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Trick or Treat Ideas Don’t Always Include Candy

September 24, 2009 By The Recipe Mom 2 Comments
crackers

crackersCandy always seems to be at the top of the list when it comes to those treats we give to our scary visitors on Halloween. There are many alternatives to giving out candy. Here are few ideas on some special treats that won’t hurt the teeth, give anyone a tummy ache or make a parent cringe when there little ones come home after a fun filled night of trick or treating.

The Dollar stores may be the place to visit when choosing those special treats. During the year each time you visit one of these stores pick up crayons, coloring books or reading books. These are inexpensive and can be educational as well.

Small games such as jacks, card games, flash cards or even a jump rope will put a smile on any trick or treaters face. These treats will be fun and will last much longer than candy.

How about some coupon books? These coupon books can be found at places like McDonald’s and are pretty inexpensive to purchase. What child doesn’t like to get those chicken nuggets from McDonald’s? Not only are you giving out treats that are not full of sugar and preservatives but by purchasing these coupon books online you can earn college rewards for your own children.

Check with your local dentist and see if you can purchase sample toothpaste and toothbrushes. The kids may not be thrilled with this idea but if you include sugarless candy or gum they might just think it’s one of the best treats they received all night.

If you really want to give out edible snacks why not try one of the low calorie individual packs that many stores now have. These snacks are low in calories and in sugar content. Cookies, crackers and even chocolate covered pretzels are available in these along with many other tasty choices.

Another nutritious snack is individual packages of nuts or trail mixes. Microwave popcorn is another idea. You can find snack sizes, different flavors and no salt popcorn. Watch that you don’t purchase the heavily buttered flavors which can be less nutritious and contain a lot of salt.

Cheese and cracker snacks are also a great alternative to candy. There are many different varieties such as cheese and peanut butter crackers, breadsticks and cheese, cheese on cheese crackers or dunkers. These are inexpensive and children love them.

These are just a few ideas that can help you to change the routine. It doesn’t have to be candy that puts a smile on that goblins face and parents face as well.

Filed Under: Halloween, Kid Friendly, Snacks, Today's Kitchen Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wiggle Eye Hot Cocoa

September 20, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
hotcocoa

hotcocoaWhat You Need:

8 C of milk, divided
1 C mint chocolate chips
1 C instant hot cocoa mix
16 large marshmallows
16 Crows candies
16 lollipop sticks

How to Make It:

In a large saucepan over low heat pour 1 C of the milk.
Add the mint chocolate chips.
Stir in the hot cocoa mix until blended in well.
Cook 5 minutes or until chips are completely melted, stirring frequently.
Stir in the remaining milk and blend well.
Cook until the milk is hot about 5 minutes.
In the top of each marshmallow cut a small slit.
Place a Crow candy into each of the marshmallow slits.
In the bottom of each marshmallow insert a lollipop stick.
Divide the hot cocoa between 8 mugs and place 2 wiggle eyes into each cup before serving.

A cup of hot cocoa can really hit the spot on a cold gloomy night. Everybody will get a kick out of these wiggly eyed cups of warmth.

Makes 8 servings

Preparation Time: approximately 10 minutes
Cooking Time: approximately 10 minutes
Total Time: approximately 20 minutes

Filed Under: Drinks and Smoothies, Halloween, Kid Friendly, Recipes Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Spider Ice Cream Cups

September 18, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
halloweencharacters

halloweencharactersWhat You Need:

8 individual graham cracker tart shells
8 scoops of vanilla ice cream
16 chocolate cream filled cookies, crumbled
16 red M&M candy pieces
16 pieces of black shoestring licorice

How to Make It:

Lay the tart shells onto a baking sheet.
In each of the shells place 1 scoop of ice cream.
Cover the ice cream well with the crumbled cookies.
Put the shells in the freezer for at least 30 minutes or until the ice cream has hardened.
Take shells from freezer and press 2 M&M’s in the front of the ice cream to resemble eyes.
Slice each of the licorice pieces into 4 strips.
Press 8 strips of the licorice into each scoop of ice cream to form the spider’s legs.
Put back in the freezer until you are ready to serve.

Kids love these easy and simple spiders. You may use any flavor of ice cream and any colors of M&M’s that you prefer.

