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Fall Supplement October 2008 Vol I - Issue 1
Table of Contents Apple Orchards and Pumpkin Farms 2 Witzgall’s Orchards and Floral Gardens 3&4 Seasonal Baking 5 &6 Halloween Treats 7 &8 Host a Halloween Bash 9&10 Celebrate Halloween 11-14 brought to you by TriCityLocal.com
Apple Orchards
Pumpkin Farms/Farm Markets
Apple Blossom Orchard 2581 Wilder Midland, MI 48642 Midland County Phone: (989) 631-5694
Berry Creek Farm 6745 South Euclid Avenue Bay City, MI 48706 Phone: 989-684-1655
Bayne's Apple Valley Farm 5395 Midland Road (M-47) Freeland, MI 48623 Saginaw County Phone: (989) 695-9139 Bintz Cider Mill and Apple Farm 4520 N River Rd Freeland, MI 48623 Saginaw County Phone: (989) 781-2590 Eastman's Antique Orchard 1058 W. Midland-Gratiot Co. Line Rd. Wheeler, MI 48662 Midland County Phone: (989) 842-5576 Jacques Orchard 2275 N. Iva Rd. Hemlock, MI 48626 Saginaw County Phone: (989) 642-3522 Leaman's Green Applebarn 7475 N. River Road Freeland, MI 48623 Saginaw County Phone: (989) 695-2465 Moore Orchards Sasse Road Midland, MI 48640 Midland County Phone: (989) 832-3560 The Little Orchard Company 2282 East Salzburg Rd Bay City, MI 48706 Bay County Phone: (989) 684-3127 Tiny Apple Store 2282 E. Salzburg Bay City, MI 48706 Phone: 989-671-0613 Witzgall Apple Orchard (featured business p 3 & 4)
Grandmas Pumpkin Patch 4277 N Eastman Road Midland, MI 48642 Phone: (989) 835-8024 Johnson's Giant Pumpkins 4715 N. Portsmith Rd. Saginaw, MI 48601 Phone: 989-659-3327 Warmbier Farms 5300 Garfield Road Auburn, MI 48611 Phone: 989-662-7002 or 989-662-7003 Hemmeter's Farm Market & Greenhouse Saginaw Township Saginaw, MI Saginaw County Phone: 989-792-8381
Witzgall Orchards and Apiary Take a bite out of fall October 8, 2008 - As the summer ends and the autumn leaves turn golden, so comes the harvest season. Being the third largest apple producing state in the country, one of the rites of enjoying a Michigan autumn is savoring the first bite into a home-grown apple. TriCityLocal.com recently became aware of one of the Tri-Cities best-kept secrets. There is no need to travel to an out-of-the way orchard to enjoy a locally-harvested apple. Actually, a wonderful orchard can be found not far from your own backyard. Tri-City residents can stop in at 5179 S. Two Mile Road, between Salzburg and Fisher in Bay City and visit the Witzgall Orchards Flower Gardens and Apiary. Forty-five years ago, Wayne and Doris Witzgall, built their home on Two Mile Road and immediately began planting apples trees on the empty landscape. Doris said they soon came to realize the necessity of creating an orchard as she, laughingly, tells everyone “this began as my husband’s hobby which soon got out of hand.”
Doris Witzgall
Her husband, Wayne, originally sold the apples out of his truck while employed at GM. As the orchard grew and grew, Wayne, too, outgrew the truck and built the present pole building located on the property. Today, harvested apples are kept in cold storage here. Items such as caramel apples, pure honey, fresh-pressed apple cider (best around), homemade cider slush, apple donuts and are sold to the public from the store inside. Free popcorn is also available.
