A Quick Guide to Ingredient Substitutions

Cooking for someone with a food allergy? If you're committed to a particular dish, but need to replace a problematic ingredient then check out "A Quick Guide to Ingredient Substitutions" so that everyone can enjoy your delicious dish!

EGGS

• Substitute flax seed for eggs in baking.
• All about vegan egg substitutes.

FLOUR:

• The best gluten-free flour substitute.
• On substituting white whole wheat flour for white flour.
• Substitute a bit of corn starch and flour for cake flour.
• How to make a cake flour substitute.
• Substitute gluten-free teff for rye flour.

SUGAR

• Tips for substituting agave nectar for sugar in baking.
• Quick and easy sugar substitutes.
• On substituting regular sugar for superfine.
• How to make a substitute for cane syrup.

MILK + DAIRY:

• On substitutes for for buttermilk in baking. (And for more see here and here.)
• Vegan substitutions for 8 common baking ingredients.
• On substitutes for dairy and coconut milk.
• Substitute macadamia nut butter and cream for dairy in baking.

SAVORY SUBSTITUTIONS

• Substitute toasted bread crumbs for parmesan.
• Substitute yogurt for sour cream.
• Substitute yogurt or sour cream for crème fraîche.
• Substitute fish sauce for anchovies.
• Substitute jicama for water chestnuts.
• Substitute avocado for mayonnaise.
• Substitute spaghetti squash for pasta.
• On substituting tubed tomato paste for canned.
• On substitutes for lemon and vinegar.
• On substitutes for bananas in smoothies.
• On substitutes for espresso powder.
• A soy-free substitute for soy sauce.
• What to substitute for nuts in pesto.

Do you have any go-to ingredient substitutes you rely on for convenience (when you're out of the called-for ingredient) or health issues (vegan, dairy- or- gluten-free)?

Related: Substitutions: A Handy Kitchen App for iPhones and iPads

(Image: Faith Durand)

Original Article Here: http://www.thekitchn.com/try-this-for-that-20-quick-ingredient-substitutions-175015

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Recipe: Chocolate Truffle Cookies with Cherries & Walnuts

Holiday food is usually sweet and delicious, and this recipe is no exception! Walnuts and cherries will be sure to light up your tastebuds, so check out "Recipe: Chocolate Truffle Cookies with Cherries & Walnuts"!

Chocolate Truffle Cookies with Cherries & Walnuts

Makes about 5 dozen cookies

1 1/2 cups walnuts
6 large eggs
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
20 ounces 60% bittersweet chocolate
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup dried tart cherries

Heat the oven to 350°F with 2 racks positioned in the top third and bottom third of the oven.

Spread the walnuts out on a baking sheet and toast them while the oven is pre-heating. They are ready when starting to turn golden and very fragrant, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board, roughly chop, and set aside.

Place the eggs in a bowl and cover with hot tap water to warm them up. Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt, and set aside.

Melt the chocolate in a double broiler or in a heat-proof metal bowl placed over simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted, then set aside.

Beat the butter and sugar on in a stand mixer or with a hand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in the warmed eggs one at a time until fully combined. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and beat for 3 minutes. The mixture will gain some volume during this time and become very creamy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix in the melted chocolate and vanilla.

With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture. Mix just until the flour is barely incorporated. Stop the mixer and add the chopped walnuts and cherries. Using a spatula, fold and stir in the walnuts and cherries until evenly distributed. The batter at this point should be glossy and thick.

Line two baking sheets with parchment (do not use Silpats or other baking mats for this recipe; the cookies will stick). Drop slightly rounded tablespoons of batter onto the baking sheets, spaced about 2 inches apart. If you don't use up all the batter in one round, leave it out at room temperature while the first batch bakes — refrigerating makes the batter stiffer and less easy to work with.

Bake the cookies until crackled on top, set around the edges, but still soft in the middle, 14 to 16 minutes. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then carefully transfer them to wire racks to finish cooling using a thin spatula.

Cookies can be kept in an airtight container for about 2 weeks.

