Spooky Halloween Meal

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Recipies and Ideas for a Child-Friendly Halloween Dinner

Our Halloween tradition for the last five years has been to create a Spooky Halloween Meal for my grade-school-aged daughters. We always hold the Halloween dinner at my parents house.

This lens contains the Menu of items and recipes along with several bonus recipes and ideas to plan your own kid-friendly Halloween Dinner.

Our Halloween Tradition - A Spooky Halloween Meal 

Over the past 5 years we've developed the tradition of going over to my parents' house and making a Spooky Halloween Meal.

The girls are finally getting old enough to help now with the cooking and the decorating. We usually hang up a spider web with spiders and streamers. For food we start with some of our favorites and maybe add in something a bit different every year.

The menu here is the original one that I printed out for everyone the first year we prepared a spooky Halloween Dinner. It includes the recipes for our Halloween Meal. My cooking techniques with the girls have evolved to emphasize two things: fast and healthy.

Why a Spooky Halloween Meal Tradition? 

The Tradition of celebrating Halloween by preparing a Spooky Halloween Meal at my parents started because we need to vacate our house on Halloween to escape the Trick or Treaters.

Since I've been teaching nutrition, I don't believe I should be passing out candy. Since we don't want the house to be egged, I don't try to make a teaching point and pass out healthy Halloween treats.

It has been easier and a lot more relaxing to spend a fun evening making and eating creepy foods over at my parents.

Our Spooky Halloween Menu 

A Spooky Halloween Meal 

  1. Appetizers
    * Chopped Fingers
    * Barbed Porcupines - Hedgehogs Spikes
    * Iguana Eyes and Blood Drops
    * Caramel Crud and Axed Apples
    * Bonus: Wrapped Mummies
  2. Salad & Vegetables
    * Scythed Grass with Pumpkin Parts
    * Sea Greens Salad with Toxic Mushrooms & Jack-o-Lantern Rings
    * Bonus: Frankenstein or Goblin Brains
    * Bonus: Zombie Brain and Heart
  3. Main Meals - Squid Inspired
    * Octopus (Squid) Stew
    * Bonus - Black Pasta or Black Pasta Salad
  4. Dessert
    * Wormy Apple Cobbler (Baked Apples)
    * Grave Digger's Dirt Cake
    * Bonus: Severed Lady Fingers
    * Booberry Brew
    * Cauldron Coffee

Treat Your Family to a Spooky Green Halloween Meal 

Image Source: Modified from Ryaninc. Halloween 1. Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved.

Appetizers 

Chopped Fingers 

There are several different version of Chopped fingers. Some involve bread or pizza dough and others cookies. The version we chose was using Bread sticks in a can.

Pillsbury® refrigerated breadsticks
Whole Almonds

1. Open can and separate breadsticks.
2. Break breadsticks into 'finger sized' pieces, usually in two.
3. Shape into finger.
4. Add Whole Almond for the fingernail.
5. Cook according to directions.

Image Source: Kochtopf. Grusel-Content zu Halloween - Finger. Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved.

Barbed Porcupines - Hedgehog Spikes 

Barbed Porcupines or Hedgehog Spikes are another simple appetizer.

Only two ingredients.

1 block of Cheese cut into cubes
1 bag Stick pretzels

1. Break stick pretzels into smaller pieces.
2. Arrange pretzels spikes around cheese cube.
3. Place spiked cheese cubes on a tray.

Image Source: Wojtek Wozniak. Hedgehog 2. Royalty Free Use.

Iguana Eyes and Blood Drops 

Iguana Eyes and Blood Drops another simple recipe with only two ingredients. It combines grapes and pomegranates to create a healthy snack item.

Bunch of Grapes (Green or Purple)
Pomegranate

1. Wash and slice grapes length-wise so they create little circles (Iguana eyes).
2. Prepare the Pomegranate, separating out the arils (Blood drops).*
3. Combine together and place in a bowl.

* See the California Pomegranate website for a no mess preparation method.