Caramel Apples
Over the years, the Witzgalls have acquired over six acres of land; home to over 400 apple trees. Forty varieties of apples are grown and, on average, over 3,000 half-bushels of apples are harvested in September and October. In order to pollinate the orchard, Wayne keeps two apiaries, better known as bee yards. He has fourteen hives with 20,000-30,000 bees per hive with one record hive this year having over 50,000 bees. Each hive is home to one queen bee, which lives one to four years. The queen produces 1,000-2,000 eggs per day after being fertilized by the drone who's only job is to mate; an act which leads to its immediate death. Worker bees, on the other hand, only live for about a month and according to Wayne, “fly themselves to death.” Wayne’s worker bees produce over 1,000 lbs. of honey per year, which is processed in mid-August, from the nectar the bees have gathered. For an interesting and fascinating excursion, stop in to Witzgall’s Orchard, but HURRY. Your taste buds will be delighted! Doris indicated there is a shortage of apples this year across the nation and the expected end-of-season at Witzgall’s Orchard could be as early as October 18. Please call 989-684-4993 before you visit to inquire as to the current fresh-picked apples, and the availability of cider and other products. Location: 5179 S. Two Mile Rd. Bay City, MI 48706 between Salzburg & Fischer Rds. Hours of Operation: September - October Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sun. 1-5 p.m.
Wayne Witzgall
Interesting Fact: The range of a bee’s flight is approximately two miles from the hive but, on average, in a bee’s lifetime, they fly the equivalent of 11 round trips from New York to San Francisco.
Apple Varieties in season at Witzgall’s Orchard include: Crispin/Mutsu, JonaGold, Ida Red, Delicious, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Jonathan, Rome and Winesap. (cont’d next page)
Witzgall Floral and Herb Gardens A little piece of heaven One would think that Doris and Wayne have enough to do simply tending to their orchards. You may be surprised to find that Witgall’s Orchard is also home to beautiful, breath-taking floral and herb gardens and, at season’s peak, the gardens can be described as nothing short of spectacular. Doris and Wayne have won several awards for their gardens. In 1999, Ortho and WalMart presented Doris with a $1,000 gift certificate for a photo she had submitted. In 2003, the gardens were highlighted in the Bay City Garden Walk . In addition, Birds and Blooms has nationally recognized the achievements and hard work of the Witgalls and wrote an article in 2005 about the gardens. In 2007, Doris won an award for the “Best Entryway” contest from Country Women magazine. Most recently, in September of 2008, Witzgall Orchards was recognized by the Bay City in Bloom Committee for their pride of ownership and their beautiful floral gardens.
To appreciate the effort extolled in creating the raised beds, Wayne told us that the herb garden, which was planted this past spring, required moving over thirty six yards of black dirt and thousands of rocks to form the bed’s borders. In addition, each year it takes him a full week to plan and plant the annuals and another week to clean out the beds at the end of the season. The garden’s are best viewed in mid-July at season’s peak, but the Witgalls, who are very gracious and pleasant in their dealings with the public, allow their guests to stroll through the gardens anytime from June - August. Simply call and set up an appointment before you arrive. Over 250 varieties of flowers and 80 herbal plants, grown for their natural healing and medicinal properties can be found in the gardens. Strewn throughout the floral beds are signs adorning the names of the flowers and plants. Sculpted angels can be found everywhere and Doris has crafted beautiful hand-painted cement bird baths cast in sand with the imprint of rhubarb leaves in the cement’ surface. A pond and waterfall complete the space and birds and butterflies abound during the summer months. Footnote: When it was time to leave, Wayne and Doris insisted I take along a cup of hot cider, an apple and a donut and said, jokingly, “they have those in heaven you know”, referring to the donut. Quite frankly, I thought I had already died and gone to heaven the first time I laid eyes on this tranquil and idyllic setting. Stop in and give yourself time to enjoy this wonderful orchard and don’t forget to stop by next July to see the beautiful gardens. Mark it on your calendar. You won’t regret it!
Fall Into Seasonal Baking (Family Features ) Fall has its own rhythm—a resting spot between busy summer activities and the holiday frenzy. It’s a good time to cozy in and get back in touch with the kitchen. Baking decorative leaf-shaped cookies or a pumpkin quick bread fills the house with welcoming aromas and the promise of treats to have on hand. A batch of Autumn Spice Cookies full of fall flavors—cinnamon, ginger, allspice and molasses with a hint of orange—makes a welcome dessert, the perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea, or a thoughtful gift for a hostess or friend. Bake these cookies in advance so they’re ready when you need them. They can be stored at room temperature up to a week or frozen up to three months. For best baking results, dip leaf-shaped cookie cutters in flour before making cut-outs to prevent the dough from sticking to the cutter. Space unbaked cookies evenly on the pan, one inch apart, so they don’t touch during baking to make sure every leaf is perfectly shaped. As a gift, place cookies in a clear party treat bag and tie with ribbon or raffia. Spread the joy of baking and decorating by including a leaf-shpaed cookie cutter and this cookie’s recipe card tied on the ends of the ribbon.