(Image credits: Emma Christensen)



Original Article Here: http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-chocolate-truffle-cookies-with-cherries-amp-walnuts-recipes-from-the-kitchn-198345

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Bob Vila’s 5 December ‘Must Do’ Projects

The winter months can take a toll on your house and stress levels! Take a look at these "Bob Vila’s 5 December ‘Must Do’ Projects" to help you navigate through the rest of 2013 without pulling your hair out!

No. 1: Countdown to Christmas

The holiday clock is ticking and there’s so much to do, right? Pick up a fresh tree (or unpack that artificial one), untangle and test the strings of mini-LED lights that you hastily put away last year, and start looking for places to hide the gifts you’ve already started to purchase at stores and online. No! Stop! With a little smart planning, you can get all of your holiday activities done in record time — and still enjoy the season.

For starters, begin to clear away everyday decor from shelves, mantels and tabletops. If you are going to decorate for the holidays, it will be much easier to work with a blank canvas. Likewise, make sure you have sufficient room for the tree. A tree that looked to be a perfectly appropriate size at the lot may actually appear quite different once it’s made it through the front door into the living room. Consider rearranging the furniture — or even removing some — to give the tree the space it deserves. And, if it’s a fresh-cut tree, be sure to locate it away from heat sources and direct sunlight, and water regularly to prevent it from drying out too quickly.

Next, before the holiday cards begin to arrive, plan a spot to display them, whether on the mantel or in a decorative holder. Check the return addresses on the incoming envelopes against those in your address book to be certain you’re up to date, then recycle the envelopes. Before you start wrapping gifts, create a wrapping station where everything you need is in one place — scissors, wrap, ribbon, tape, tags and a pen. Once the gifts have been wrapped and tagged, be sure to designate an out-of-the-way spot to hide them, like in a guest room, under a bed or at the back of a closet shelf. You’ll probably want to find a different hiding spot from last year, just in case the kids are on to you!

Because food and entertaining are an important part of the holidays, be sure to create some order in the kitchen as well. Clean out the pantry and refrigerator before you start shopping for food and ingredients for your holiday meals and treats. If you bake, make sure countertops and work surfaces are clear and uncluttered. You’ll want to have space not only to roll out the cookie dough, but also to hold the cut-out cookies prior to and after baking. Take inventory of your containers to make sure you have enough on hand for storing cookies as well as keeping leftovers fresh and available.

No. 2: Firewood prep

Nothing celebrates the colder weather like the distinct scent and sound of a crackling log in the fireplace. A steady supply of firewood can help offset your heating costs, and unlike oil and coal, wood is a resource that can be replanted for future fire-burning pleasure. Before you start using your fireplace, make sure that your wood is properly seasoned and the right type for your heating requirements. Hardwoods, like oak and maple, burn slowly and steadily. They must be seasoned for at least a year, or you’ll be making more smoke than heat. Softwoods, like pine and fir, season faster and grow faster. They’re easy to split and easy to start but watch out for sparking and creosote buildup in your chimney. Because most firewood is seasoned outdoors, it will contain insects, so you don’t want to store more than a day’s worth inside your home at a time. You also don’t want to stack great piles of it against the outside of your house. To store a year’s supply, you’ll need a woodshed or some other covered storage area set away from buildings.

No. 3: DIY decorations

While there is an infinite supply of ready-made holiday decorations to purchase, there’s something about the season that heightens the appeal of handmade decor. A wreath form purchased at a craft or hobby shop can be transformed easily into a festive wreath to hang above a mantel or on the front door. Pinecones and evergreen branches can be woven into garlands to decorate the house inside and out. And if you are looking for a way to personalize your tree, there are an endless number of creative ornaments you can make. Here are 58 outstanding DIY ornaments to get you inspired. Make one for yourself — or as a gift to give.

No. 4: Snow & ice removal

The best solution to preventing ice buildup is to keep the snow off your drive or walkway so that it won’t compact and freeze. Shovel or snow blow early and often. If you’re tackling the job manually, choosing a shovel with an ergonomically curved or adjustable handle will keep you from injuring yourself. Pushing the show, rather than lifting it, will also prevent injuries. If you are using a snow blower, be sure to have it maintained regularly and heed all warnings from the manufacturer. For ice on steps and walkways, weigh the pros and cons of salt versus sand, or consider more environmentally friendly solutions.

