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It’s been a busy morning here at FGH HQ, with a whole load of cooking going on ready for trick or treating tonight. I decided to eschew the easy option of the bags of multi coloured goo and sugar from the supermarket, and go for homemade versions.

This has involved MGG poring over the pages of Ghoulish Goodies, one of the books I featured in the Friday Five about cookbooks dedicated to Halloween. I really love it, and there are great ideas for everything for chocolate treats to cookies and full on cakes. Sadly, the whistling past the graveyard cake will have to wait for another day!

First up, Zombie Eyeballs (they’re monsters in the book, but we took a little creative licence). Perfect to make with kids as no cooking involved, although I would probably melt the butter and possibly warm the peanut butter next time, as these were a little crumbly to put together. But MGG was not to be defeated:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These need an hour or so in the fridge before the final step: a roll in chocolate, leaving enough space for a cornea and a mini Smartie for an iris!

Next up, Funny Bones. These were fun and games, as we are obviously not as fond of pretzel sticks as they are in the US. I thought I might be in luck and they’d be in the Christmas snack section, but sadly not. We had to make do with a box of Mikado biscuits, but of course this meant the chocolate has taken on a slighly marbled effect. I did think about nibbling all the milk chocolate off first, but thought that probably contravened several health and safety regs!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once dipped, these just need a few hours in the fridge to firm up. What are the joints? Well, there are uses for mini marshmallows other than for sprinkling on hot chocolate!

Next up, eye of lizard. To be fair, these started out as monster toes, but they spread a lot during cooking, and also the M&Ms split their casings. This gives them a slighly surreal eye look, so we have renamed them into that classic cauldron ingredient!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So next up we just need some paper cones, a Halloween menu and we’re ready to go. Unless Dr T has taken the batteries out the doorbell again! But after all that, this is what they have in store:

 

Zombie eyeballs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eye of dragon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funny bones

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Halloween, may all your treats be tasty!

 

 

I think it’s probably clear I don’t need much encouragement to buy a new cook book! But even I think and pause when it’s around lesser holidays. I mean, I have a couple of titles devoted to Christmas which is, lets face it, just one day. So why nothing for other one day events? Well, with one heading our way, and great enthusiasm for it in this household from MGG, here are five options for inspiration around Halloween.

1. Halloween Fun & Food - this does the lot! Not just spooky recipes but games and decorations for the home. Work through this lot and it’ll be a Halloween to remember! I like the sound of Spider Web Pizzas, sure the kids would love both making and eating these! Plenty of punch recipes, for big kids and small!

2. Halloween by Martha Stewart – I’ve got a bit of a thing for Martha Stewart, and before I had MGG then me and Martha were on good terms in the run up to Christmas. Funnily enough though, I ran out of time for all those twiddly things when MGG was little. Now she’s 7 I think I could start again, and maybe Halloween is a good place to do so. Knowing Martha, there will be the most amazing recipes for good and unusual stuff, as well as wonderfully artistic and tasteful decorations.

3. Ghoulish Goodies - the kids will love this one just for the cupcake on the front! Bet you get requests for that one! In addition to creature feature cupcakes, it promises monster eyeballs, bat wings and witches knuckles. I would love to do these instead of ready packaged stuff from the supermarket and I’m sure kids would love an unusual cookie, rather than another gummy blob. Definitely a good one for the bakers amongst you.

4. Madam Witch’s Halloween Witchery – I love this one just for the title really. Again, it’s a combination of recipes and crafting, but this looks the opposite of Martha. Not very slick looking, but fun and definitely home made!

5. Wormy Apple Croissants and Other Halloween Recipes - again, another great title for getting the kids involved. And if you start with Halloween, you may just get them really into food and cooking all year round. One day wormy apple croissants, the next it’ll be beef wellington!

As Halloween falls on a Saturday then it’s the perfect day to prepare your own treats, rather than the prepackaged stuff. It’ll give the kids something great to do all day, and then something fab to eat all night.