Autumn Spice Cookies Recipe Courtesy of Wilton Industries, Inc. Makes about 36 cookies 3 1/2 1 1 1/2 1 1 1/2 1/4 1/2 3/4 1 3/4
cups all-purpose flour tablespoon finely grated orange zest teaspoons ground cinnamon teaspoon ground ginger teaspoon baking soda teaspoon salt teaspoon ground allspice cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened cup granulated sugar egg cup dark molasses
Preheat oven to 375ºF. In medium bowl, combine flour, orange zest, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda, salt and allspice; set aside. In large bowl, cream butter and sugar using electric mixer. Add egg and molasses; mix well. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, mixing until well blended. Divide dough into 2 portions. Roll dough to 1/8-inch thickness on floured surface. Dip harvest cookie cutters in flour before making cut-outs. Cut out shapes from dough; transfer to ungreased cookie pan, spacing 1 inch apart. Bake 7-9 minutes or until cookies are golden brown. Remove from oven; cool cookies 2 minutes on pan. Transfer cookies to cooling grid using cookie spatula; cool completely. Store cookies in airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Turn on Autumn Aromas (Family Features - Mix it up with Jenny) With autumn's arrival, my cooking takes on a new personality. Crisp, cool air and falling leaves propel me into the kitchen, where I enjoy creating tempting, seasonal aromas of cinnamon, apple and butterscotch. These universally-appealing flavors say "fall" like nothing else. And autumn-inspired treats help make fall memorable. During this colorful season, I love to attend craft fairs and seasonal festivals with my family. Picking out a pumpkin to carve, or coming home with some apple cider and a bushel of apples are favorite activities that are topped off with something homemade from my oven. Show off your baking talents with either of these recipes-perfect for a post-football game gathering, or to offer at a potluck or bake sale.
Warm and Yummy Apple Oatmeal Raisin Cobbler Courtesy of www.VeryBestBaking.com. (Makes about 15, 1/2 cup servings) 2 cans (21 ounces each) apple pie filling 1 pkg. (16.5 ounces) Nestlé Toll House Refrigerated Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Bar Dough Vanilla Dreyer's Or Edy's Slow Churned Light Ice Cream or whipped topping (optional) PREHEAT oven to 375º F. Grease 13 x 9-inch baking dish or pan. SPOON pie filling into dish. Crumble cookie dough over pie filling. BAKE for 20 to 25 minutes or until topping is golden brown and edge is bubbly. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped topping, if desired. TIP: 2 cans (20 ounces each) light or no-sugar added apple pie filling can be substituted for the regular apple pie filling. Nutrition Information per serving: 210 calories; 45 calories from fat; 5 g total fat; 2.5 g saturated fat; 10 mg cholesterol; 150 mg sodium; 40 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 22 g sugars; 2 g protein
Chocolate Nut Bread Source: Nestle (Makes 24 slices/ 12 slices per loaf) 4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 3/4 cups milk 1 1/2 cups (9 ounces) Nestlé Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1 cup granulated sugar 1 tablespoon baking soda 2 large eggs 2/3 cup vegetable oil 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts
PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease two 9 x 5-inch loaf pans. COMBINE flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Combine eggs, milk and vegetable oil in medium bowl. Add to flour mixture; mix just until moistened. Stir in morsels and nuts. Spoon into prepared loaf pans. BAKE for 55 to 60 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes; remove from pans. Cool on wire racks. TIP: If you are looking for even more chocolate flavor, try drizzling the cooled loaves with chocolate! Microwave 1/2 cup semi-sweet morsels in heavy-duty plastic bag on HIGH (100%) power for 45 seconds; knead bag to mix. Microwave at additional 10- to 20-second intervals, kneading until smooth. Cut a small hole in corner of bag; squeeze to drizzle over bread. Nutrition Information per serving: 280 calories; 130 calories from fat; 15 g total fat; 3.5 g saturated fat; 20 mg cholesterol; 290 mg sodium; 33 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 15 g sugars; 5 g protein