No. 5: Holiday curb appeal

We spend most of the year improving the curb appeal of our homes — making sure they’re distinctive from those around them, welcoming to visitors and eye-catching for passersby. Holiday curb appeal should be no different. While you may be tempted to outdo the neighbor’s light show, consider decorating your house to play off its architectural style and design features. Be sure that the lights you hang are UL-approved for safety and, for energy savings, look into the newer LED varieties. (If you are hanging lights, you’ll find some helpful tips here.) And remember, a house doesn’t have to be wrapped in lights to set a holiday mood. Sometimes a couple of well-placed spotlights on evergreens or wreath-bearing doors and windows can be an effective way of marking the season and showing off the architectural elements of your home.

Image Source: The Corcoran Group

Original Article Here: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2013-12-09/bob-vilas-december-projects/

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Sleep: Your Step-By-Step Guide To Getting Some Great Zzzs

Having some trouble catching quality zzzs lately? This guide has some really helpful tips to help you get the restful sleep you need. Check out "Sleep: Your Step-By-Step Guide To Getting Some Great Zzzs"!

1pm: Yes, believe it or not, sleep prep begins now!

Sleep patterns are influenced by the light you receive during the day. So either get outside during the day if you can, or if possible, do some exercise. Exercise increases the amplitude of daily rhythms and tells the body to promote deeper sleep cycles. To help with sleep, the best time to exercise is at least six hours before bedtime. (For some people, exercise too close to bedtime can disrupt their sleep cycle.)

3pm: Put down the coffee and take in no more caffeine today.

That afternoon cup of Joe can interfere with your ability to sleep for up to eight hours after your last sip, so skip it if you want to sleep better tonight.

630pm: At dinnertime, keep meals simple.

To save prep time during the week, try doing the bulk of your cooking on the weekends. No time on the weekends? Then keep a few bottled (not canned) jars of pole-caught tuna fillets, olives, capers and red peppers on hand. Toss with organic mixed greens and raw, chopped veggies, so you can assemble a healthy dinner in a flash.

645 pm: Eat slowly and consciously, savoring the food.

With most of our breakfasts eaten on-the-go and our lunches wolfed down at the desk, dinner is the one meal most of us can actually make time for. Think of dinner as a delicious prelude to sleep – a calming ritual to help you start unwinding from a stressful day.

745 pm: Now’s the time to put down your fork to help prep your belly for bed.

Try to finish eating at least three hours before bedtime to insure that the digestive process tailing off before you crawl under the covers.

8pm: Last call for liquids.

Cut yourself off at least 3 hours before bed – to extend your bouts of uninterrupted sleep, particularly if you tend to get up to relieve yourself in the middle of the night. Another tip to reduce overnight bathroom trips: avoid sugars, grains and carbs at night.

9pm: Turn off and tune out.

With apologies to Timothy Leary, it’s time to turn off and tune out – as in completely power down anything with a screen, including computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, TV’s, Gameboys, etc. This will help calm and soothe your over-stimulated brain, thus signaling to your noggin that bedtime is near. Remove any distractions (mentally and physically) that will prevent you from sleeping

10pm: By now you’ve wound down your gut and brain. What’s next? Your nervous system.

Turn off or dim all unnecessary lights and curl up with a soothing read. Avoid newspapers, thrillers, or other genres that might set your pulse racing. Next, try a short meditation to ease the body into a sleep-friendly state or listen to calming music.

1030pm: Now you’re in the home stretch, so give your body an extra nudge to help you sleep.

Consider a few calming minerals, amino acids or herbs. My favorites include: magnesium; amino acids L theanine, 5 HTP; taurine; lemon balm; passion flower; chamomile; magnolia and valerian root. (You can also try my Be Well Sleep Formula, which contains many of these, together in capsule form.)

11pm: Kiss your mate goodnight.

Slip on an optional (but very helpful) sleep mask, then it’s lights out and off to sleep.

If 11:45 pm rolls around and you’re still awake, get up and out of the bedroom. Keep the lights dim and try a calming activity, like reading or knitting for an hour or so before returning to bed. (Remember, no electronic screens!) .

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com

Original Article Here: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-11294/sleep-your-step-by-step-guide-to-getting-some-great-zzzs.html

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Happy Thanksgiving!