Makes 8 servings

Preparation Time: approximately 10 minutes
Freezing Time: approximately 30 minutes
Total Time: approximately 40 minutes

Filed Under: Halloween, Ice Cream, Kid Friendly, Recipes, Snacks Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Simple Peanut Butter Monster Toes

September 12, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
frankenstein

frankensteinWhat You Need:

12 oz. white candy coating, chopped
Green paste food coloring
22 peanut butter filled oblong sandwich cookies
11 miniature Tootsie rolls, cut in half lengthwise

How to Make It:

In a microwave safe bowl put the candy coating and heat for 1 minute on high.
Take the candy out of microwave and stir.
The candy should be completely melted and smooth if not continue heating in 30 second intervals stirring after each one until completely melted and smooth.
Add green paste food coloring until you have reached the desired color.
Dip the cookies into the green coating until completely coated, allowing any excess drip off back into the bowl.
Place the coated cookies on wax paper to dry.
On top of each cookie press half of a Tootsie roll to form a nail.
The cookies should be left to stand 15 minutes or until the coating has hardened.

These cookies are simple to make and take even less time to eat. Everybody will love them. Let the kids help with the fun of making these treats.

Makes 22 cookies

Preparation Time: approximately 10 minutes
Cooking Time: approximately 1 minute
Cooling Time: approximately 15 minutes
Total Time: approximately 26 minutes

Filed Under: Cakes and Cookies, Halloween, Kid Friendly, Recipes Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Halloween Peppermint Lollipops

September 11, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
lollipop1

lollipop1What You Need:

1 1/2 C of sugar
3/4 C of water
2/3 C of light corn syrup
1/2 t cream of tartar
1/2 t peppermint oil
Black and orange paste food coloring
10 lollipop sticks

How to Make It:

On a parchment lined baking sheet put 10 assorted sizes of buttered round cookie cutters.
In a saucepan over medium heat put the sugar, water and corn syrup.
The cream of tartar is stirred in, and then cook, stirring constantly until the sugar is dissolved.
Do not stir and bring the mixture to a boil.
Cook without stirring until a candy thermometer reaches 300 degrees.
Take from the heat and stir in the peppermint oil.
Keep your face away from the pan while stirring in the oil as the aroma is very strong.
1/4 C of the mixture is spooned into 2 separate custard cups.
One cup is tinted orange and the other one black.
The remaining mixture is poured into the buttered cookie cutters.
The orange and black mixture is drizzled over the cookie cutters and the mixture swirled around with a toothpick.
Before the lollipops are completely hard remove the cookie cutters and put a lollipop stick into each one.

You can use any size or shape of cookie cutters. Wrap the hardened lollipops in plastic wrap and tie with a Halloween bow. These are great hand out treats for all your trick or treaters.

Makes 10 lollipops

Filed Under: Candy, Kid Friendly, Recipes Tagged With: , , , , ,

Chocolate Toffee Candy Ice Cream

May 25, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
waffle-cone

waffle-coneWhat You Need:

1 C of sugar
1/4 C unsweetened cocoa powder
1/8 t salt
2 C whipping cream
1 C of milk
1 t vanilla
3/4 C chocolate covered toffee candy, chopped

How to Make It:

Dump the sugar into a large mixing bowl.
Dump in the cocoa powder and salt stirring slightly to combine.
Pour the whipping cream, milk and the vanilla into the mixture.
Mix until the ingredients are blended together well.
Transfer the mixture to the ice cream maker and freeze according to the directions.
Once the ice cream maker has finished stir in the chocolate toffee candy.
Allow the ice cream to ripen in the freezer for 4 hours.

Makes 8 servings

Try this ice cream in a chocolate dipped cone. Place a 1/2 C of semisweet chocolate pieces in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave the chocolate at 70 percent power or medium high heat for 1 minute. Stir and continue microwaving for 1 to 3 minutes or until the chocolate is smooth. Dip the cones into the melted chocolate about 1/3 of the way up the cone. If the chocolate is too thick, stir in 1 t of melted shortening. Place the cones top side down on wax paper until the chocolate is set.