Cheddar-Pumpkin Spread 5 cups (about 24 oz.) finely shredded Cheddar cheese 4 packages (8 oz. ea.) cream cheese, softened 2 teaspoons garlic powder 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder 1/4 cup additional cream cheese and Leaf Green Icing Color, if desired to decorate pumpkin Line pumpkin pan* with plastic wrap; lightly spray pan with vegetable pan spray. In food processor fitted with metal blade, combine all ingredients except extra cream cheese and icing color; process until smooth. Spoon into pan, dividing evenly between both pan cavities; press with back of spoon to pack mixture tightly into pan. Cover with plastic wrap. Chill several hours or overnight. Unmold onto serving plate; smooth with spatula or knife. If desired, decorate with green tinted cream cheese. Serve with Halloween Pita Crisps, crackers or cutup vegetables. Makes about 8 cups spread. *Note: Recipe was prepared in the Dimensions Large Pumpkin Pan.
Halloween Pita Crisps
Cheddar-Pumpkin Spread, Halloween Pita Crisps, and Ghosts and Goblins Crispy Treat Pops
1 package pocket pita breads Olive oil, vegetable oil or pesto Optional Suggested Toppings: Finely shredded cheese, minced fresh herbs, finely chopped garlic or shallots Coarsely ground salt and pepper, to taste Preheat oven to 375째F. Using desired Halloween-shaped mini cutter, press and cut shapes from pita; pull apart into two pieces. Arrange on ungreased cookie sheet. Brush with oil or pesto. If desired, sprinkle with suggested toppings, salt and pepper. Bake 5 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned and crisp. Makes 48 to 54 crisps.
Tangled Web Custard Tarts Ghosts and Goblins Crispy Treat Pops 6 tablespoons butter or margarine 1 package (16 oz.) marshmallows 1 package (about 10 oz.) crisp rice cereal, divided Orange Icing Color Cookie Sticks (6 or 8-in.) Halloween Confetti Sprinkles Spray multi-cavity pumpkin and ghost pan with vegetable pan spray. In large saucepan, melt butter; add marshmallows. Cook and stir until melted. Divide mixture in half; stir orange icing color into 1 portion. Add half of cereal to orange mixture; mix well. Repeat with remaining cereal and white marshmallow mixture. Press into prepared pan; carefully remove from pan and allow to cool. Insert cookie stick; add confetti eyes and mouth. Makes about 24 treat pops.
2 9-in. refrigerated pie crusts (one 15-oz. package) 1 package (3.4 oz.) instant vanilla or butterscotch pudding mix 2 cups cold milk 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or ground cinnamon (optional) Orange, Violet or Black Decorating Gels, Orange or Green Sparkle Gel, Orange Cookie Icing Preheat oven to 425째F. Soften pie crusts following package instructions. Gently unroll crusts; cut each into about 4 1/2-in.circles, using the 4-in.removable tart pan bottom as a guide. Press each piece into 4-in.tart pan; prick bottom with fork. Bake 5 to 8 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely. In large bowl, prepare pudding mix with milk following package instructions. If desired, add pie spice. Spoon about 1/4 cup pudding into each cooled tart shell; spread out evenly. Squeeze Decorating Gel, Sparkle Gel or Cookie Icing in concentric circles over pudding surface; run knife through pudding from center of circles to edge of tart to create spider web. Chill at least 20 minutes. Makes 8 mini tarts.
Hangin’ Out on Halloween Brownies 1 package (about 20 oz.) brownie mix (13 x 9-in. size) Egg, water and oil to prepare mix White Cookie Icing Spiders & Bats Icing Decorations Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray medium cookie pan with vegetable pan spray. Prepare brownie mix with egg, water and oil, following package instructions. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until brownie tests done. Cool completely in pan on cooling grid. Cut cooled brownies using spider web cutter. Draw web lines using Cookie Icing. Attach spider icing decoration with icing. Makes about 15 brownies.