We'd like to wish a happy and safe Thanksgiving to everyone out there! Enjoy the food, drink, and company. Here's a festive picture of cats for the occasion.

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Eggnog Cranberry Swirl Cheesecake Bars & Chorizo Cornbread Stuffing

Thanksgiving and the holiday season mean many things, but one of them is delicious food! Check out some delicious meals and desserts in "Eggnog Cranberry Swirl Cheesecake Bars & Chorizo Cornbread Stuffing"!

Balsamic roasted beet and rosemary cashew cheese tart, green bean and grapes with persillade, and chorizo cornbread stuffing in today's Delicious Links. Look the holidays!

• Chorizo Cornbread Stuffing - Damn Delicious

• Balsamic Roasted Beet & Rosemary Cashew Cheese Phyllo Tart - Keepin' It Kind

• Eggnog Cranberry Swirl Cheesecake Bars - Baked by Rachel

• Green Beans & Grapes with Persillade - Cook and be Merry

(Image credits: Damn Delicious, Keepin' It Kind, Baked by Rachel, Cook and be Merry )



Original Article Here: http://www.thekitchn.com/chorizo-cornbread-stuffing-eggnog-cranberry-swirl-cheesecake-bars-delicious-links-197313

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Make this Homemade Holiday Gift: Copper Tripod Lamp

Give your loved ones a surprise homemade gift this holiday season! This lamp is simple to make and won't break the bank! Check out "Make this Homemade Holiday Gift: Copper Tripod Lamp"!



Materials & tools:

• 2x4
• 1 10-foot piece of 1/2-inch copper plumbing pipe, cut into 3 equal-sized pieces
• 3 1/2-inch copper caps
• Black spray paint
• Lamp kit
• Lampshade
• Drill and drill bits
• Jigsaw
• Sandpaper or electric sander

Instructions:

1. First you'll take the 2x4 and drill holes to hold the legs. We created a template to mark where the holes needed to go and then held a template to mark the angle of the drill (removed once we started drilling). This is the hardest part of the project, and you might have to do it a couple of times until they are even. (Not the best way to go about it, but since we just moved, most of our tools are in boxes. This worked well with our limited tools!)
2. Cut a notch in the middle of the wood for the socket to sit in.
3. Using a cup, mark a circle around the holes, cut it out with a jigsaw, and sand it down with an electric sander.
4. Spray paint the wooden cut out (I used black to blend in with the lampshade).
5. Polish the copper legs. I rubbed it with ketchup and let it sit for about 30 minutes. I then used a combo of cleaner (to remove the ketchup residue) and then nail polish remover to erase the red print.
6. Drill a hole in the side near the bottom of one of the pipes, and thread the lamp wire through the inside and out your hole.
7. Attach the legs to the wooden piece and cap the bottom of the pipes. Add the lampshade and plug in.

(Image credits: Sarah M. Dorsey Designs; Sarah Dorsey)

Original Article Here: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/make-this-homemade-holiday-gift-copper-tripod-lamp-homemade-holiday-gift-idea-exchange-project-9-196969

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Cheap Decorating Ideas: 8 Easy-as-Pie DIY Table Runner Projects

Does a fall-themed table runner sound like a good way to spruce up your dinner table? Forget the store! Check out these DIY ones in "Cheap Decorating Ideas: 8 Easy-as-Pie DIY Table Runner Projects"!

Holiday entertaining season has begun. Here are eight totally easy table runner DIY projects that pretty much anyone can do. From gathering family photos (recent or vintage) to laying down some burlap or canvas drop cloth, these festive runners will show your guests that you can do more than just cook.

Simply head to the fabric store, hardware store, or your attic for these simple ideas that you can use again and again. Have you done any table DIY for the holidays? Share your ideas below!

TOP ROW:
1. A stamped cotton fabric runner from Sarah Hearts.
2. A dropcloth is the base of this table cover from A Daily Something.
3. The Sweetest Occasion stitched lace doilies together in a row.
4. How about this chalkboard runner from Hey Look?
5. It doesn't get much easier than this tied burlap runner from Wedding Chicks.

