Easy Halloween Recipes & Food Ideas

We're less than a week away from one of the most fun holidays for kids - HALLOWEEN! And, what's the most important thing about Halloween?  The yummy treats, of course!  If you're looking for one special Halloween recipe to make for your family or ideas for an entire Halloween party menu, I've got lots of super easy ideas from this Halloween party I threw for some of my little friends.
 

Spooky S'Mores

These just make me smile!  Break a graham cracker in half, and slide it in a clear treat bag with Ghost Peeps and a couple mini Hershey's Chocolate Bars.  If you want to jazz it up even further, add tag from my Halloween Printable Collection. If you want to eat them warm, you can pop them in a microwave for 10-second intervals.  Of course, I found the kids had a great time just eating all the parts individually.

Candy Corn Popcorn Balls

Candy Corn Popcorn Balls are a tradition at our house. Year after year, I get special requests for these, so you know they're good! This recipe from Cooking Light is super easy and, if you can believe it, LOW CAL! (Just 212 calories each...okay, not super low cal, but pretty good for a homemade dessert.)  I added a little extra cute to them this year by pushing in a wooden candy apple stick and tying a little ribbon to the top of the stick.  I also slid some into clear treat bags and tied them shut with twine around the base of the stick for some cute take-home party favors. To complete the look of this platter, I added a tent card from my Halloween Printable Collection.  This is one of the pre-formatted menu labels, but you can also type right in the PDF to create your own custom food tags and treat label tent cards.

Halloween Cupcakes

As busy moms and working gals, we can't do it all, but we can come pretty close.  That's why I love taking store-bought treats and adding a little of my own flair.  These Little Debbie Chocolate Cupcakes are perfect for Halloween with their deep black chocolate color and swirly white frosting detail. I auditioned the more famous brand of these cupcakes, but they didn't win the taste test...there was a clear difference.  To make these even cuter, I just added Halloween Cupcake Toppers from my Halloween Printable Collection and tied a little "Cupcakes" tag onto my glass dome. Easy, quick, and done!

Witch's Potion Punch

Sometimes, an easy name change is all it takes to go from ordinary to extraordinary.  Take some orange soda, call it "Witch's Potion Punch", and voila!  You could use sugar-free Kool-Aid, too, if you wanted to reduce some of the sugar intake at your party.  To make my soda look even more fun, I poured it into some recycled Target latte bottles and added Halloween paper straws from Hey Yo Yo.

Monster Mix

Halloween can be sweets overload, so it's good to have a little salty on hand, too.  Going with an easy, store-bought approach + name change again, I created Monster Mix by pouring Chex Mix into adorable orange candy cups from Hey Yo Yo. The tent-card label is from (you guessed it!), my Halloween Printables Collection. I also saw a fun Halloween recipe on Pinterest by In Katrina's Kitchen that would be fun to use, as well.

Halloween Cookies

At any party, it's really nice to have one special sweet.  Lindsey at Tickled Pink Cookie Boutique definitely knows how to make a party special.  Her cookies are so gorgeous in person with a light shimmery lustre...absolutely stunning and super delicious with a hint of almond extract. Bewitching!  I love how she was able to perfectly match the designs in my Halloween Printables Collection.  Of course, she can match any party theme, so be sure to like or bookmark her Facebook page.  She ships, too!

Halloween Mini Candy Bars

Details, details, details!  Here's another easy trick for personalizing your Halloween Party.  Wrap Hershey's Miniatures in festive orange and black paper (3 x 1.5" strips work well).  Or better yet, use the Halloween Mini Candy Bar Wrappers that come in my Halloween Printable Collection.  

Cutie Clementine Oranges

Looking for a healthy Halloween snack?  Load up on some Cutie Clementines.  These are the perfect shade of orange for Halloween, are easy to peel, and oh so delicious!  Don't they look super cute all piled up in the bottom of this basket stand?!

Halloween Candy

And, finally, what Halloween Party would be complete without candy?!  I love to make a bold visual impression, and this big jar of orange gumballs from Party City does just that. To save money when filling big candy jars like this, I always stack clear plastic cups upside down inside the jar to make a hallow center. Every little bit counts! I also used some of Party City's black-and-white striped candy sticks that have a great grape flavor that won't stain your mouth all up. Since I love candy corn, a jar of this is a must for me, too!

All of the amazing photos in this post were captured by Click Photo Designs by Sarah Brewer, a fantastic event and family photographer in Huntsville, AL.