Candy-Dipped Halloween Apples Medium apples Cookie Sticks (8-in.) Candy Melts (Light Cocoa, Dark Cocoa and White) Halloween Pumpkin Mix Sprinkles, Halloween Confetti Sprinkles or Ghost Mix Sprinkles Halloween Nonpareils Orange, Black or Lavender Sugars Line cookie sheet or pan with parchment paper. Wash and completely dry apples; insert cookie sticks into tops of apples. In medium microwave-safe bowls, melt each variety of Candy Melts according to package directions. Place sprinkles and sugars in small bowls. Dip apples into melted candy, then immediately into desiredsprinklesorsugars.Placeonpreparedpans,stick up; chill until firm.
Hangin’ Out on Halloween Brownies
Halloween Thrills And Chills (Family Features) Halloween evolved from pranks to parties in the past century. In the early 1900s, young men made a night of toppling outhouses and garbage cans, piling cornstalks on porches, and letting animals like pigs or ponies loose. Kids carved notches in the ends of empty thread spools and rolled them on windows, making a frightful sound before the kids banged on the door, yelling “Tricks or treats, money or eats!” City fathers soon decided to discourage pranks by starting Halloween activities. In 1921, Anoka, Minnesota, held the first recorded citywide Halloween celebration in the nation. It’s the Halloween capital of the U.S. to this day. Halloween offers two temptations: the chance to become someone else for a night and to eat treats (more later). Children who fear monsters and ghosts find that dressing up and acting like a monster such as Dr. Frankenstein’s cuts Boo Bash Eats: Dracula-themed Pepperoni Pizza, Them Bones through the mystery, making it less frightening. And with Chili, and a bat-shaped Hormel Meat and Cheese Party grownups delight in dressing up as someone else, stepping Tray. outside themselves one evening a year. Halloween is so popular that it causes an economic uptick every October. Costume rental stores—2,500 of them nationwide— advertise garb to transform us into characters like Batman and Princess Leia. Children become angels, devils or cartoon characters, while teens become vampires, pirates or princesses. Party stores make it easy to decorate rooms by offering do-it-yourself cobwebs and glow-in-the-dark skeletons. Haunted houses open for business with wispy smoke curling from their chimneys and ghoulish laughter sounding from their doorways. Pumpkin patches nationwide produce millions of pounds of the golden globes, large and small, to become candlelit faces, merry or scary. This year, why not throw your own Boo Bash? The folks at Hormel Foods have created imaginative treats for it. In the center of the serving table, set out a witch’s cauldron of Hormel Chili surrounded by warm Them Bones. Then add a bat-shaped Hormel Meat and Cheese Party Tray. Simply cut the tray in half, cut out a head and arrange. The final touch to the eats display is a Count Dracula pizza, his mop of hair and snag-toothed mouth fashioned from pepperoni. Set out an array of beverages: hot cider, soda pop and flavored waters. Dessert? Frozen balls of orange sherbet topped with chocolate sauce.
Them Bones Makes 8 servings 2 cans (15 ounces) HORMEL Chili With Beans 1 can (8 ounces) refrigerated breadsticks Create a witch’s cauldron in which to serve chili—a small black bucket or a bowl inside a paper cauldron. Heat the chili. Open the breadsticks; cut each strip of dough in two lengthwise. Shape dough into 16 bones of various sizes. Bake at 350o F for 5 to 8 minutes, until crisp. Serve bones around chili so they’re ready to dip into it.
Them Bones to dip into hot chili will warm your trick-or-treaters.
