Halloween is a special time, where children get to dress up and pretend, they get to eats lots of goodies and have a Halloween party event. Celebrating Halloween today is different then when I was a child. Not many children go "Trick or Treating" today. In my area the children gather uptown and go from store to store to collect their goodies. So, I came up with some yummies for children to make at home and to enjoy at their Halloween Party if they have one.

One of the fun things to do is change the name of the recipes so they sound spooky and creepy. Okay let's start cooking shall we?

"Okay, little kiddies and your parents too, lets get the cauldron down and begin this show!
Make your list and follow it twice, just make sure you have everything nice. Double Double-toil and trouble, The Fire burns and cauldron bubbles, Double Double boil and bubble- Stir these treats and do not cause trouble"

Slim Dripped EyeBall Punch (Potion)

Spirit or Ginger Ale
quart of Orange Juice
Lime or Lemon sherbet/sorbet
Green Melon Balls
red spaghetti licorice

You will need to be the judge on the amounts you use. One bottle of soda to a pint of sherbet is usually what I used. Cut your melon by using one of those round scoops and set them in the freezer.

Before you get ready to serve this potion, put your sherbet in the bowl, add the orange juice, slowly add the sprite or ginger ale, and add the melon balls last. Add a few drops of green food coloring to the mixture. Add enough so it is that gross green color. Cut the spaghetti licorice in small pieces and add a small amount to the glasses (the veins, haahahah)

You want to try to make a fun drink for the little ones without tons of sugar.

Graveyard Cupcakes

1 1/2 cups of brown sugar
1/2 cup of butter
3/4 cup of graveyard dirt (cocoa)
1/8 teaspoon of salt
2 eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
2 cups of flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup of milk

Cream together the sugar, butter and add the salt and cocoa. Add eggs and vanilla and beat well for 3 minutes. Slowly add the flour, baking soda and milk. Mix well for another 3 minutes. Use a 1/4 measuring cup and pour mixture into the pan that is lined with cupcake papers. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes; let your parent do the tooth pick check.

After the cupcakes are nice and cooled, you will begin to decorate them.

Frosting

3 tablespoons of peanut butter
3 tablespoons of soft butter
1 teaspoon of vanilla
3 tablespoons of cocoa
2 cups of powdered sugar
2-4 tablespoons of milk (always start with lowest amount)

Use some plain white frosting and put some into a baggie. Get some plain chocolate bars and break into a few pieces (to use for grave markers) Using the baggie with the white frosting-snip the corner of the baggie to use as a pen, write R.I.P. or your friends name on the chocolate pieces and after the frosting drys, stick that piece of chocolate in the middle of each cupcake.

Brain Treats Dipped in Black Ants

2 1/2 cups of Oats
2 1/4 cups of Rice Krispies ceral
1 cup of coconut
1 cup of rasins
1 cup of peanuts

In a separate pan melt together:

1 bag of small marshmallows
1/2 cup of butter
1/4 cup of peanutbutter
1/8 cup of honey

Mix together with the dry ingredients. Line some muffin pans with cupcake holders and use a large ice cream scoop and fill the cupcakes sleeves. **Be sure to press the trail mix firmly in the pan so it holds its shape.**

After all of the cupcakes sleeves are filled with the trail mixture (BRAINS) roll them in chocolate sprinkles (ANTS). **Be sure to set back into cupcake sleeve in the muffin pan so they can settle.**

**okay I know, this is pretty much a healthy treat but they are so good! And keep well in an air tight container**

Chipped Tombstone Bites with Dried Bugs

1 bag chocolate chips
1 bag peanut butter chips

Melt together in a double boiler. I use a metal bowl over a pot of boiling water. Make sure the chips are completely melted. Go ahead and line your cookie sheet with parchment paper or waxed paper do not use foil, I made the mistake and used that once and it stuck to the chocolate

1 cup of nuts (your choice)
1 cup of raisins or dried cran-rasins
1 cup of coconut

Mix the nuts, raisins and coconut into the chocolate. You need to work sort of fast here, pour that mixture onto the lined cookie sheet and spread it thin. After it hardens, break it up into small pieces. This is a good little treat to wrap in those little Halloween bags to give to your friends or guest!!

(I have made this with only using dried cherry cran-rasins also!)

Now that we have added the "Sweets" let's add some party foods!!

Stuff Bones: (Mini Flatbread Cheeseburger Wraps)

1 cup of all purpose flour

1 Teaspoon of baking powder

2 Tablespoons of powdered buttermilk

2 Tablespoons of Canola Oil

¼ teaspoon of Sea Salt (opt.)

Water

Mix everything together adding a little water at a time. The objective is to have a firm dough ball so make sure your dough is not too sticky. Divide into 8 or smaller sections and roll into a ball.

Cook some 3 inch oval miniature hamburgers and set on some scot towel to drain off any excess grease. Slice some cheese into the size of the miniature hamburgers.

Roll out your dough flat and add the hamburger and cheese to it. Fold the dough completely around the meat and cheese into the shape of a small log (representing a bone) Make sure the dough completely covers the meat and cheese because if not the cheese will run out. Bake at 425 for 10-15 minutes (until they are golden brown). Cover with a towel when you take them out of the oven.

Set them on a plate with a bowl of ketchup and make a small sign for the front of the plate saying something like “Stuffed Bones”. (I made some of these the other night with chicken and Swiss cheese and dipped them in Peppercorn Ranch dressing. They were very yummy!)

Bug Topping Pies (Mini Pizza’s)

2 cups of all purpose flour

1 pack of yeast

1 cup of warm water

2 tablespoons of honey

½ teaspoon of sea salt

2 tablespoons of olive oil

In a bowl mix together, ½ cup of all purpose flour, 1 cup of warm water, 2 tablespoons of honey, ½ teaspoon of sea salt and olive oil. Use a hand whisker and whisk everything together until it is creamy. Slowly add the remaining flour. Sprinkle your surface with some flour and knead your dough for about 5 minutes. Spray your bowl with a non-stick cooking spray and place the dough back into the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise about an hour. Knead again for another 5 minutes and let it rise again for another hour.

Divide your dough into small chunks. The objection is to have a round 3 inch disk when you roll the pieces out flat. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and place your disk on that. Lightly spray or cover with olive oil and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until lightly brown. These are your miniature pizza crust.

Puree some organic crushed tomatoes and heat up. Add a few spices like oregano, parsley, Italian seasoning, but you want to keep it light because it is for children. Heat everything and keep warm in a miniature crock pot.

Set little bowls of diced mushrooms, diced pepperoni, cheese and olives out and whatever else you think your children will like and they make their own little Bug Topping Pies. Again, set little labels in front of the items: olives could be labeled (slimy black beetles) Mushrooms could be labeled (diced night crawlers) the pot of sauce could be labeled (fresh blood) the cheese (dried brains) you can use your own imagination here.