Cinco de Mayo Recipe: Easy Chicken Verde

I can't believe it's almost Cinco de Mayo again!  One of the biggest hits at our Cinco de Mayo Margarita Party last year was my husband Roger's Easy Chicken Verde. In fact, almost everyone at the party requested the recipe. It's so good that I keep trying to convince Roger to cook it at least once a week. Instead, he decided to teach me how to make it this week, so I could share it with you.

This recipe is so perfect for a fiesta or a week night meal. To be honest, I really don't enjoy cooking meals or anything with meat in particular, but this really was pretty easy and fast. I could definitely make this for company.

Easy Chicken Verde Recipe

2    tablespoons olive oil
      salt
4    chicken breasts or thighs, boneless (1-1.5 lbs)
1    cup onion, diced
1    16 oz jar Frontera Tomatillo Salsa (available at Target)
¼    cup cilantro, chopped

Heat oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat.  Salt both sides of chicken breasts and place in pan. Brown on both sides for about two minutes. Remove chicken from skillet.

Brown onion in the skillet.  Pour tomatillo salsa on top and stir until the sauce thickens a little.  Place chicken back in the skillet, cover, and simmer on medium heat until chicken is cooked thoroughly, approximately 8 minutes. By the way, if  you want to take pity on my old coil stove, please visit my online store and make a purchase to support the "Betsy Needs a New Stove" Fund.

Shred chicken. Garnish with cilantro before serving. Serve with tortillas and sour cream, if desired.

When we made this Chicken Verde hours ahead for our party, we placed everything in a casserole dish covered with foil, so we could keep it warm in the oven until it was time to serve.  According to my husband's Mexican Cooking Bible, Rick Bayless's Mexican Everyday, thighs will stay juicer in the oven like this, but we always use chicken breasts. I think the sauce keeps them moist enough.

Download the Easy Chicken Verde 3x5 Recipe Card

Here are a few shots of the Chicken Verde at our Cinco de Mayo Margarita Party.  All of the lovely photos below are by Click Photo Designs by Sarah Brewer, who I absolutely love working with on special events.

 

 See more photos and details from this Cinco de Mayo Margarita Party.

• Cinco de Mayo Margarita Recipe (our own house mix)
• Easy Fried Ice Cream Recipe
• DIY Mexican Paper Flags: Easy Papel Picado Alternative

Easy Kite Brownies on a Stick

It doesn't get any easier than these super cute Kite Brownies on a Stick for spring...especially since Little Debbie does most the work! These would be absolutely perfect for a school kite day!

Taking a cue from my friend Melissa at Buckets of Grace, who made some adorable skewered Little Debbie hearts for Valentine's Day, I was instantly inspired when I saw these Little Debbie Kite Brownies at my grocery store.

To make this display, I used:

• Little Debbie Kite Brownies
• A jar filled with glass beads
• Bamboo skewers (long and medium lengths)
• Long lengths of organza ribbon
• Short strips of a accent ribbon (mine were satin and grosgrain)

I recommend storing the skewers horizontally on a tray and waiting to assemble vertically right before your event. The brownies are soft, and I did have one of the brownies fall off its stick.  However, it held tight for about a hour before that happened. I'm sure your brownies will be snatched up before that happens.

If you make some Kite Brownies on a Stick, I'd love to see a photo!  Leave a comment on post on my Facebook wall.

Mardi Gras Moon Pie Cake

Fat Tuesday is this week, and I've got a super cute and easy Mardi Gras Moon Pie Cake to help you celebrate.

You may not know this but Mardi Gras originally started in my home state Alabama (in the city of Mobile to be exact). While I've never been to a Mardi Gras parade myself, I know they throw out Moon Pies out during the parades along with beads and other treats. So, I knew a Mardi Gras dessert focused on Moon Pies would be a perfect way to celebrate Fat Tuesday this year.  Plus, Moon Pies are delicious and any excuse to have one is a good day!!!

This Mardi Gras Cake is really as simple as it looks!  Just stack your favorite Mini Moon Pie flavors (mine is vanilla; my husband likes banana) on a cake plate and stick in this super easy topper using my printable fleur-de-lis below.

Mardi Gras Moon Pie Cake Recipe

Ingredients & Supplies
6   8" sections of sheer organza ribbon in purple, green, and gold
     two lengths of each color
1   Bamboo skewer or thick toothpick
1   Mardi Gras Printable Cake Topper (below)
1   Pair of scissors
1   Glue dot or other adhesive
4   Boxes of Mini Moon Pies

Stack five ribbon lengths on top of each other. Using the remaining ribbon, tie and knot the stack of ribbons to your bamboo skewer or toothpick, leaving enough room at the top for your fleur-de-lis.