Host a Bewitching Bash (Family Features - Mix it up with Jenny) Halloween! Every year the kid in me eagerly anticipates celebrating this festive autumn holiday. I enjoy conjuring up a ghostly good time for family and friends. Gather ghouls and boys for a Halloween spread of spooktacular goodies and graveyard fun. Make it a BOO-fest, setting the table for serve-yourself ease. Finger foods make it easy: deviled eggs, crackers and cheese, veggie dippers and favorite dips, Spiderweb Munch and Easy Halloween Cookie Cups. Blow up orange balloons, and offer felt-tip markers for guests to decorate as jack-o-lanterns. Frighteningly good ideas for tricks, treats and eats are at your fingertips: www.VeryBestBaking.com
Spiderweb Munch (Makes 12 servings) 2 cups (12-ounce package) Nestlé Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels 1 cup creamy peanut butter, divided 1/3 cup powdered sugar 3 cups toasted rice cereal HEAT morsels and 3/4 cup peanut butter in small, heavy-duty saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth; remove from heat. Add sugar; stir vigorously until smooth. PLACE cereal in large bowl. Add 1 cup melted chocolate mixture; stir until evenly coated. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Using small metal spatula, shape into 10-inch circle with slightly raised 1-inchwide border. Pour remaining chocolate mixture in center of circle; spread to border. FOR SPIDERWEB:PLACE remaining peanut butter in small, heavy-duty plastic bag. Cut tiny corner from bag; squeeze to pipe concentric circles on top of chocolate. Using wooden pick or tip of sharp knife, pull tip through peanut butter from center to border. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm. Cut into wedges. Nutrition Information per serving: 320 calories; 170 calories from fat; 19 g total fat; 7 g saturated fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 150 mg sodium; 32 g carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 19 g sugars; 7 g protein
Easy Halloween Cookie Cups (Makes 2 dozen cookie cups) 1 package (16.5 ounces) Nestlé Toll House Refrigerated Chocolate Chip Cookie Bar Dough 1 cup (6 ounces) Nestlé Toll House Swirled Milk Chocolate & Peanut Butter Morsels PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease 24 mini-muffin cups. PLACE squares of dough into prepared muffin cups; press down to make a deep well. BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until edges are set. Remove from oven to wire rack(s). While still warm, fill cookie cups with morsels. Morsels will soften and retain their shape. Cool completely. With tip of knife, remove cookie cups from muffin pan(s). * NOTE: 1 cup (6 ounces) of any flavor Nestlé Toll House morsels can be substituted for the Swirled Milk Chocolate & Peanut Butter Morsels. Nutrition Information per cookie cup: 120 calories; 50 calories from fat; 6 g total fat; 3 g saturated fat; 10 mg cholesterol; 85 mg sodium; 17 g carbohydrate; 0 g fiber; 12 g sugars; 1 g protein
Last Minute Makeup Completes the Perfect Halloween Costume Kids want to look their scariest on Halloween, but parents can, and should, be wary of letting their children go out wearing masks that can make it difficult to see approaching cars and other dangerous objects. Makeup is a safer, and more comfortable option, but many people are under the opinion that it's expensive and difficult to do. Nothing could be further from the truth. You don't need a fancy makeup kit to transform your child's adorable face into a spooky creature or critter this Halloween. In fact, most households probably already have most of the items you will need to create a "spooktacular" Halloween makeup kit. Here are a few home-grown makeup tips to complete the perfect costume.
Facial Hair: Use a wet sponge to apply cake mascara or dark eye shadow to create sideburns, mustaches, and other facial hair. Apply sparingly over the whole face to darken your child's complexion. Create a bushy mustache or flowing beard from crepe wool (also known as crepe hair) or yarn. Unbraid and frizz it up a bit for best results. You can use a safe mixture of flour and water to apply the 'hair' to your child's skin. It will wash off easily at the end of the night.
Making Hair Disappear: Make new eyebrows for your child by hiding the old ones with multiple applications of a thick paste made from facial soap and water. Cover the paste with foundation and draw new shapes wherever you want them.
Go Bald: If you forgot to pick up a skull cap, the end of an old nylon can create a fairly good effect. Glue on some crepe wool or yarn to create a custom wig.
White as a Ghost: Mix together white chalk with shortening from your kitchen cupboard, and apply to your child's face to give her a ghostly complexion.
Frankenstein Neck Bolts: Paint Styrofoam packing peanuts with a black watercolor paint and stick to your child's neck with a flour and water mixture for a great neck bolt effect.