BOTTOM ROW:
6. Paper pinwheels are inexpensive, via Green Wedding Shoes.
7. You'd never guess that Shanty2Chic used wooden shims to make this project.
8. Photocopied family photos are a creative idea from Ruffled Blog.9. As are paper flowers over regular kraft paper, also from Ruffled Blog.

(Image credits: Sarah Hearts; A Daily Something; The Sweetest Occasion; Hey Look; Wedding Chicks; Green Wedding Shoes; Shanty2Chic; Ruffled Blog; Ruffled Blog)

Original Article Here: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/cheap-decorating-ideas-8-easyaspie-diy-table-runner-projects-howto-roundup-196680

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My Favorite Childhood Halloween Treat: Dirt Pudding

This Halloween treat is a classic that everyone should recognize, so why not bust it out for your Halloween bash? Check out "My Favorite Childhood Halloween Treat: Dirt Pudding" below and 'dig' in!

Dirt Pudding
Yield: A lot! Probably close to 20 servings
Recipe by bakeeatrepeat.blogspot.com

Ingredients:
2 packages oreos
1/2 cup (8 Tablespoons) melted butter
4 Tablespoons butter, softened to room temperature
8 oz. cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
3 1/2 cups milk
2 small boxes instant pudding (mix and match chocolate and vanilla or find your own favorite combo)
16 oz Cool Whip
Gummy worms (optional)

Directions:
1. Place oreos in a large ziplock bag and seal. Use a rolling pin to crush oreos. Pour melted butter in the bag and shake to combine.
2. Place butter in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat on medium high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add cream cheese and sugar. Beat until smooth, about 2 mintues. 
3. Add milk and pudding. Beat on low until partially combined then switch to high speed and beat until pudding begins to thicken. Stir in Cool Whip.
4. Place a layer of oreos at the bottom of a large bowl. Put a layer of the pudding mixture over top. Repeat until both are gone, beginning and ending with the oreos. Place gummy worms on top. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight.

(Images: Neighbor Food )

Original Article Here: http://www.neighborfoodblog.com/2011/08/dirt-pudding.html

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Music for Halloween: The Ultimate Party Playlist

The decorations are up, the food is ready, and the games have all been decided. But wait! What music should you put on for your Halloween Party? How about "Music for Halloween: The Ultimate Party Playlist"?

Dark, deviant, vampy, trampy, nutty, smutty. Pants optional. 'Tis the season for Halloween parties! Here's a little playlist for all the zombies and sexy Dorothies. For all the Batmans and Robins...and Mileys and Robins. For all the giant foam bananas in pajamas. For the year-late Honey Boo Boos. And for you too, obscure Russian poet who no one knows so you have to explain your costume all night. Get out there and work it, twerk it, shake it 'til you break it.

Check out the track list below for ideas to add to your own mix. You can alsoaccess the full Halloween Playlist on Spotify. Just like a recipe, feel free to add and subtract to your taste. You know, toss in some Joy Division, maybe a dash of Thriller, and please add your favorite Halloween party tunes in the comments below.

1. Sun Ra - Door To the Cosmos
2. Siouxsie and the Banshees - Peek a Boo
3. Daft Punk - Give Life Back to Music
4. The National - Anyone's Ghost
5. Blondie - Atomic
6. Sleigh Bells - Demons (Spotify version is a remix by Diplo)
7. The Five Blobs - The Blob
8. ELO - Evil Woman
9. The Magnetic Fields - Strange Powers
10. John Holt - Strange Things
11. The Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil
12. Bonobo - Nightlite
13. Missy Elliott - Get Ur Freak On
14. ESG - Dance
15. Blur - Girls and Boys
16. Harry Belafonte - Zombie Jamboree
17. Janelle Monae - Dance Apocalyptic
18. The Sonics - Psycho
19. Floating Action - Modern Gunslinger
20. Dr. Octagon - Blue Flowers Revisited
21. Wild Belle - Keep You
22. Vampire Weekend - Unbelievers
23. The Velvet Underground - After Hours
24. M83 - Midnight City
25. Suicide - Ghost Rider
26. The Cure - Just Like Heaven
27. Talking Heads - Psycho Killer
28. Arcade Fire - Reflektor
29. Carl Perkins - Put Your Cat Clothes On
30. Tom Waits - Temptation
31. Echo and the Bunnymen - The Killing Moon
32. Crystal Stilts - Bright Night

(Image: Shutterstock)

Original Article Here: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/get-your-freak-on-halloween-party-playlist-196118

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10 Easy Halloween Themed Snacks

Do you need to make Halloween themed snacks for a party? Check out these ten great recipes below. They are simple to make and come out perfect for any occasion. What are you making this year? Learn more at money crashers.

