Give Meals a Halloween Twist

pumpkinseeds

pumpkinseedsHalloween is a fun and exciting time for everyone. Kids anticipate dressing up, treats and being scared. It is as much fun for many parents as it is for the kids. Enjoying Halloween all day long can be one way of keeping those ghosts and goblins excited up to the last minute. Here are few ideas that you can incorporate into your Halloween meals, snacks, treats and parties to keep the excitement fresh all day.

Start them out on their Halloween adventure with a spooky morning breakfast. Toast can be transformed into ghosts by toasting the bread then using a gingerbread cookie cutter to cut the bread into ghosts. Smoother the bread with whipped cream cheese or plain yogurt and add raisins for the eyes.

Pumpkin oranges are another great breakfast idea. Use a toothpick or small sharp knife and carve a jack o lantern face into the outside of the orange. Be careful not to go to deep that you pierce the orange meat.

Lunch can also be transformed both at home and in the lunchbox. Goblin tongues can be the perfect tough. Use mini bagels and lightly spread them with mayonnaise. Cut slices of bologna into the shape of tongue and place on the bagel so they hang slightly over the edge of the bagel.

How about a worm sandwich? Slice hotdogs into several thin slices. Place them in the microwave and heat on high for a minute or so or until the hot dogs begin to curl slightly. Place them on a bun with ketchup to make them slimy.

You can also make ghost sandwiches. Add the filing to white bread then use a gingerbread cookie cutter to cut out the sandwich ghost. Remove the crust for the perfect ghost.

Don’t forget dinner? Transform devilled eggs into scary eyeballs by adding red food coloring to your egg yolks. Place a slice of black olive in the center for the pupil and you have some great blood shot eyes.

Having Italian for your Halloween dinner? Why not add Salty Bones to the meal. Use refrigerated breadstick dough and roll each triangle into a long skinny bone shape. Sprinkle with salt and bake as directed on the package.

Let’s not forget those snacks. Spider snacks can be a fun snack. Spread one round cracker with a dollop of peanut butter. Press stick pretzels into the peanut butter for the legs. Add raisins or small candy pieces for the eyes.

Graveyard snacks are also exciting. Use a cup of popped popcorn. Stir in the mini pretzels, marshmallows, chocolate chips and raisins to finish off the treat.

There are numerous ideas out there that will help in transforming any meal into a Halloween adventure. Cook up something spooky and don’t forget the BOO!

Breakfast Meats

3baconstrips

3baconstripsIt’s breakfast time again? Where is the closest drive through? These fast food delights are easy to obtain but expensive and not very healthy. However, convenience sometimes makes these two issues easy to overlook. Did you know that you can make these wonderful treats ahead of time at home for much less? You can also make them healthy for your family. All you need to do is plan ahead and breakfast can be an easy meal every day.

Next time you are cooking breakfast meats like bacon, sausage and ham, just cook a little extra. This will help to make breakfasts that are healthy and inexpensive and easy to warm up. Prepare some pancakes ahead of time and use these as the bread for a great breakfast sandwich.

Toast or use an English muffin and add a slice of your favorite breakfast meat. Top with a slice of your favorite cheese and maybe even a fried egg and presto, breakfast is ready to go.

Pancake griddle sandwiches are another favorite. Take a couple of silver dollar pancakes out of the freezer and add a couple of slices of bacon or a slice of ham and sandwich the meat between the pancakes. Once again you have created a quick and easy breakfast meal.

Grilled cheese sandwiches are always a favorite. You can add a new twist by adding some breakfast meat between two slices of toasted not grilled bread. Add an egg or some cheese and you can eat on the run any morning.

Southwestern egg sandwiches are another treat for the family. Scramble a couple of eggs and add some cheese. Stir in some sausage, bacon or ham, salsa or hot sauce. Place between a couple of slices of bread or in a flour tortilla and roll it up.

Meat filled warm, easy and tasty breakfasts don’t have to be hard to make. Just use your imagination and a little preparation and you can have a hearty breakfast ready in no time.

Creamy Berry Baked Toast

toastjam

toastjamIngredients:

1 (8 oz.) loaf of French bread, cut into slices
1 (8 oz.) carton of spreadable cream cheese
1 T of honey
1 (10 oz.) frozen sliced strawberries, thawed
1/4 C of strawberry jelly, warmed

How to Cook It:

Heat the oven to 375 degrees F.
On an ungreased baking sheet lay the slices of bread in a single layer.
Bake the bread 3 minutes, then turn and bake another 3 minutes or until crisp.
Mix the cream cheese and honey together until well blended and smooth.
Carefully spread the mixture over each slice of toast.
Each slice of toast is topped with the sliced strawberries.
Place a dollop of the strawberry jam on top before serving.

Try this instead of just plain toast. Any type of fruit and jelly that you like will work including orange marmalade. You can also use a fruit flavored cream cheese and omit the jelly.

Makes 2 dozen

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 6 minutes
Total Time: 16 minutes

Approximate Nutritional Values per slice:
74 calories; 3 g fat; 2 g saturated fat; 9 mg cholesterol; 93 mg sodium; 9 g carbohydrates; trace of fiber; 2 g protein

Cheese Toast with Cinnamon Apples

toast

toast
Ingredients:

2 cooking apples, unpeeled and sliced thin
1/4 C of sugar
1/2 t of cinnamon
1 T of butter
1/2 C of dried cranberries
1 (8 oz.) pkg. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
8 pieces of toast

How to Cook It:

Place the sliced apples into a mixing bowl.
Blend the sugar and cinnamon together well and sprinkle over the apples, tossing to coat.
Heat the butter in a small skillet until completely melted.
Add the apples to the skillet and cover with a tight fitting lid.
Cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally or until tender.
Stir the cranberries into the apple mixture.
Sprinkle each piece of toast with cheese.
Cover the cheese with a generous amount of the apple mixture.

Makes 8 servings

Preparation Time: approximately 15 minutes
Total Time: approximately 15 minutes

Kids will love this new way of making their toast. Try different types of mixed fruit for something a little different each time you serve it.