Wounds: Mix lipstick and yellow and green eye shadow to create bruises. For a festering wound, coat the area of the wound with baking soda, then use a spray bottle to very lightly spray with vinegar. If let dry, the bubbling sore will stay till washed off. When the night is over, and it's time for your monsters to return to their less ghoulish selves, baby shampoo will remove the glue and makeup easily and gently.
Help Your Child Have a Safe Halloween With brilliantly colored leaves falling and cool crisp autumn nights, can Halloween be too far behind? Halloween is a fun time that produces wonderful memories for your child. To ensure that your child has a safe and happy Halloween, try to incorporate as many of these safety tips as possible.
Choosing a Costume: Selecting a costume is one of the most important things to consider. You should pick a costume with material that is flame retardant. Even though many people light their jack-o-lanterns with other less dangerous methods, some people still use the traditional candle. If a pumpkin should get knocked over or your child somehow gets too close to an open flame, a fire resistant costume could help prevent a disaster. The material should also be either light in color or brightly colored, so your child can be seen easier in the dark. You could also place reflective tape on the costume or sew a glow stick or two on it. The costume should also fit properly and be several inches above the ankles, as you do not want your child tripping over it. In addition, make sure footwear is well fitted to prevent stumbling or getting blisters. For better vision, try to opt for non-toxic hypoallergenic face makeup as opposed to a mask. However, if you cannot get away with makeup, then find a mask with large eye holes that will not impair your child's vision. Advise your child to remove the mask in between house stops and only place the mask back on when at the door. If your child insists on accessories like daggers, guns and other weapons, be sure that they are not realistic in appearance and are made of a harmless bendable material.
Jack-O-Lanterns: Carving the pumpkin can be a terrific family activity. Even though there are pumpkin carving kits available that are somewhat safer, it is still best to have an adult do the actual carving. Let your child draw the face and scoop out the pumpkin seeds. Do not light your jack-o-lantern with a candle. Instead you can use specially made battery powered lights that do the job just as well.
Halloween Night: Dish up a hearty dinner for your little goblin before unleashing him out on the neighborhood. With some luck, this will help him suppress the temptation to eat any candy before he returns home. It is ideal to have an adult go out with the children. You will not have any complaints from small children. However, at some point older children no longer wish to be seen with their parents and will want to go out with their friends. Here you may be able to enlist a trustworthy older teenager to accompany them. Never let your child venture out alone no matter what his age. Make sure he is at the very least with a group. Before your child sets out, discuss trick or treating rules with him. Explain how important it is for him not to eat anything before he comes home. Instruct him to obey all traďŹƒc signals and rules like looking both ways before crossing a street and only at the crosswalk. Also, he should stay on the sidewalk and walk, not run. Cutting across yards can be hazardous because there may be a garden hose, rocks or other obstacles that he may trip over. Warn him not to use a remote shortcut, but to stay on populated streets. Remind him to stay with the group so as not to get lost. Trick or treating should only be done at houses with porch lights on. Caution him not to go into anyone's house or car. Your child should have the following items with him: a wristwatch, enough coins to be able to make several phone calls and a lightweight flashlight with fresh batteries. Be sure to know the route he will take and that it is in a safe area. Settle on a time that he must be home.
Checking the Candy: Once your child returns home with his loot, you must inspect it thoroughly before he consumes any of it. Throw out anything that looks suspicious, such as items that are unwrapped, appear to have been tampered with or are homemade. Examine fruit for any cuts or holes. Wash, peel and cut it into pieces before giving it to your child. For younger children be careful of toys and candies that may be a choking hazard. By following these sensible Halloween safety tips, your child's memories will be of a holiday that was filled with treats, witches cackles, black cats, but no boo-boos.
Family Features - (Courtesy of American Greetings) Just how big is Halloween? It comes every year on Oct. 31, but retailers start decorating and selling costumes as early as August in preparation of the thrills and chills the holiday brings. Why so early? Well, according to the National Retail Federation, Halloween has become a $5 billion business, and one that is growing rapidly in popularity among adults. No longer a kids-only holiday, more than 85 percent of people ages 18 to 24 years old took part in the festivities last year. The fascination with Halloween has created multiple opportunities for children of all ages to celebrate in a wide variety of ways. From hosting a fright night costume party for adults to celebrating with an old-fashioned afternoon harvest party with the kids, Halloween offers a unique occasion for everyone to get in on the fun. "Celebrating Halloween is a great way to escape everyday worries and let your imagination run wild," said Chris Riddle, American Greetings Halloween trend expert and unofficial "Mr. Halloween." "It's the one day of the year that you get to wake up and be someone else. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that?" The Halloween experts at American Greetings offer the following tips to ensure a perfect Halloween celebration, no matter how you plan on getting in on the fright-filled fun.
