Earthly Eating

Even though it’s Halloween, that doesn’t mean the kids get to partake on the festivities alone. Here are some Halloween recipes to put anyone and everyone in the mood of Boo!

Spooky Spider:
Serves 1

Black licorice
Chocolate chips
Marshmallow or other chocolate sandwich cookie
Microwave oven

Bend four 3 1/2 inch-long pieces of black licorice lace into semicircles. Spread some chocolate from 1 tbs. chocolate chips, melted in the microwave, on bottom of 1 chocolate-covered marshmallow cookie. Press licorice into chocolate for 8 spider legs. Dip 2 chocolate chips in melted chocolate; atache for eyes. Refrigerate 10 minutes.

Marshmallow Ghost:
Serves 12

2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup water
1 tbs. cornstarch
2 tbs. confectioners’ sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
2 ts. vanilla extract

1. In cup, sprinkle gelatin over 1/4 cup water; let stand to soften gelatin. Onto waxed paper, sift conrstarcj and 1 tbs. confectioners’ sugar. Spray 9″ by 9″ baking pan with nonstick cooking spray; coat with cornstarch mixture.

2. In 2-quart saucepan, heat granulated sugar, corn starch, and 1/4 cup water to boiling, stirring. Boil 1 minute. Add gelatin mixture; cook over low heat to dissolve, stirring.

3. In a large bowl, with mixer at high speed, beat gelatin mixture and vanilla 15 minutes or until very thick and glossy. Spread in pan; sift 1 tbs. confectioners’ sugar over top. Cover with waxed paper; let set at room temperature 2 hours or until firm enough to cut.

4. With 30inch ghost-shaped cookie cutter, cut mixture into ghost. Serve on a platter.

Eyeball Mash
Serves: Many

In a food processor with a knife-blade, blend 12 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese, 1 can (4 1/2 ounces) chopped mild green chiles, 1/3 cup light mayonnaise, 1 tbs. vinegar, and 1 tsp. mustard. Transfer to bowl; stir in 1/2 cup sliced ripe black olives.

Pumpkin Tortilla Chips
Serves: about 20 chips

Prehat oven to 400°F. From 2 burrito-size roasted red pepper and/or jalapeno-cilantro flour tortillas, with 2 1/2-inch pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter, cut out pumpkins. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet 5 minutes, or until crisp. Cool on rack.

Monster Crispy Treats
Serves: 12

2 tbs. butter or margarine
3 cups miniature marshmallows
4 cups “pebble” cereal (you can use chocolate ones for a different effect as well.)
12 lollipop sticks or wooden pop sticks
12 cups ready-to-spread frosting, tinted as desired
Assorted Candies

Microwave butter in a 2-qt. microwaveable bowl on high 30 seconds, or until melted. Microwwave times will vary, so be sure not to burn the butter. Add marshmallows; toss to coat. Microwave 1 minute or until marshmallows are completely melted, stiurring about every 30 seconds. Add cereal, and mix well.

Shape into 12″ monsters, using about 1/3 cup cereal mixture for each one. Insert stick into each. Decorate with frosting and candies as desired. Let stand until firm. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. (You can also flatten out the cereal mixture onto a cookie sheet and press out designs with a cookie cutter. Be sure and add waxpaper under cereal mixture to make it easier to lift shapes. Once shape is out of cookie sheet insert stick in bottom and decorate.

**Looking for last minute costume ideas for Halloween? Summer M. over at Creative Mom Cafe has some great ideas for the costume in a hurry. Read some of the ideas here, but hurry “Trick-or-Treating” is tonight.**
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Earthly Eating Recipe:

Taco Bowls
Serves: 8

8 flour tortillas
1 lb. extra lean ground beef
1 cup salsa
1/2 cup 2% Milk shredded Cheddar cheese
5 lettuce leaves
1 large tomatoe
1/4 Ranch dressing

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Microwave tortillas on high 30 seconds, or until soft.

2. Press 1 tortilla into each 8 medium muffin cups to form a bowl. Carefully fold edges of tortilla back to keep an opening foe the filling. Bake 10 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, brown meat in a large skillet on medium heat; drain. Stir in slsa; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Cut lettuse with clean kitchen shears (about 2 cups chopped.)

5. Chop tomato into 1/4-inch pieces with knife (about 1 cup chopped).

6. Spoon about 1/4 cup of the meat mixture into each tortilla bowl.

7. Top evenly with cheese, lettuce and tomatoes. Drizzle with dressing.

Happy Eating!