Image Source: Dorrian Hall. Pomegranate Texture. Royalty Free Use.

Caramel Crud with Axed Apples 

Caramel Crud with Axed Apples is my healthier alternative to Caramel Apples. Instead of putting the caramel on the apples, you create a dip mixed with yogurt.

Caramel Crud

1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract, no alcohol
2 tablespoons light caramel apple dip

Combine ingredients together.
Serve with chopped apples

If you want it sweeter, substitute Vanilla yogurt for the plain and vanilla extract.

Makes 4 1/3 cup servings.

Image Source: Fritz Beck. Murder-in-the-kitchen. Royalty Free Use.

More Devilish Halloween Treats 

Two Devilishly Good Sandwich Spreads for Halloween
Devilishly Good Sandwich Spreads for Halloween Photo Print
Available at AllPosters.com


These Devilish Spreads look to be bits of diced ham and slices of peppers on top of a sandwich spread. They have been made more festive by putting them into Halloween cups and decorating with bugs.

Salad & Vegetables 

Scythed Grass with Pumpkin Parts 

Our version of Scythed Grass with Pumpkin Parts was cooked French Cut Green Beans mixed with Baby Carrots.

1 Package Frozen French Cut Green Beans
Baby Carrots (or other orange vegetable)

1. Steam Baby Carrots slightly.
2. Mix Baby Carrots with Frozen French Cut Green Beans.
3. Microwave according to package directions.
4. Arrange on a Halloween Plate.

You could also fix them as they do in the photograph with real pumpkin pieces, or bits of cooked sweet potato.

Image Source: Patrycja Cieszkowska. Chopped vegetables. Royalty Free Use.

Sea Greens Salad with Toxic Mushrooms & Jack-o-Lantern Rings 

Sea Greens Salad with Toxic Mushrooms & Jack-o-Lantern Rings is a spooky description for a green salad.

Spring Salad Greens
1 package of mushrooms, sliced
1 orange bell pepper, sliced into rounds
1 cup Cherry tomatoes, sliced into circles
1 bunch green onions
1/2 Red cabbage cut into thin strips
1 Avocado, sliced into cubes

Combine all of salad ingredients.

Top with your favorite salad dressing.

Image Source: Alberto Jiménez. Salad. Royalty Free Use.

Bonus: Frankenstein or Goblin Brains 

Frankenstein or Goblin brains can be either of two vegetables, both of which look a bit like brains.

For White Brains, use Cauliflower.

For Green Brains, use Broccoli.

To enhance the "brain" effect of the food, steam the vegetables whole rather than chopping into pieces.

If possible, serve the broccoli on a stem, so it looks like the brain on a brainstem

Image Sources: Helmut Gevert. Cauliflower. Royalty Free Use.

Robert Owen-Wahl. Healthy green broccoli vegetables. Royalty Free Use.

Bonus: Zombie Brain or Heart 

You can serve up edible 'Brain' or 'Heart' with your Halloween Meal with these fun molds.

Fill the mold with your favorite flavor of gelatin or jello.
    For Red Heart Jello - Use Strawberry or Cherry Flavor.

    For a Pink Brain - Mix some sour cream or vanilla yogurt into the strawberry or cherry jello mix.

    For a Gray Brain - Mix red and green jello flavors add sour cream or vanilla yogurt to lighten.

    For a Green Brain - Start with lime jello. Add dark fruit to make the brain a bit creepier.
Image Sources: Brain and Heart Molds available at Amazon below.

Main Course 

Octopus or Squid Stew 

The first time we told our girls we were going to fix 'Octopus Stew' they both got very worried and were pretty adamant about not eating it. Once they discovered that the 'octopus' was just a cooked hot dog, they decided it was o.k. This has become the main dish staple.