This creepy crawly spider can be used hanging from a doorway or standing precariously on the edge of a sofa. Either way, it's sure to bring a fright.
You're never too old for Halloween Halloween may be known for trick-or-treating, but today more adults are using the occasion to celebrate their own love of everything that goes bump in the night. With the holiday being observed on a Friday this year, you can be sure that there will be a few invites coming your way. -Monster mash: If you're hosting a costume party, be sure to indicate it on the invitations. The spirit of friendly competition and promise of prizes will definitely ignite imaginations. Scary sights, scents and sounds all add to the Halloween party mood. Add frightening sights and sounds with creepy music and a classic horror film playing in the background. Scented candles and incense can also add to the atmosphere. -Decorate ... whatever you possibly can: Why just create a haunted house when you can offer up a horrific office? Add a Halloween inspired screen saver to your computer, mount a seasonally appropriate hanging on your office door or even have a bowl of candy on your desk. -Share a scare: If you can't be with a friend or family member who you typically share the spooky holiday with, there is no need to worry. The newest cards for Halloween focus on the themes of fun and fright, but they do so with a little something extra, including new sound cards that reflect the creepy atmosphere that the day is all about.
Create a spooktacular display on a budget One of spookiest set pieces in a haunted house is the array of old belongings that have been long-since abandoned. With a fresh eye, a little creativity and a few inexpensive craft supplies, everyday items can become positively diabolical. -Clear the slate: After removing accent pieces that clash with your Halloween theme, replace them with candles, vases, and throws that fit your new color palette. Then utilize natural elements from your own back yard, such as filling a clear vase with twisted tree branches or fall leaves. -Rework and repurpose: Unwanted items that otherwise would have been discarded can have a new life as innovative Halloween decorations. Drippy taper candles in tarnished silver holders create an ominous atmosphere. Old white sheets can be made into ghosts or create an abandoned look by using them as drop cloths for furniture. -Choose accent pieces that you love: Set the whole room off with classic Halloween decorations that make a great impact. Accenting with simple touches such as a creepy candelabra or a witch's cauldron is the icing on the cake ... or the fangs on the vampire, as the case may be.
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Retro Halloween celebrations Many of our Halloween traditions remind us to savor those last warm breezes before winter sets in and enjoy the natural art that occurs as the leaves change. With the Halloween season synonymous with change, why not reflect back to enjoy some of the activities you loved as a child? -Host an old-fashioned gathering: An afternoon party is an excellent way to connect with young children who are still fearful of ghosts and goblins. Serve classic snacks like apple cider, Halloween-themed cupcakes and roasted pumpkin seeds. Vintage games like bobbing for apples, pin the nose on the pumpkin and guessing how many candies are in a jar are easy games for the younger crowd. Both parents and children can participate together in a pumpkin carving contest or a treasure hunt. -Enjoy the outdoors: Check with your local parks and community calendar listings to see if there are any ghost walks oered. Enjoy a crisp fall day by going on a hayride and selecting your pumpkins together for carving. -Cozy up inside: If the weather isn't cooperative for an outdoor fall celebration, it's still easy to bring the season into your home with a fun Halloween-themed craft. Try a modern approach to pumpkin decorating - paint funny faces on the pumpkins or cover them in glitter. They'll look great and last a lot longer than their carved counterparts.
After crafting your spooky atmosphere, punch up your design with festive "must have" items such as a candy cauldron, wall hanging or Halloweenthemed candelabra.
Send a spooky greeting to friends and family with the latest greeting cards from American Greetings. Visit www.americangreetings.com/retailers for store locations.
An ominous haunted house candleholder casts an eerie glow.