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Not So Tricky Treats


Ghoulish Ghost Mix
Spooktacular Cupcakes
Goofy Green Monster Cookie Pops
Tombstone Brownies

(Family Features) - Calling all ghosts and goblins, parents and kids! Scurry into the kitchen to make ghoulishly easy delights for a spooktacular Halloween! Carve a cool-looking pumpkin to light the way. Arrange a graveyard of brownie tombstones as party fare.

Decorate raisin-oatmeal cookie pops as monsters - or popcorn "cupcakes," using dried fruit, frosting and candies. Have a poppin' good time and see how mini trick-or-treat bags can turn ghostly when filled with a yummy popcorn/dried fruit/nut mix.

Get even more recipe ideas and party pointers at www.jollytime.com. Or check out the parent-pleasing recipes (a counterpoint to all that candy) at www.sunmaid.com.

5 Tips for Carving Your Own Great Pumpkin

Pumpkin Masters brings easy carving, cool results and lasting memories! Carving pumpkins is a blast with these easy steps. Materials needed: a smooth, basketball-sized pumpkin (12- to 15- inch), a pencil, scissors, tape, Pumpkin Masters Carving Kit (including patterns, carving tools, Scraper Scoop and Super Poker) and a battery-operated light or candle.

  • Draw then cut out a six-sided lid from your pumpkin.
  • Use the Scraper Scoop to clean out the insides.
  • Select a Pumpkin Masters pattern and tape it to the outside of the pumpkin.
  • Transfer the pattern using the Super Poker to poke along the pattern lines.
  • Remove the pattern and begin to carve dot-to-dot, working from the outer edge of the design. When the carving is complete, place the light or candle in the bottom of the pumpkin and don't forget to take a picture of your masterpiece.

Check out lots of ideas and tools for all ages and skill levels at www.pumpkinmasters.com. Remember: Parents should supervise when children are using tools. It's fun to carve and be creative, but safety comes first. Always store tools away from children's reach.

Ghoulish Ghost Mix

Ingredients
Snack Mix
  • 1 bag (3 ounces) Jolly Time Blast O Butter Microwave Pop Corn (10 cups popped)
  • 3/4 cup Sun-Maid Natural Raisins
  • 3/4 cup candy-coated chocolate candies
  • 3/4 cup mixed nuts
Snack Bag
  • 3 vellum or clear food-safe bags (about 5 x 2-1/2 x 9-1/2 inches)
  • 6 googley eyes
  • 3 (8-inch) pieces of black ribbon

Preparation
    1. Round off top corners of bag with scissors. One inch from top of bag, punch 2 holes 1 inch apart. Glue 2 eyes onto bag. Set aside to dry.
    2. Pop popcorn according to package directions. Open bag carefully and pour into large bowl; discard unpopped kernels. Cool. Fill each vellum bag with 1/4 cup each raisins, candies and nuts. Top with about 3 cups popped popcorn.
    3. Thread ribbon through holes in top of bag and tie into bow.

Serves
Makes 3 bags

Notes, Tips & Suggestions
Note: Recipe can be doubled.

Spooktacular Cupcakes

Ingredients
  • 2 bags (3 ounces each) Jolly Time Blast O Butter Microwave Pop Corn (20 cups popped)
  • 1/4 cup butter or margarine
  • 1 package (10 ounces) marshmallows
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Paste food coloring (optional)
  • Prepared frosting, dried fruits and candies

Preparation
    1. Pop popcorn according to package directions. Open bags carefully and measure out 14 cups popped popcorn. Place in large bowl; discard unpopped kernels.
    2. In medium saucepan, heat butter, marshmallows and cinnamon over medium-low heat until smooth; stir occasionally. Tint mixture with food coloring, if desired. Pour over popcorn; toss until evenly coated.
    3. Spray 12 medium muffin cups with non-stick cooking spray, then spray hands. Fill muffin cups with 1/2 cup popcorn mixture; smooth tops of cupcakes. Cool completely. Decorate as desired with festive frosting, dried fruits and candies.

Serves
Makes 18 cupcakes

Goofy Green Monster Cookie Pops

Ingredients
Cookies
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
  • 1-1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate pieces, melted
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2-1/2 cups quick oats
  • 1 cup Sun-Maid Natural Raisins
  • 2 dozen wooden craft sticks
Decorations
  • 1 tub prepared vanilla frosting
  • Green food coloring
  • Colored icing tubes or pens
  • Sun-Maid dried Apples, dried Apricots and Zante Currants
  • Halloween candies

Preparation
    1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
    2. In large bowl, beat butter, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla until well blended. Stir in melted chocolate, flour and baking soda; mix well. Mix in oats and raisins.
    3. Roll dough into 2-1/2-inch diameter balls. Place 4 inches apart on greased cookie sheets. Insert a flat wooden stick into side of each dough ball. Using bottom of glass dipped in sugar, flatten dough to 1/2-inch thickness. Repeat with remaining dough.
    4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool 3 minutes on cookie sheet; remove to wire racks. Cool completely. Add green food coloring to vanilla frosting. Spread on cookies and decorate as desired with dried fruits and candies.

Serves
Makes about 2 dozen cookies

Tombstone Brownies

Ingredients
  • 3 ounces (3 squares) unsweetened chocolate
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
  • 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup Sun-Maid Natural Raisins
  • Colored icing tubes or pens
  • "Graveyard" garnishes: candy, cookie crumbs or green-tinted coconut

Preparation
    1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 9 x 9-inch or 9 x 13-inch baking pan. In large saucepan, heat chocolate and butter over low heat until melted; stir occasionally. Remove from heat.
    2. Stir in sugar; mix well. Add eggs and vanilla; blend well. Add flour and raisins; mix until evenly combined. Spread into prepared pan.
    3. Bake 9 x 9-inch pan for 25 to 30 minutes, or 9 x 13-inch pan for 18 to 22 minutes, until top feels set when gently touched. Cool completely. Cut into 1-1/4 x 2-1/2-inch pieces. Cut rounded corners on each brownie to resemble a tombstone.
    4. Decorate with icing as desired. Arrange tombstones upright on tray to resemble graveyard. Apply small amount of icing on bottom of brownies to stick to tray if necessary. Sprinkle candy, cookie crumbs or green-tinted coconut around graveyard.

Serves
Makes about 18 to 24 brownies

SOURCE: Sun-Maid Growers of California
Pumpkin Masters
Jolly Time Pop Corn