1. Witch Hat Cookies

Decorate your Halloween party table with fun Halloween-themed accessories. Attach plastic spiders to napkin rings, use black paper bats on top of cookie plates, and place orange votive candles around the table for a spooky good time.


Witch Hat cookies charm party guests and work well with your Halloween-themed decor. Even the most inexperienced chef can make these easy, no-bake cookies. A Hershey kiss is placed on top of a store-bought cookie, and wrapped with a little icing to create a tiny witch hat.
Ingredients

• 1 package of Hershey’s Kisses
• 1 package of round chocolate covered cookies
• 1 small container of chocolate icing
• red decorator’s gel icing pen

Directions

1. Lay one cookie on a flat cooking surface.
2. Unwrap a Hershey’s Kiss. Place a small amount of chocolate icing on the bottom of the Hershey’s Kiss and press it onto the center of the cookie.
3. Use the squeezable icing to create a ring around the kiss, like you would see around a hat. Repeat for each cookie.

Pro Tip: Run the icing tube back and forth in your hands for a few seconds to warm the icing. This makes the icing easier to apply to the cookies.

Witch Hat Cookies - Cheryl’s Crafty Jewelry

2. Spooky Chips and Dip

You can use Halloween cookie cutters for more than just making cookies. You can also use them to make tortilla chips, which you can pair with some red salsa for a festive snack. Create ghoulish notes describing your Halloween treats. Cut out paper jack o’ lanterns, bats, or skulls, and use them to display creepy goodies like Spooky Chips and Dip.
Ingredients

• 1 package of white flour tortillas
• cooking spray
• 1 jar of salsa

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place a tortilla on a flat cooking surface. Press the cookie cutter into the tortilla and gently pry the shape free.
3. Spray each side with cooking spray and place on a cookie sheet. Repeat for the remaining tortillas.
4. Bake for six minutes. Rotate the pan and bake for an additional seven minutes, or until brown.
5. Season with salt to taste.
6. Serve alongside the salsa.

Pro Tip: If you have trouble getting the cookie cutter through the tortilla, heat the tortilla in the microwave for a few seconds. This makes the breading softer and easier to cut.

Spooky Tortilla Chips and Guacamoldy Dip - Veronica Benzing

3. Brain Punch

Grocery stores and hobby and craft retailers sell molds in the shape of brains during the Halloween season. Use these cheap molds to make an easy theme punch.
Serve the punch in ghostly cups that you make at home. Using ordinary paper, plastic, or Styrofoam cups, and use a black Sharpie marker to draw faces on each of the cups. You can also paste paper pumpkin cut-outs to the cups when serving brain punch to guests.
Ingredients

• 1 package of strawberry JELL-O
• 1 container of frozen fruit punch

Directions

1. Mix the JELL-O according to the package instructions.
2. Pour the JELL-O into the mold and allow it to chill completely.
3. Fill a punch bowl with the fruit punch mix and water. Place the fruit punch in the fridge and allow it to chill.
4. Immediately before serving, slowly lower the brain mold into the center of the fruit punch.

Pro Tip: Do not overfill the punch bowl. Make sure you allow for enough room for the top of the brain to rest on top of the punch.

Human Brain Dessert - Emma’s Thoughtful Spot

4. Severed Fingers

You can quickly turn a few almonds and some crescent roll dough into creepy severed fingers to serve at a Halloween party. Once baked, you can arrange these around a bowl of dip or piled onto a serving plate. They look pretty realistic.
Black, orange, and silver dishes all work well on your Halloween party table. During September and October you can also find Halloween-themed paper plates at party stores to display your Severed Fingers.
Ingredients

• 1 package of pre-cut crescent roll dough
• 1 6-ounce container of sliced almonds

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Unroll one crescent roll square onto a flat cooking surface.
3. Grab one of the longer ends and gently roll the dough into a finger shape.
4. Press a sliced almond into one end of the dough with the white side facing outward, to make a fingernail.
5. Use a butter knife to cut small lines slightly below the almond and across the middle of the dough, to create knuckles.
6. Place the dough on a cookie sheet. Repeat for the remaining dough squares.
7. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until slightly brown.