Whole Pea Soup with Sliced Hot Dogs

2 cups Whole Peas (Split if whole are not available)
8 cups Hot Water
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 - 2 stalks celery, chopped
2 - 3 carrots, chopped
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 package Fat Free Hot Dogs

1. Sort and rinse peas under water.
2. Combine all ingredients except hot dogs. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour.
3. While soup is cooking prepare 'octopi' out of hot dogs.
    Cut off one end.
    Decide how many 'legs' you want to have on your octopus or squid. e.g. 4, 6 or 8
    Starting 1 inch from one end slice lengthwise for the rest of the hot dog.
    Keep making slits until you have eight "legs" for the hot dog.
    If desired cut eyes and a face in the head end
4. Add to octopus or squid to the soup.
5. Boil for the remaining 15 minutes.
6. The hot dog curl as it boils and look like an octopus.

Image Source: Duchesssa. Italian Soup 3. Royalty Free Use.

Bonus: Black Pasta or Black Pasta Salad 

The Black Pasta Salad image above brings all sorts of spooky and simple ideas to the imagination.

Black Pasta and Marinara (Red) Sauce (Bleeding Worms)

1 package Black Pasta Fettuccine or Linguine
1 jar Marinara Sauce

1. Prepare Black pasta according to directions.
2. Pour sauce into a microwaveable container and heat.
3. Pour Marinara sauce over Black pasta.

Black Pasta Salad (Black Worms and Bones)

1 Black Pasta
1 cup Cherry Tomatoes sliced
1 carrot, grated
1 celery stalk, sliced
Italian Salad Dressing
Sliced cheddar cheese

1. Prepare Black (ink) Pasta according to the instructions. Drain
2. Add sliced tomatoes, shredded carrots and sliced celery stalk.
3. Mix with your favorite Italian Dressing.
4. Cut cheese using bone or other Halloween shaped cookie cutters.
5. Serve and garnish with cheese.

Don't want to use the Squid Ink Pasta? Try cooking regular pasta with red cabbage to make the pasta blueish-purple.

Image Source: Damien Boilley. Pâtes à l'encre. Royalty Free Use.

Black Pasta Available on Amazon 

Otherwise known as Squid Ink Pasta.
Rustichella D' Abruzzo Spaghetti Di Nero Black Squid Ink Pasta 17.6 Oz.

Rustichella D' Abruzzo Spaghetti Di Nero Black Squid Ink Pasta 17.6 Oz.

Amazon Price: $10.99 (as of 07/10/2009) Buy Now

Al Dente Squid Ink Fettuccine, 12-Ounce Bag (Pack of 6)

Al Dente Squid Ink Fettuccine, 12-Ounce Bag (Pack of 6)

Amazon Price: $20.81 (as of 07/10/2009) Buy Now

La Campofilone Squid Ink Linguine Artisan Egg Pasta, 8.8 ounces

La Campofilone Squid Ink Linguine Artisan Egg Pasta, 8.8 ounces

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 07/10/2009) Buy Now

Dessert 

Wormy Apple Cobbler 

Wormy Apple Cobbler, or Baked Apples

4 green apples
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup rolled or ready to cook oats
(Optional 1/2 cup raisins and/or dried cranberries)
1/3 cup butter melted
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon divided
1/2 teaspoon ground gloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Gummy Worms

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Carefully cut and remove the core from top of the apple, making sure not cut all the way through.
3. Place apples on a pan.
4. Mix all of remaining ingredients together reserving 1 teaspoon of Cinnamon and the gummy worms.
5. Fill each apple with the mixture.
6. Sprinkle with cinnamon.
7. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes or until apples are tender.

Remove from oven, let cool a bit, then carefully arrange the gummy worms along the top of the apple, pushing part inside of the core.

Image Source: Starsammy. Baked Apples. Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved.

Grave Digger's Dirt Cake - Spooky Graveyard Cake or Cupcakes 

Grave Digger's Dirt Cake, is also known as Graveyard Cake, Dirt Cake or Halloween Worm Cake. Many of the versions are made with Oreo Cookies. You can also make these as cupcakes, with different decorations and frosting. Use your imagination.

I opted for the versions using cake.