Click on the Mardi Gras Printable Cake Topper image below to view the full-sized file, save to your computer, and print.  In case you want to make your cake topper double-sided, I've included the reverse of the image.  For simplicity's sake, I just made mine single-sided.

Cut and glue the fleur-de-lis to your bamboo skewer or toothpick.  The knot in your ribbon should be facing the back of your fleur-de-lis.

Fluff out the ribbons, so you have some sticking out in all directions like a tutu.  Trim the ribbon edges at an angle.

Stack your Moon Pies on a cake plate. I used six Mini Moon Pies per layer on a medium cake plate.

Stick your topper in the center, and as they say at Mardi Gras, laissez les bons temps rouler...or, let the good times roll!

If you make a Mardi Gras Moon Pie Cake, I'd love to see a photo.  Please share on my Facebook wall or send via Twitter!

Candy Acorns for Thanksgiving

These Candy Acorns are as yummy as they are cute! Butterscotch and toasted pecans make a delightful flavor combination...I can't even begin to describe how good these are!  These acorns are sure to make the perfect decoration for your Thanksgiving treats and fall gatherings.

I originally saw these cuties on the cover of Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade magazine. The steps outlined in the magazine made the process of creating these Candy Acorns a bit frustrating, so I streamlined the process. Now, they're super simple and joy to make.

Candy Acorns Recipe
40    pecan halves, toasted
1      cup butterscotch morsels, melted
½     cup  finely ground pecans, toasted

With a small amount of melted butterscotch, attach flat sides of 2 pecan halves to make a whole.  Place on a waxed-paper-lined baking sheet in the freezer for 10 minutes to set.

Dip  ⅔ lengthwise of each whole pecan into melted butterscotch and set on waxed paper.  Place in the freezer for 10 minutes to set.

Dip uncoated ⅓ of pecan into melted butterscotch, and roll in finely ground pecans.  You may want to use your fingers to push the ground pecans into a uniform shape for your acorn tops.

 Set on waxed paper, and place in the freezer for 10 minutes to set. Enjoy!

These candy acorns are so easy and delicious!  I can't wait to decorate my pumpkin pie with these for Thanksgiving.

Cinco de Mayo Margarita Recipe

When I think of Cinco de Mayo, I think of MARGARITAS! You'll find me sipping one on May 5th for sure.

Photo by Sarah Brewer of Click Photo Designs

My husband and I noticed that our favorite Mexican restaurant adds orange juice in their margarita mix, which takes the edge off the too-tart mix most places serve. For our Cinco de Mayo Margarita Party, we crafted our own margarita recipe to make use of this secret ingredient.

Pruitt House Margaritas

One Part
Tequila, Triple Sec, Sour Mix

Two Parts
Orange Juice

Three Parts
Margarita Mix

I like drink recipes that use parts, so you can easily scale the recipe up or down to fill a single glass or an entire drink dispenser like we did for our party.

After trying many brands of ingredients that were economical for a large party, our favorites for this recipe were

• Margaritaville Silver Tequilla
• Master of Mixes Sour Mix
• Tropicana No-Pulp Orange Juice
• Jose Cuervo Margarita Mix

If you missed any of my Cinco de Mayo Margarita Party Pics, be sure to check them out.

Photo by Sarah Brewer of Click Photo Designs

Happy Cinco de Mayo! 

Easy Fried Ice Cream Recipe

I've been known to order Fried Ice Cream as my entree at Mexican restaurants...just ask my husband. I LOVE the combo of creamy ice cream and crunchy coating, so I knew I wanted to have this on my Cinco de Mayo Margarita Party menu.

Photo by Sarah Brewer of Click Photo Designs

I thought it would something really unique to have outside of a restaurant, and once I figured out the right combo of ingredients, I realized how easy it is to make.

Photo by Sarah Brewer of Click Photo Designs

You can make the fried ice cream 8-10 hours before your party, and it will be super yummy when you pull it out of the freezer. If you leave them in the freezer much longer, the crunchy coating will get soggy.

After many trial-and-error attempts, here's my super easy take on this Mexican treat! Mmmm!

Betsy's Easy No-Fry Fried Ice Cream

3-4     cups vanilla ice cream
    1    cup corn flakes, crushed
    1    tablespoon honey
    1    pinch cinnamon

Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil.

