3 minute read
NC Cooperative Extension, Page 21
Tricks and Treats for a Happy Halloween
The phone rang and a woman said, “My daughter is so excited to come to your son’s Halloween Party.” Our son Carson was in sixth grade, and I was clueless about a party. After some investigating, I learned that Carson had created an invitation in his computer class at school, made copies and handed them out to his friends. The invitation was complete with Halloween graphics and an RSVP. He said, “I need to know how many are coming so we can have enough food.” He had thoughtfully scheduled it on a Friday evening and then planned for the group to go to the football game at the nearby high school. Halloween parties are always lots of fun, but since this one was a surprise to his Dad and me – and because I was going to be out of town the week of the party – our first instinct was to tell him he would have to call his friends and let them know it was being canceled. After much discussion, we decided that the party could go on, but if Carson was old enough to plan a party, he was old enough to get the house ready and to make the food. The decorations, games, and menu were decided upon. Dirt pudding – chocolate pudding with gummy worms and crushed chocolate cookies for the dirt; eyeballs – peeled grapes; witches’ fingers – baby carrots with almonds for the fingernails; witches’ brew – punch; popcorn in a plastic glove to look like a hand – complete with a spider ring on the fingers; and sandwiches. Each night I called home to check on the progress of the party. Father and son had everything under control. Bats were hung from the ceiling, and spider webs were strung around the basement, which made cleaning easier when you just added additional webs to the ones already present. Food was purchased and prepared. By the time Friday arrived, Carson realized that parties are a lot of fun, but also quite a bit of work. The kids came, games were played, food was eaten, and everyone had a good time. Our social kid had a new appreciation of party planning and some great Halloween memories were made. You can have fun celebrating Halloween even if you don’t want to have a party. Try these easy treats to make your October spooktacular all month long. • Use a black permanent marker to draw a jack-o-lantern face on a full-sized or mandarin orange or a cup of fruit.
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Make an individual string cheese look like a ghost. • Peel a mandarin (you may know these oranges by the brands Cutie or Halo). Insert a small piece of celery or a broken piece of pretzel in the center for the stem to make a mini pumpkin. A sprig of mint can be used for a leaf. • Make a banana ghost by peeling a banana, cutting in half, and inserting mini chocolate chips for the eyes and mouth. • A partially peeled kiwi makes a great Frankenstein. Leave some of the fuzz on the top for hair and insert broken pretzel sticks and mini chocolate chips to decorate the face. • Mini candy apples – dip a grape on a toothpick in caramel sauce and then roll in chopped nuts.
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