1 Package Chocolate Cake Mix
1 Package Chocolate Pudding (if you want it green, use pistachio)
Milk
1/2 Small Tub of Cool Whip Topping
Milano Cookies
Black Gel Frosting
Gummy Worms, Gummy Insects, Gummy Body Parts
1 - 2 qt Halloween container, bowl or cauldron

1. Prepare the Chocolate Cake according to the directions.
2. Prepare the Chocolate Pudding according to the directions on the box.
3. While cake is cooking, decorate Milano 'tombstones' with gel frosting.
4. Once Chocolate pudding is set, mix with Cool Whip.
5. Once cake is finished and cooled, start breaking up the cake into pieces as 'dirt' filling the bottom of the Halloween container.
6. Add a layer of pudding.
7. Add more cake.
8. Add more pudding.
9. Make sure to finish with a layer of cake.
10. Decorate the top with 'tombstones' and gummy worms. Be sure to stick them into the 'dirt' part of the cake.

Image Source: StarMama. Groovy Graveyards That Tasted Oh So Good. Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved.

See some of the images of different cake and cupcakes below for more inspiration.

Serving Bowls for Your Gravediggers Cake on Amazon 

Sparkle Spider Large Bowl
Sparkle Spider Large Bowl

Graveyard Cakes, Grave Digger's Cakes and Worm Cakes 

Here are just some of the many different variations on Graveyard Cake or Gravediggers Cake.

Another Halloween variation is a Worm Cake.

graveyard cake by midntecakefactory

graveyard cake 1 by motortree

Graveyard Cake (detail) by grmeyer

worm cup cakes by nori_mugi

graveyard cake by steviesmeowmy

Graveyard Cake by therangonagin

Worm cake by kkuphal

Halloween cake by rillian

Graveyard Cake (with notes!!!) by picturefool

Graveyard Dirt Cake by OakGroveLibrary

Graveyard Cake by Lori-Lyn

birthday cake by amanda dias

Graveyard Cake by amandarios

Graveyard Cake!? by Lovely Darkness

graveyard cake by amber.r

dirt cupcakes by justjenn

Dirt Cake by Fossil Freak

Worms in Dirt by m. berru

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Other Graveyard Cake and Dirt Cake Recipies 

Spooky Graveyard Cake Redux
Spooky Graveyard Cake Recipe.
A different version of the Graveyard Cake
A different version of the Graveyard Cake this one with Ghosts!
Dirt cake/cupcakes
Recipe for Dirt Cake and a variation for dirt cupcakes from JustJENN recipes.

A Featured Lens on Making Graveyard Cake 

featured lens Halloween Graveyard Cake Recipe

Making a Graveyard cake is a Halloween tradition in my family! It seems there are many variations, but, of course, I think mine is the best! You can let your creativity flow with this one, and add some of your own "special effects". As you will find...

Bonus: Severed Lady Fingers 

Severed Lady Fingers is another easy dessert.

1 Package Lady Fingers
1 Package Berries (Strawberries, Raspberries, Blackberries)
1 Tsp Sugar
1 Tbls Water

1. Wash and Cut Berries. For Darkest effect use the blackberries.
2. Add sugar and mix. Let stand for 5 minutes or until syrup starts forming.
3. Arrange 2 or 3 Lady Fingers on a serving plate.
4. Pour berry mix with syrup over one end of lady fingers to appear 'severed.'

Image Sources: Robert Owen-Wahl. Strawberry and Cherry Berry. Royalty Free Use.

Another Lady Finger Recipe - Booberry Treat 

This mixture of black cherries, strawberries and frozen mixed berries molded with lady fingers makes for a berrilicious, booberry treat.
Lady Finger Summer Pudding
Another recipe using berries and lady fingers.

Booberry Brew 

Two different options for making blue brew, one thin, one thick. Be sure to add a frozen hand for an even scarier effect.

Booberry Brew
1 Package of Frozen Blueberries, Thawed
1 Bottle of Sprite, Fresca 7-up or Lemonade
Punch Bowl

1. Pour Sprite, Fresca, 7-up or Lemonade into punchbowl.
2. Carefully add a small amount of the thawed frozen blueberry juice to tint the punch.
3. Add Frozen Lime Sherbet hand to get the punch bubbling, a bit.

