating! There is no excitement quite like coming home with a bag full of free candy, but it is still important to keep your kids safe and the inevitable “sugar rush” manageable. Before trick-or-treating, it is always a good idea to discuss with your child how important it is to check out the goodies at home before eating, it can become a family tradition, make it even more fun by letting your children trade for favorites!! Be sure to dispose of any candy that has already bbeen opened or that might look really old, and also discard any trats that potentially be a choking hazard.
Also, before hitting the town to trick-or-treat, feed your children a healthy meal, it will reduce the temptation of gobbling up the sugary treats. Make a plan for enjoying the fun treats, limit the pieces of candy per day amounts and after a specific time frame donate to a non-profit!
Spooktacular Halloween RecipesPumpkin Pudding Ghosts
Ingredients – Pudding- 1 package gelatin
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup sugar
- 6 large egg yolks
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree
- 2 large egg whites
- ⅓ cup sugar
- ½ tsp cream of tartar
- Pinch of salt
- Small candy eyes
- Sprinkle gelatin over 1 Tbsp cold water in a bowl; let bloom.
- Whisk milk, sugar, yolks, cinnamon, and salt in a heat-proof bowl. Place over boiling water, whisk until thickened (10–12 min).
- Remove from heat, whisk into gelatin, then add pumpkin.
- Divide into 12 small cups and chill 4–8 hours.
- For topping, whisk egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar, and salt over boiling water until hot and sugar dissolves (1–2 min). Beat until stiff peaks form.
- Spoon topping onto puddings in ghost shapes, add candy eyes, and chill until serving.
Pumpkin Spice Granola Yogurt Cups
Ingredients- 3 ¼ cups rolled oats
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup canned pumpkin
- ¼ cup applesauce
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup chopped pecans
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray muffin tins.
- Mix oats, spices, and salt. In another bowl, whisk sugar, pumpkin, applesauce, honey, and vanilla. Combine wet and dry ingredients.
- Fold in pecans. Spoon ¼ cup mixture into muffin cups and press firmly into cup shapes.
- Bake 35 minutes until golden. Cool completely before removing.
- Fill with yogurt and decorate with fruit and chocolate chips for spooky faces.
Sweet Treat Popcorn Balls
Ingredients- Canola oil (for greasing)
- 12 cups popped popcorn
- 3 cups dried fruit (raisins, cherries, apricots, figs)
- 1 ¼ cups sugar
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup corn syrup
- ½ cup water
- Toss popcorn and fruit in a greased bowl. Prepare wax-paper-lined pans.
- Boil sugars, corn syrup, and water until 260°F.
- Carefully pour over popcorn mix, stir with oiled fork.
- With oiled hands, shape into 3-inch balls. Cool completely. Store airtight up to 4 days.
Super Simple Mummy Meatloaf Bites
Ingredients- 1 lb ground beef
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup Parmesan, shredded
- 1 egg
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 package puff pastry, thawed
- Ketchup (for eyes)
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Mix beef, breadcrumbs, cheese, egg, garlic, salt, and pepper. Shape into small flattened loaves.
- Wrap with puff pastry strips to look like mummies.
- Bake 20–25 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
- Add ketchup eyes before serving.
Witch Hat Calzones
Ingredients- 1 package refrigerated pizza dough
- 1 cup mozzarella, shredded
- ½ cup mini pepperoni
- ½ cup marinara sauce
- 1 egg, beaten
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Roll dough and cut into triangles.
- Mix cheese and pepperoni. Place spoonfuls on wide ends of triangles.
- Fold, seal edges, and brush with egg.
- Bake 15–20 minutes until golden. Serve with extra marinara.
