Halloween Marsh-Monsters- Noel

8 thick pretzel rods

8 large marshmallows

Candy corn, miniature candy-coated chocolate baking bits, string licorice, Bugles corn snacks, gummy peach rings, fruit roll-ups, candy sprinkles, as desired

1 container (1 lb) vanilla creamy ready-to-spread frosting

Assorted food colors

Gently push 1 pretzel into 1 flat side of each marshmallow; set aside.  Plan and assemble decorations for each marshmallow.

In 1-cup microwavable measuring cup, microwave ½ cup frosting uncovered on High 10-20 seconds or until smooth and melted when stirred.  Add 1 to 2 drops food color as desired—green for witches or Frankenstein, red for devils, yellow for pumpkins or cats.

Dip and decorate 1 marshmallow at a time.  Hold pretzel, and dip marshmallow into frosting to coat all sides.  Immediately add decorations to create features—candy corn for noses, baking bits for eyes, string licorice for whiskers.  To make witch’s hat, push corn snack through center of peach ring.  For devil’s or witch’s cape, use fruit roll-up cut in half crosswise at an angle; attach at base of marshmallow while frosting is soft.  Set pretzels in drinking glass to dry before storing.  Store in airtight container.

Trick or Treat- Noel

¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) butter, softened

1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 ½ tsp vanilla

1/8 tsp cinnamon

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

1 square (1oz) unsweetened chocolate, melted

24 mini chocolate peanut butter cups, unwrapped

1 cup prepared chocolate frosting

1 tub (4.25 oz) orange decorating icing

Using an electric mixer set on medium speed, beat butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy; beat in vanilla and cinnamon.

Stir flour into butter mixture until well blended; add melted chocolate.  Cover dough; chill for 1 hour.  (Chilling helps the dough retain its shape during baking.)

Shape 2 Tbsp dough into a flat round.  Place the peanut butter cup onto round and mold dough around it, making sure candy is covered.  Repeat with remaining dough and candy.

Place filled dough onto 2 ungreased baking sheets, 1 inch apart.  Bake at 350° until golden, about 20 minutes.  Place baking sheets on wire racks; cool for 10 minutes.  Transfer cookies to racks; cool completely. 

In a microwave-safe bowl, microwave chocolate frosting on 50% power for 5 seconds or until slightly thinned.  Using the back of a spoon, frost the top of each cookie; let frosting set. 

Using the tube of orange icing fitted with a small writing tip, create a crisscross design on top of each cookie; let icing set.

Witch Fingers- Noel

I used these at a Halloween party I catered last year. They turned out so good. It's creepy how life like they are!



1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. almond
1 tsp. vanilla
2 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp. salt

sliced almonds (paint red with food coloring paste mixed with water, if desired. I used a new paintbrush.)
Cream butter & sugar together, add other ingredients (except almond slices), & chill for 30 minutes. Once chilled, take out about 1/4 of the dough at a time to work with and leave the rest in the fridge. Roll dough into 'finger' shapes and place on lightly greased cookie sheets. I press them down a little and press in where the knuckles would be. Using the back of a butter knife, make knuckle marks. Then place the sliced almond on for the finger nail. Bake @ 325° for 15 minutes or until they're just starting to brown on the edges. As soon as you take them out of the oven press the almond slice down at the 'bed' of the nail to reinforce it.

Hardy Chicken Noodle Soup- Granny Goon

I got this recipe from my mom. I don't know how every one's parents work but mine doesn't go off of real recipes so here's what we've got. The soup is Delicious! It's our family's Halloween tradition.

Boil- shred- chicken
cook carrots 'til soft

melt 1/2 stick butter in pan
add 2 tbsp. flour
add 2-3 cups milk & blend
add onion & salt & pepper
1 cup chicken broth
2 cans cream of chicken

when your soup made, add your shredded chicken, carrots, peas, and rotini noodles (cooked as directed on package).