Halloween is around the corner

Tips, arts & craft ideas and delicious recipes to enjoy!

HALLOWEEN RECIPES

Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups pumpkin puree, canned or fresh
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup evaporated milk (undiluted)
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 9-inch unbaked pastry shell

1. Combine pumpkin puree, sugar, salt, cinnamon and flour in a medium mixing bowl.
2. Add eggs and mix well.
3. Pour and mix the milk, water and vanilla
4. Pour into pastry-lined pie pan.
5. Bake at 375° for 18-20 minutes.
6. Reduce the heat to 325° and bake about 40 minutes longer, or until the center is cooked.

Spider Web Cupcakes

Ingredients

• Vanilla or Chocolate Cake Mix
• Chocolate and Vanilla frosting
• Cupcake liners
• Fake spiders (optional)

Directions:

1. Prepare cake mix as per box instructions and pour batter into approximately 24 lined cupcakes.
2. Once cupcakes have cooled off, use vanilla frosting to top the cupcakes.
3. Use a pastry bag or frosting tube for chocolate frosting to make three circles in middle of cupcake. Start in middle and go outwards.
4. Take a toothpick and create a web pattern with the frosting. 
5. Alternate frosting if you want.
6. Top with fake spiders and serve!

Halloween Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Frosting and sprinkles
• Cookie Cutters

Directions

1. Mix flour, baking soda and baking powder in a small bowl.
2. In a large bowl cream the butter and sugar until smooth.
3. Blend in the egg and vanilla, and gradually add the dry ingredients
4. Roll into balls and flatten. Then shape using cookie cutters
5. Bake for 8-10 minutes on ungreased cookie sheet or until golden
6. Let cool and decorate with frosting and sprinkles

Here are some more recipe ideas:
PB&J Jack-o-Lantern – FamilyFun
Apple Bites - FamilyFun

SAFETY TIPS

Trick-or-Treaters

• Walk, don't run.
• Stay on the sidewalk
• Obey traffic signals
• Stay in familiar neighborhoods
• Wear a watch you can read in the dark.
• Make sure your costumes don't drag on the ground.
• Shoes should fit (even if they don't go with your costume)
• Avoid wearing masks while walking from house to house.
• Wear clothing with reflective markings or tape.
• Only approach houses that are lit up.
• Stay away from and don't pet animals you don't know.

 Parents

• Make your children eat dinner before going trick-or-treating.
• Make sure to accompany your children.
• Ask a trusted neighbor to accompany your kids while you hand out candy at home
• Older children should know where to reach you and when to be home.
• Remind children to bring the candy home to be inspected before consuming anything.
• Look at the wrapping carefully and toss out anything that looks suspicious

Homeowners

• Make sure your yard is clear of anything the can trip young ones
• Battery powered jack o'lantern candles are preferable to a real flame.
• If you do use candles, place the pumpkin well away from where trick-or-treaters will be walking or standing.
• Make sure paper or cloth yard decorations won't be blown into a flaming candle.
• Distribute healthy food alternatives for trick-or-treaters such as low-fat crackers with cheese or peanut butter filling, single-serve boxes of cereal, packaged fruit rolls and raisins.
• Non-food treats: plastic rings, pencils, stickers, erasers, coins.

ARTS & CRAFT IDEAS

Spooky Cards
What you need:
Construction paper, glue, scissors, colored markers

Get a piece of construction paper and fold it in half to make the card.
Take other colored pieces of construction paper and cut out your favorite Halloween characters (ghosts, goblins, witch, black cats)
Glue them on to your card
Inside the card pen a spooky message for your friend!

Make a Mask
What you need:
A plain black eye mask, glue, sparkles, paint & paint brush

Take your plain plastic mask and decorate it just as you like.
Use glue and stick sparkles or any other Halloween themed items on the mask. If you want to test your artistic skills use paint to decorate the mask.

Decorate your Trick-or-Treat Bag
What you need:
Paper bag with handles, construction paper, glue, scissors, markers, sparkles

Take your plain paper bag and decorate it anyway you like. Draw in your favorite Halloween characters or cut them out and paste them on your bag. Take this with you when you go door-to-door!

For more Halloween arts and craft fun click here