Cooking With Miranda - Halloween Treats

Ah Halloween! - That wonderful time of the year, when we get to wear outlandish costumes, eat plenty of candy and host parties with spooky treats.

While I can't help you with the first two, I sure can teach you how to make some delicious spooky finger foods and also, how to turn those sticky pumpkin seeds into a sweet and salty treat. Enjoy!

Apple Bites

Ingredients:

Red Apples
Slivered Almonds

Putting It Together:

Quarter and core a red apple. Use a paring knife, (ask your parents for help if you need to) to cut a wedge from the skin side of each quarter in the shape of a mouth. Place slivered almonds inside like teeth - And voila your first spooky treat is ready!

Tips:

If you're not going to serve them right away, squeeze a little fresh lemon juice on the apples to keep them from browning - Unless of course, you want to make it look even spookier with a brown mouth.

Severed Cheese Fingers

Ingredients:

Mozzarella String Cheese
Green Bell Pepper cut into strips
Cream Cheese

Putting It Together:

Cut each stick of string cheese in half.
Around the center of each half use a paring knife to carve out 3 tiny horizontal lines that resemble knuckles of a finger.
Using kitchen scissors cut several oval shapes that resemble finger nails from each pepper strip.
Put a small dab of cream cheese on the top of the cheese stick.
Place the bell pepper finger nail on top of the cream cheese and press lightly.
Arrange on a scary Halloween platter.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Ingredients:

Seeds from 1 pumpkin
2 Tablespoons melted butter
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
Clean the seeds in cold water to remove the pulp from the pumpkin.
Lay on baking sheet in single layer and bake at 300 degree Fahrenheit for 30 minutes to dry them out

Putting It Together

In medium sized bowl, mix brown sugar, cinnamon and salt together. Add warm pumpkin seeds and melted butter and mix until all seeds are coated with seasoning. Pour seeds back onto baking sheet and spread in a single layer. Roast at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and enjoy!

Happy Halloween !

Sources:Miranda Church, Lisa Church, Dean Church