Lychee Eyeballs
Purchase: one can of lychees in syrup, one pint of fresh blueberries, toothpicks
Drain the lychee fruit into a colander, removing as much syrup as possible. Each lychee will have a natural opening on one end of the fruit. Locate that opening, then insert a small blueberry as far as it will comfortably go into the opening. Once it is settled in, skewer with a toothpick to hold the “eyeball” together. Use to garnish cocktails and other beverages.
Spider Cookies
Purchase: one tube of pre-made peanut butter cookie dough, small peanut butter cup candies, one tube of black or brown icing, candy eyes (optional)
Slice the cookie dough into rounds and bake as directed. Allow the cookies to cool until they are warm to the touch but not hot. Unwrap as many peanut butter cup candies as you have cookies (well, maybe one extra for the cook) and apply one top-down to each cookie. The warmth of the cookie should melt the chocolate of the peanut butter cup enough to make it stick. Allow the cookies to cool completely. Once they are cool, pipe four “legs” of icing on each side of the peanut butter cup to create a spider. If you have candy eyes, use icing to affix those to the peanut butter cup “body”. Serve on a platter with fake spider webs.
Crescent Roll Hot Dog Mummies
Purchase: one can of crescent roll dough, one pack of ten hot dogs
Separate crescent roll dough into rectangles. Slice each rectangle into ten vertical strips. Starting from the top, spiral one strip tightly around a hot dog. Add additional strips, stretching to fit, aiming for a bandaged look with a gap near the top of the hot dog for a face. Bake the mummies according to package directions, usually around 375 F for 15 minutes or until dough is golden brown. After the mummies are out of the oven, add facial features with ketchup, mustard, or another condiment.
Apple Monster Mouths
Purchase: one package red apples or pre-cut apple slices, mini marshmallows, creamy peanut butter
If using whole apples, slice each apple into 6 or 8 sections. Divide sections into pairs; the outer edge of each pair will make the lips of the monster mouth. Scoop out approximately two tablespoons of creamy peanut butter and apply to one side of an apple slice, then place the other slice on top to cover the peanut butter. Concentrate the peanut butter near the thicker side of the apple slice where the peel is located. Adhere mini marshmallows to the peanut butter to look like teeth in a mouth.
Cooking for Halloween doesn’t have to be scary! Taking advantage of the many prepared food options available for today’s busy cooks lets you bring snacks together with minimal stress. All of these can be made several hours ahead of a party or gathering – just store the mummies in a fridge and warm up them up in an oven if you choose to make them in advance – and they’re simple enough that little ghouls and goblins can lend a helping hand.
