Spooky Snacks

Snack-o-Lantern

Cut the top off a navel orange.  Cut a very thin slice off the bottom so the orange sits flat.  Using a paring knife, cut around the peel, then use a spoon to hollow out the shell.  Cut a small slice of the lid off to accommodate the spoon.  Cut out the jack-o-lantern face.  Insert a green spoon and fruit salad, then top with the lid.  A very small paring knife works best for the face.

Instead of fruit salad, fill the snack-o-lanterns with uncut grapes and berries - they'll stay fresh longer.  Wrap in treat bags and tie with a ribbon.  Snack-o-lanterns make great snacks for school Halloween parties - something healthy to counteract all the candy!

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Candy Corn Sugar Cookies

• 1 batch sugar cookie dough
• Yellow and orange food coloring (gel is best)
• Colored sugar, sprinkles, melted white chocolate

Divide prepared sugar cookie dough into three equal portions. Leave one as is and color one other portion yellow and another portion orange.

Line a standard loaf pan with plastic wrap. Gently press layer of uncolored dough into bottom of pan and smooth flat, keeping it at least 1/2-3/4 inches high (you don’t have to use the whole pan if you have a small batch of dough) or larger if desired. Layer orange dough on top of previous layer and smooth. Finally layer yellow dough and smooth on top. Wrap plastic over dough and chill until firm, 30-60 minutes in freezer or 1-2 hours in fridge. Or you can store the dough in fridge for 2-3 days before baking.

Remove plastic and slice loaf into 1/4 inch slices. Trim top of slice to make straight line. Cut each slice into alternating triangle shapes and dip top side in sugar if desired. Bake according to sugar cookie directions. Cool completely and then, if desired, dip ends in white chocolate and decorate with sprinkles.

Treats for Sweets-Happy Valentine's Day!

We made these for Valentine's Day in my Mommy & Me cooking class, then Bella and I made them again for her class Valentine's party.  They're really cute, and really easy.  I normally frown upon things like refrigerated pie dough, but these are more novelty than confection, so I made an exception.





You'll need slips of paper about 2" by 1/4".  Write your fortunes in non-toxic marker, then cut them out - much easier than writing on itty-bitty pieces of paper.



Lay out a circle of pie dough and use a 3" cookie cutter to cut out 7 rounds.  Brush just the edges with water, then place a folded fortune in the middle.  The paper will stick to the water, so try not to get the fortune wet.  Fold over and press gently to seal.  Then gently pinch the corners and fold them together.  Lay on a lined baking sheet.



*Older kids can help write fortunes and fold the cookies.   Younger kids can brush the tops with water and decorate.*

Brush the tops very lightly with water, and sprinkle with colored sugar.  Bake in a 350° oven for 20 minutes, until just beginning to brown around the edges.  Remove from oven, cool, and package in Chinese take-out containers  (you can find these at a craft store).