No Trick in These Treats

The types of treats you will distribute will depend a lot on the type of trick-or-treaters that will approach you.

If you are in a very close-knit neighborhood, "where everybody knows your name,*" you will probably be able to get away with home made treats.

If, however, you are in a large neighborhood and are not familiar with the children, then, chances are, you will have to give store bought items that have been prepackaged.

Let's assume the first scenario. The children approaching your door know you by name, and you know theirs. You have seen them running around; you know their parents and they know you.

What types of treats can you offer?

Home Made Halloween Trail Mix
In a bowl, mix chex cereal (corn, wheat, bran, rice) with raisins, dried apricots, chocolate or yogurt covered raisins, peanut M&Ms, and any other kind of dried fruit dark or orange in color (to match the Halloween colors).

Once the mix is prepared, pour about ½ cup in plastic baggies and tie with an orange or black (or both) ribbon. You can also use Halloween ribbons.

Popcorn Hands
Air pop some popcorn and then season with Nacho Cheddar popcorn salt. Fill food service plastic gloves, leaving enough room at the top to tie with a ribbon.

Homemade Energy Bars
This recipe is fun to make. Because I have not changed any ingredients, I cannot pass it as my creation, so I have also included its website:

1/2 cup salted dry-roasted peanuts
1/2 cup raisins or other dried fruit
1/2 cup roasted sunflower seed kernels
2 cups raw oatmeal, quick or old-fashioned
2 cups toasted rice cereal (like Rice Crispies)
In a large bowl, mix together peanuts, raisins, sunflower seeds, oatmeal, and rice cereal. Set aside.

1/2 cup peanut butter, crunchy or creamy
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
In a medium microwaveable bowl, combine the peanut butter, brown sugar and corn syrup. Microwave on high for 2 minutes. Add vanilla.

Pour the peanut butter mixture over the dry ingredients and stir until coated. Spoon it into an oiled 9 x 13-inch pan. Press down firmly. Let stand for an hour to harden (no baking!), then cut into 16 bars.
http://www.frostbitetour.org/frostbite/files/energy_bars_recipe.pdf

You can wrap each bar in wax paper and tie a ribbon on both ends (like a giant piece of candy), or you can place it in a baggy and use a ribbon to tie it up.

Now let's assume that the trick or treaters coming to your door don't know you and you don't know them. What can you give them that is healthy and prepackaged so your treat will not get thrown away once it gets home?

Here is a list of items you can give them (they all come in small, single serving boxes/pouches)

• Raisins
• Chocolate covered raisins
• Yogurt covered raisins
• Cranberries
• Granola bars
• Fruit bars

Of course, you can also use any of these items for your neighborhood children. It is just more fun to prepare something to give them than just drop in their bucket something you bought.

*From "Cheers." Cheers™ is a registered trademark of CBS Studios Inc. TM & © 2008 CBS Studios Inc.