Scoop vanilla ice cream into four baseball-sized balls onto a cookie sheet. Place cookie sheet in the freezer for at least 30 minutes to harden ice cream balls.

Pour corn flakes into a gallon-sized, zip-top bag and seal, removing excess air. Use a rolling pin to crush corn flakes.

Add honey and cinnamon to bag and stir.

Remove one ice cream ball from the freezer at a time, and roll it in the bag of crumbs to coat completely. It will start to melt from the warmth of your hands, so quickly return it to the freezer to harden again before serving. Coating will stay crunchy for 8-10 hours in the freezer.

Makes 4 servings.

Download the 3x5 Recipe Card

Let me know if you try it out!

Classic Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe

When it comes to Peanut Butter Cookies, I'm a purist.

Getting Ready to Go in the Oven...Mmmm!

It's my favorite cookie, and I don't like when bakeries try to spruce them up with crunchy peanut butter or roasted peanut halves. There's just something special about a classic peanut butter cookie that lets its natural peanut butteriness shine underneath that traditional crisscross design.

Here's my personal favorite recipe.

Classic Peanut Butter Cookies

375˚ for 7-10 minutes

    ½       cup granulated sugar
    ½       cup packed brown sugar
    ½       cup peanut butter
    ¼       cup shortening
    ¼       cup butter, softened
    1        egg
    1 ¼    cups all-purpose flour
    ¾       teaspoon baking soda
    ½       teaspoon baking powder
    ¼       teaspoon salt

Mix sugars, peanut butter, shortening, butter, and egg in large bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients.

Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm.

Shape dough into 1 ¼-inch balls. Place about 3 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.  Flatten in crisscross pattern with fork dipped into sugar.  Firmly press for nice design.

Bake 7-8 minutes for a softer cookie or 9-10 minutes for a crispier cookie. 

Cool 5 minutes. Then remove from cookie sheet to cool on a wire rack.

Makes 2 ½ dozen.
   
(Source Betty Crocker)

Download the 3x5 Recipe Card

See my How To Guide for Shipping Cookies as a care package.

Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookies

When I saw this Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookie recipe on Celebrations at Home, I knew these cookies were going to make the "To-Eat" List on my diet cheat day. My husband and I are on a slow-carb diet from the 4-Hour Body book, but on Saturdays we can eat anything we want....have I mentioned how much I LOVE Saturdays???  Anyway, the thought of these cookies got me out of bed bright an early on Saturday, so I could bake them before going out of town.  They were so worth it, too!

Mine didn't turn out nearly as cute as those in the photos on Celebration at Home (maybe they sprinkled some extra chocolate chips and coconut on top of their dough balls before baking), but I did think they looked super cute on my new two-tier Valentine's Day tray from Target. 

Before bed time on Saturday, I decided I would sneak into the kitchen and eat just one more cookie while it was still cheat day.  I ate THREE!!!  Needless to say, these cookies had to leave the house, so this is how cute they looked on Sunday when they made their grand exit!

I hand stamped the "A Little Yummy for Your Tummy" tag and mounted it on sparkly background paper.  The two things that really set it off, though, were the dimensional flower and the cute red and white baker's twine from The Twinery.  I've really been enjoying my Twinery twine so much that I placed an order for additional colors this week.

Unfortunately, the recipients of the cookies were also on diets. Whoops! Sorry, guys!

Be sure to check out the Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookies recipe on Celebrations at Home!

Valentine's Day Cupcakes

Today is one month away from Valentine's Day, and I have a special treat for you. These Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes would be perfect to make for your special someone!

Chocolate cake filled and coated with chocolate peppermint ganache and then topped with peppermint cream cheese frosting and crushed peppermint candy - YUM!!!

I'll admit two layers of frosting is a bit decadent, but I promise it is worth the effort for a special occasion like Valentine's Day. For stress-free prep, it helps to make the chocolate cupcakes one night, and then do the ganache and frosting the next day. The cupcakes would be delicious with either the ganache or frosting alone, though (just skip the filling if you want to do ganache only to get a pretty finish).

Also, add the crushed peppermint candy shortly before serving because it will bleed into the cream cheese frosting after a few hours. I just used crushed up candy canes off my Christmas tree for this.

This peppermint cream cheese frosting makes a FABULOUS pretzel dip, too. In the future, I think I'll make some of this just for this purpose...that's how good it was! If you do a small dollop of frosting on top of your cupcakes like I did, you'll have a lot left over for pretzel dipping. 

Head over to Your Homebased Mom for these wonderful recipes and how-to instructions.

Do you have any special Valentine's Day traditions?