Pro Tip: You can use red food coloring to dye the almonds. The red food coloring makes the almond look like a painted fingernail.

Severed Finger Cookies - Living It At Home

5. Mini Mummies

With mini bagels and a few ingredients, you can create spooky toasted pizzas that look like mummy faces. Prepare Mini Mummies ahead of time, and then pop them into the stove to bake during the party. That way, everyone can enjoy the tasty treats right out of the oven.
Ingredients

• 1 package of mini bagels
• 1 jar of premade pizza sauce
• 6 to 10 mozzarella cheese sticks
• 1 jar of stuffed green olives

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Slice a mini bagel in half and lay the bagel on a flat cooking surface.
3. Spread one tablespoon of pizza sauce across the inside of the bagel half.
4. Pull a cheese stick into strings. Starting at the bottom, lay the pieces of cheese across 2/3 of the bagel to look like bandages.
5. Slice a green olive into flat pieces. Place two green olives near the top of the bagel to look like eyes.
6. Place a few more cheese sticks just above the eyes to look like head wrappings.
7. Place the bagel half on a cookie sheet. Repeat for the remaining bagel halves.
8. Bake for 10 minutes, or until the cheese is slightly melted.

Pro Tip: Leave a small amount of space between each cheese strip. After the cheese melts, the tiny slits will look more like bandages.

Mini Mummy Pizzas - Busy Little Kitchen

6. Frozen Ghosts

Bananas, icing, and chocolate combine to make these frozen ghosts on sticks. Best of all, this no-bake recipe is kid-friendly, so your little ones can help out in the kitchen, too. Frozen Ghosts have to chill out for a total of five to six hours, so make them the night before the party.
Ingredients

• 6 ripe bananas
• 1 package of vanilla icing
• 12 ounce bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 12 Popsicle sticks

Directions

1. Peel the bananas and remove any excess strings.
2. Cut the banana in half and push a Popsicle stick through the cut end, being careful not to push the stick all the way through the banana.
3. Line a cookie sheet with wax paper and place the bananas on top.
4. Freeze the bananas until solid, about two and a half hours.
5. Remove the frozen bananas. Use a butter knife or spatula to cover each banana with vanilla icing. Add three chocolate chips for the eyes and mouth.
6. Place the bananas back on the cookie sheet and put them in the fridge until chilled, about three hours.
7. Serve cold.

Pro Tip: You can substitute brown decorator’s icing gel for the chocolate chips.

Frozen Ghosts - Teach Mama

7. Chocolate-Coated Spiders

These snacks are addicting and simple to make. All you need is chocolate, peanut butter, and pretzels to create these realistic looking spiders. Chocolate-coated spiders need to rest in the fridge for four hours before you can serve them, so make these the night before your party.
Ingredients

• 12-ounce package of semi-sweet chocolate baking squares
• 2/3 cup smooth peanut butter
• 8 cups of pretzel sticks

Directions

1. Combine half the chocolate baking squares and the peanut butter in a microwave-safe dish.
2. Microwave on high for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently until the chocolate and peanut butter melt and blend.
3. Break up 4 cups of the pretzel sticks and add them to the chocolate and peanut butter mix. Blend well.
4. Line a cookie sheet with wax paper. Drop a spoonful of the mixture onto the wax paper to create the spider body.
5. Microwave the remaining chocolate squares in a microwave safe dish until melted.
6. Dip one end of a pretzel stick into the chocolate. Gently press the coated end of the pretzel stick on to the body of the spider to create a leg. Repeat for the other seven legs.
7. Pop the finished cookies in the fridge until firm, about four hours.

Pro Tip: Sort the pretzel sticks before adding them to the chocolate and peanut butter mixture. Some of the pretzel sticks will break in the bag, so this way you can reserve the full sticks for the legs.

