Halloween Party Recipes

After the Labor Day weekend has passed the next "fun" event is Halloween. When my children were little this ranked right up there with Christmas and now that my children are big....it still does. I'm not sure what that means, but I prefer to think it's because they're young at heart.

My children (and grandchildren) have always gone door to door because we know almost everyone around us. Most of our neighbors buy tons of candy and give it out by the handful and we do the same. You would definitely like to come to our house on Halloween! However, if door to door trick or treating isn't possible, or the weather isn't cooperating, the next best thing is to host a house party or even a party at a local youth center.

DEVIL'S BREW: 3 cups pineapple juice; 3 cups water; 1 Tbsp. whole cloves; 1 1/2 tsp. allspice; 3 (2") cinnamon sticks; 1 1/4 tsp. salt; 1/2 cup light brown sugar. Pour juice and water in a 9 cup percolator (not an electric coffee maker) and place remaining ingredients in the percolator basket. Perk for 10 minutes, remove basket. Serve hot.

PUMPKIN SPICE BARS: 4 eggs, room temperature; 2 cups sugar; 1 cup butter; 1 (16 oz.) can pumpkin; 2 cups flour; 2 tsp. baking powder; 2 tsp. cinnamon; 1 tsp. baking soda; 3/4 Tbsp. salt; 1/2 tsp. ginger; 1/4 tsp. cloves; 1/2 cup raisins or chocolate chips. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease jelly roll pan (15x10x1"). Beat together; eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin. Stir in dry ingredients just until mixed. Mix in raisins or chocolate chips. Pour batter into pan and bake for 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool. Frost with Cream Cheese Icing: Mix 1 (3 oz.) package softened cream cheese; 1/4 cup butter (room temperature); and 1 tsp. vanilla. Gradually beat in 2 cups powdered sugar until smooth and of spreading consistency. Frost baked pumpkin bars; sprinkle with chopped nuts (optional). Cut into bars. Refrigerate leftover bars.

BANANA CUP CAKES: Use a packaged white or yellow cake mix whose mixing directions specify the addition of 1 cup liquid, either water or milk, and substitute 1 1/2 cups mashed banana for the liquid. OR, when packaged mix directions specify 1 cup water plus eggs, add required number of eggs but reduce the water to 1/2 cup and add 1 cup mashed bananas. Mix cake batter according to package directions with substitutions of banana instead of liquid. Divide batter among cup cake pans; bake according to package directions. Cool cupcakes, slightly, about 10 minutes, in pan on a wire rack. Remove from pans and cool.
When cupcakes are cool, cut a cone-shape piece out of each top. Fill with lemon filling. Put the cone-shaped piece back in place and frost. LEMON FILLING: Mix together 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 cup flour; gradually add 1 cup warm water. Stir in 3 well-beaten egg yolks. Cook over hot water until thick; stir constantly. Cover; cook 5 minutes longer. Remove from heat; add 2 tsp. lemon zest, juice of 1 lemon and 2 Tbsp. butter. Mix well, cool. (If desired just purchase a can of ready made lemon filling.)

OYSTER CRACKER SNACKS: 1 (12 to 16 oz.) package of oyster crackers; 1 pkg. buttermilk salad dressing mix; 1/4 t. lemon pepper; 1 tsp. dill weed; 1/4 tsp. garlic powder; 3/4 c. salad oil. Combine the salad dressing mix and oil. Add dill weed, garlic powder and lemon pepper. Pour over crackers and stir to coat. Place in warm oven for 15 to 20 minutes, stir and cool.

CHILI CHEESE DIP: 1 lb. lean hamburger; 1 (14 oz.) can diced tomatoes; 1 small can diced green chilies; 1 lb. proceed American cheese, cubed; 2 tsp. worcestershire sauce; 1/2 tsp. chili powder. Brown meat and drain. Combine meat and rest of ingredients and cook until cheese melts; stir occasionally. Put in small crockpot or fondue pot, on low. Serve warm with tortilla chips.

OTHER IDEAS: Make your favorite chocolate pie recipe. Top with whipped cream or whipped topping in the shape of a ghost. Use chocolate chips or raisins for eyes. SPOOKY SHEET CAKE: Make a sheet cake and frost with chocolate frosting. Spread white frosting in ghost shape; outline ghost with black licorice rope. SPIDER CAKE: Bake a two-layer round cake and frost with white frosting. Draw various size circles, one inside the other on cake with thin chocolate frosting; drag toothpick from center of frosting to outer edge several times to create the look of a web. To make the spider use two chocolate donuts laid in a figure 8. Use black licorice for legs and candy corn for eyes. GRAVEYARD CAKE: Make your favorite sheet cake. Place headstone shap cookies in frosting and decorate with names of people at the party.