Growing up as a kid in Bartlesville, Halloween was huge. I lived in a neighborhood filled with kids and we all started talking about “what we were going to be” months before Oct. 31st. I was blessed to have a Mom who hand sewed all of my costumes. When I was little I was the typical princess, panda bear and then once I had an opinion it got more and more crazy! For example…when Grease the movie came I proceeded to request that my Mom make me the pleather wild girl costume that Sandy wore in the last scene. Well, Mom made it for me. It was brutally hot and teased hair became a fire hazard. Now looking back I clearly must have been a huge fan of Olivia Newton John in my early years! Sixth grade I talked Mom into making me a Zanadu costume…I really really wish I had some photos of these incredible costumes. Mom was amazing.
With all of the said, I love this holiday. It is the one day kids can dream to be whatever they want to be! The icing on the cake is that you get loads of candy too! My favorite pictures of the kids are still the Halloween pics! I especially like the ones of them with their friends. Shocking to see how quickly time has passed. I can still remember going to my friend Kerrie’s house for the the pre-tick-or-treat dinner with kids running all over the place. Boy do I miss those days!
Preparing for Halloween is almost as much fun as the actual day! Here are some creepy fun treats you can make with your whole family.
Holiday Snack Mix
1 bag pretzel twists
6 cups Rice Chex*
2 cups cashews*
1 cup pecans*
1 bag Fritos*
1 bag Holiday M&M’s
1 bag white chocolate snowflake pretzels*
1 cup brown sugar, packed*
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 stick unsalted butter*
1/2 cup corn syrup (light or dark)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large saucepan over medium heat bring the butter, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and corn syrup to a gentle boil for one minute. Stir the mixture till it comes to a boil. In a large mixing bowl combine the pretzels, rice Chex cereal, pretzels and nuts. Pour the sugar mixture over the cereal mixture and stir to coat. Carefully pour the cereal mixture onto the lined parchment baking sheets. Make sure and spread evenly and bake for 20 minutes. After 10 minutes, toss the mixture to ensure the snack mix evenly browns. Remove from the oven and allow the mixture to cool. Once the mixture has cooled completely, add the M & M’s. For Christmas time pickup white chocolate covered pretzel snowflakes at Braum’s and place them in the mix too! Place in an airtight container to store or give as a gift.
4-5 quarts popcorn, popped (do not use microwave popcorn)
1 cup brown sugar
1⁄2 cup unsalted butter
1⁄4 cup dark corn syrup
1 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
white chocolate chips, melted
Fall M&M’s
Place already popped popcorn into a paper sack. In a 2 quart bowl, microwave butter, brown sugar, corn syrup and salt on High for 2 1⁄2 minutes. Carefully remove from microwave and stir in baking soda and pumpkin pie spice. It will turn a caramel color. While sugar is hot pour over the popcorn while it is in the sack. Stir to evenly coat all of the kernals. Fold top of bag down and place in microwave. Heat for 4 minutes on HIGH. Every minute stop and shake but then return to heat. Once done, immediately pour out onto a parchment lined countertop. Allow the corn to cool and then drizzle with white chocolate and then sprinkle in the M&M’s. Store in an airtight container.
1 box of Rice Krispie Treats, wrappers removed
8 popsicle sticks
1 container Wilton lime green candy melts
1 tube black frosting
1 tube red frosting
candy eyeballs
Place the popsicle sticks into the bottom of the rice krispie treat half way. Put the treats on a stick on a parchment lined counter. Dip the top 1/4 of the treat in the melted green candy melts and return to the parchment to dry. Dip the back side of the eyeballs in the green melt and secure them to the treat. Then decorate how you like with the red and black frosting writers! Allow them to harden and serve to your favorite little monsters.