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Halloween Fun

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Thoughts of Halloween often conjure haunting visions of buckets of candy, trays of caramel apples and oodles of other sugary snacks.

Although it's only once a year, the aftermath of Halloween can linger for weeks as your child's stash of candy whittles away. But why torture yourself? Why not make Halloween a fun holiday with easy-to-use, low-cost yummy ingredients with a few creative money-saving ideas to get everyone in the mood?

Here are a few great frugal party ideas to keep the spirit of Halloween alive.

Parents, always supervise any cooking activities with your children. Enjoy these recipes but keep age appropriateness in mind when allowing your child to eat and/or to create certain foods. For your information: While everyone should eat healthy 90 percent of the time, it's ok to let loose occasionally. While everything listed below is not particularly 100 percent healthy, everyone needs to splurge 10 percent of the time and this goes for kids too. Have fun and always monitor small children, ESPECIALLY ages 10 months to 3 years, when preparing, cooking and/or eating certain types of food.

Halloween Treats

Spiders
Ingredients:
1 (12 oz.) pkg. chocolate chips
1 medium can of chow mein noodles. Use only the amount you need and freeze the rest.
1 pkg. M & M candy
If needed, add 2 to 4 tablespoons water, to thin chocolate.

Directions:
1. Melt chocolate in microwave.

2. Stir in noodles. Drop by spoonful onto waxed paper.

3. Add two M & M's for the spider eyes.

Slush Drink
Ingredients:
1 pkg. lime gelatin
1 cup sugar
4 cans or more (up to 2 quarts) 7-Up
4 cups boiling water
3 cups pineapple juice
1 glass bottle of cherries (just add a few cherries - not the whole bottle)

Directions:
1. Mix all ingredients together except 7-Up.

2. Place in container with a lid. Freeze four to five hours. Remove from freezer when mixture is slushy.

3. Fill glasses one-half full of slush. Fill remainder of glass with 7-Up. Or, add the 4 cans for a larger serving size for a party treat in a glass punch bowl or pitcher.

4. Throw cherries in for added spooky effect.

Popcorn Treats
Ingredients:
1/2 cup candy corn
Vegetable cooking spray
4 cups miniature marshmallows (use the colored ones for cool colors)
8 cups popped corn (use the kind without butter)

Directions:
1. Lightly coat 13 x 9 glass or metal pan in cooking spray.

2. Cut each piece of candy corn in half lengthwise.

3. In double boiler on low heat, or microwave, melt marshmallows, stirring constantly.

4. Remove from heat. Add popcorn and stir to coat evenly. Slowly add candy corn and stir.

5. Using wax paper, press mixture evenly into pan, let cool about one hour. Cut into 24 squares.

Black Kitty Kats
Ingredients:
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
1/3 cup water
2 eggs
1 chocolate cake mix (you're on your own with this one - I make it from scratch with wheat flour)
M & M's (plain - or peanut if you choose to use plain peanut butter)
Red hots
1 small jar or can of coconut pieces (choose the coconut or the candy pieces below as one or the other for kitty whiskers)
1 small jar or can of orange cake decorating candy pieces

Directions:
1. Beat together peanut butter, eggs and water. Gradually add cake mix. Mix well.

2. Roll and form cookie dough into 1-inch balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

3. Flatten balls with bottom of glass dipped in sugar - a jelly jar will suffice.