Peanut Butter & Chocolate Spiders - Not Just a Housewife

8. Dirt Pails

Pudding dirt and worm cups are a much beloved kid’s favorite, mostly because they look gross and a little creepy. However, they’re also a tasty theme snack for an adult’s Halloween party. Repurpose plastic cups into individual serving dishes for this recipe. Add googly eyes to the outside of the cups to up the level of creepiness in your Dirt Pails.
Ingredients

• 1 package of chocolate pudding mix
• 2 cups of milk
• 1 package of Oreo cookies
• 1 package of gummy worms
• 12 plastic cups

Directions

1. Mix the pudding mix and milk according to the package instructions. Set aside.
2. Use a food processor or a cooking mallet to crush the Oreo cookies into fine pieces that resemble dirt.
3. Mix one cup of the Oreo pieces into the pudding mixture.
4. Fill 3/4 of a plastic cup with pudding and top with crushed Oreo cookies.
5. Place 1-3 gummy worms on the top of the cup.
6. Place the cups in the fridge until chilled, about two hours.

Pro Tip: To make the gummy worms look more authentic, press half the gummy worm into the Oreo cookie mixture to give the appearance of a worm crawling out of the dirt, or hang a worm off the side of the cup.

Dirt Pails with Gummy Worms - Healthy Today, Healthy Tomorrows

9. All-Seeing Eye

You can create a quick and spooky centerpiece with a pie from your local bakery store. A bit of decorator’s icing turns the pie into a giant eye that follows your guests around the buffet table. The whipped topping needs to thaw and the pie needs to chill before serving, so make this All-Seeing Eye at least one hour before guests arrive.
Ingredients

• 1 banana cream pie
• 1 container of frozen whipped topping
• 1 kiwi
• 1 maraschino cherry
• 1 tube of red gel icing

Directions

1. Allow the whipped topping to thaw, about 30 minutes.
2. Cover the entire pie with the whipped topping to create the surface of the eye.
3. Peel and slice the kiwi.
4. Place one kiwi slice in the center of the pie.
5. Place the maraschino on top of the kiwi and hold in place with a toothpick, to look like an iris and pupil of the eye.
6. Using the red gel icing, draw squiggly lines from the kiwi out to the edge of the pie, to look like a bloodshot eye.
7. Serve chilled.

Pro Tip: Use a vegetable peeler to peel the kiwi. The peeler will allow you to keep most of the fruit intact and circular shaped, while a knife creates pointed edges.

Halloween Eyeball Cake - Cakefullness

10. Grave Robber Chili

A coffin made from cornbread and stuffed with chili makes up this perfectly themed Halloween dish. Begin making this Grave Robber Chili two hours before the party begins, then stow the dish in a warm oven to serve when guests arrive.
Ingredients

For coffin:

• 2 packages of cornbread mix
• 2/3 cup of milk
• 2 eggs
• black food coloring
• ketchup

For chili:

• 1/2 pound of hamburger
• 1/2 cup onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup bell pepper, chopped
• 1/2 cup pinto beans
• 1/2 cup black beans
• 1 4-ounce can of tomato paste
• 1 packet of chili seasoning
• 2 cups of water

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Mix the cornbread mix, milk, eggs, and 3-4 drops of food coloring in a medium bowl until moist and sticky.
3. Pour the mixture into a 9 inch by 5 inch bread loaf pan.
4. Bake the cornbread for 30 minutes, or until cooked entirely.
5. Shred the hamburger into small pieces.
6. Cook the hamburger in a large skillet over medium-high heat until no longer pink.
7. Add in the onion, bell pepper, pinto beans, black beans, tomato paste, chili seasoning, and water. Reduce the heat to a simmer.
8. Allow the cornbread to cool for 15 minutes before cutting. Cut off the top of the corn bread loaf with a butter knife to create a coffin lid. Set it aside.
9. Scoop out the cornbread from the remaining loaf to create the main part of the coffin. Leave a 1/2 inch thick edge and bottom.
10. Drain any excess water from the chili. Pour the chili mixture into the coffin.
11. Use the ketchup to write “R.I.P” on the top of the coffin lid.
12. Place the coffin lid over the chili mixture. Serve warm.

Pro Tip: Use a toothpick to test the cornbread. If the toothpick pulls out clean, the cornbread has finished cooking.

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