Filed Under: Desserts, Ice Cream, Kid Friendly, Recipes, Snacks, Summer Cooking, Today's Kitchen Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Crushed Mint Candy Ice Cream

May 24, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
strawberryicecreambowl

strawberryicecreambowlWhat You Need:

1/2 C sugar
1/4 t salt
1 C of milk
3 egg yolks, beaten
1 t vanilla
1/2 t peppermint extract
2 C whipping cream, chilled
1/2 C peppermint candy, crushed
3 drops red food coloring

How to Make It:

Place two bowls into the refrigerator and allow them to chill.
Place the sugar and salt into a saucepan tossing to combine.
Blend the milk into the sugar and salt.
Place the egg yolks into the pan and stir until well combined.
Cook the mixture over medium heat for 3 minutes or until bubbly around the edge.
Remove the pan and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature.
When cooled, stir in the vanilla extract and the peppermint extract well.
Place the mixture into the freezer for 45 minutes or until mushy.
Remove one of the chilled bowls and pour the whipping cream into the bowl.
Use an electric mixer on medium speed and beat the cream until soft peaks form.
Remove the second chilled bowl and transfer the partially frozen ice cream to the bowl.
Beat the ice cream on medium speed until very smooth.
Fold in the whipped topping and blend in well.
Add the crushed peppermint candy and the food coloring blending them in well.
Evenly spread the ice cream mixture into 2 freezer trays.
Allow the mixture to freezer for 3 hours or until firm being sure to stir every 10 minutes for the first hour of freezing.

Makes 1 quart of ice cream

To make this ice cream in a crank style ice cream maker, follow the above directions to where you add the vanilla. Add the vanilla and peppermint extract and the whipping cream, blending them in well. Fold in the peppermint candy and red food coloring until completely combined. Pour 1/2 of the mixture into the freezer can of ice cream maker. Fill the freezer tub 1/3 full of ice and then add the remaining ice cream. Crank until it becomes too difficult to turn. Drain off water, replace the lid and allow the ice cream to ripen for at least 4 hours.

Filed Under: Desserts, Ice Cream, Kid Friendly, Recipes, Summer Cooking, Today's Kitchen Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Easter Bunny’s Favorite Candies

April 2, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment

chocbunnyeggsMost of us already know the candy we want the Easter Bunny to bring us. We all have our favorites. Chances are it’s the same thing year after year. Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate or even those wonderful fruit filled eggs. This year maybe something new should be added. Here are a few ideas of what might be a special addition to that candy filled Easter basket.

Sweet Tarts are becoming more and more popular. These sweet treats have a tang and have always been a favorite among children. You can find them shaped like bunnies, chicks and eggs. They go like crazy and with the new designs the kids are bound to love them.

Pez have also been a long time favorite. The candy is a treat but for most children it’s the dispenser that enjoy. With tops shaped in many Easter designs kids of all ages enjoy playing and eating these little treats.

M&M’s have come a long way in creating a scrumptious Easter candy. They can be found in large packages or individual packages. With the Easter pastel colors they make the perfect addition to anyone’s Easter basket.

Plain ole chocolate candy bars can also be a special treat. Many of us have a favorite candy bar that we just can’t live without. Three Musketeers, Snickers, Hershey bars and others are at the top of the list. Kit Kat even has a bar shaped like bunny ears. Try one of the candy bars like Milky Way that are shaped like an egg and see if that’s not a hit this year.

Peeps have been around for years. Everybody loves a marshmallow peep. They come in so many different colors now and the shapes include eggs, ducks and yes they still have the chicks. Check them out before counting them out of this years Easter basket.

Jelly beans are the number one seller at Easter. Over 14 billion were sold last year. Not only are they good to eat but they are easy to use in an Easter basket. They add color to our baskets and give the kids something to look for in all that grass.

Crème eggs such as Cadbury eggs are always a hit. Reese’s has a peanut butter egg that will melt in your mouth. Cadbury eggs look just like real egg yolk and all except they are encased in chocolate. The Reese’s egg is of course peanut butter encased in chocolate. How can you beat that?

Robin’s eggs are also a hit. These malted milk chocolate covered eggs are a special addition to any Easter basket. Pop one in your mouth, let the chocolate melt and chomp on the insides. Can’t wait to get a hold of one can you?

Last but not least the all time favorite has to be the hollow chocolate bunny. They are the best when it comes to Easter candy. They come in all shapes and sizes but every one of them puts you in chocolate heaven. Kids as well as adults always look forward to finding their chocolate bunny on Easter morning.

These are just a few ideas of the many different types of Easter candy the bunny can bring you on Easter morning. Keep the favorites but add a few new ones to the list. Your family and your taste buds will be glad you did.

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