If you want you can add some of the blueberries.

Blue Witch's Brew (Thick)
Recipe from The North American Blueberry Council.

2 1/2 cups fresh or frozen, thawed blueberries
1 1/4 cups apple juice
1 cup vanilla ice cream
1/4 cup nonfat milk
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

In a blender whirl blueberries, apple juice, ice cream, milk and cinnamon until smooth. Serve immediately.

Makes 4 (1 cup) Servings.

Image Source: Shilpin Patel. Cool Drink. Royalty Free Use.

How to Make Floating Hands 

Adding a floating hand to punch or a drink bowl will make any meal a bit spookier.

Plastic Glove
Water
Lemonade tinted Green
Lime Sherbet
Ginger ale, Sprite

1. Take Plastic Glove and fill with water green tinted lemonade, or lime sherbet.
2. Freeze.
3. When ready to use cut the glove off.
5. Add to punch, ginger ale or sprite.
Green Halloween Punch with Frozen Hands
Ginger Ale and Sprite punch with frozen hands.

Cauldron Coffee 

Cauldron Coffee is prepared however you prefer your coffee, brewed, pressed or drip.

For greater effect you could try Witches (Miner's or Cowboy Style) Coffee prepared in an old black pot.

1. Bring a pot of water to a boil.
2. Add a generous handful of fresh ground coffee.
3. Simmer at just below a boil until the grounds settle.
4. Pour the coffee slowly into your cup to keep the grounds at the bottom.
5. Beware the last sip.

Image Source: Rodolfo Clix. .| Caffeine |.. Royalty Free Use.

More Ideas for a Spooky Halloween Meal 

Halloween Meals & Snacks Recipes
A collection of Scary and spooky Halloween treats for all ages from cd kitchen.
Make a Spooky Halloween Dinner
Getting your children to eat dinner before heading out to trick-or-treat may be a little easier when disguising it as a gruesome, but fun Halloween feast. Mix Halloween and Healthy Eating with these Creative Meal Ideas.
Recipes and Cooking : Holidays and Parties : Halloween
Get Halloween recipes for appetizers, desserts and drinks, along with video and pumpkin carving tips from Food Network.
"Spooky" Food Recipes for Halloween - Food and Home
Gizzards in Wizards blood, a "Spooky" Food Recipe for Halloween from Wondertime.
Halloween Vegan Meal
Recipes to fix a Vegan Halloween Party from Vegetarians in Paradise.
Halloween Recipes for Kids - More Fun Halloween Recipes
Halloween recipes you can use for Halloween parties or snacks for Halloween day. Collection of Halloween recipes for Kid's by parents who really want to enjoy the holiday.
How to Host a Spooky Halloween Party - Associated Content
Here are a few tips to host a spooky but not terrifying Halloween Party that kids of all ages will enjoy.
Kids' Spooky Halloween Party
Spooky kids' Halloween party ideas including recipes, planning guide, and menu from Betty Crocker.
Sue's Spooky Halloween Menu
This recipe for a spooky Halloween Menu was submitted by a visitor to Teri's Kitchen. Includes Mummy Meatloaf, Witches Fingers with fleas and Swampy Smashed Potatoes.
Halloween Recipe, Stuffed Pumpkins
This is a fantastic recipe for your Halloween Party or get together. The kids will enjoy helping in the kitchen to make this recipe. It is different, unique and sure to be a hit.
Halloween Food & Cooking
Halloween food and cooking, Halloween recipes, menus, dinner, lunch, desserts, drinks, beverages, Halloween gatherings, parties, table decorations from Rexanne's Halloween.
Bewitching Halloween Treats
Bewitching Halloween Treats for a Diabetic Child.

Halloween Lady's Finger Treat 

Make Sure You have all of your fingers when you leave.



Image Source: Modified from Dan McKay. Lady Finger. Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved.

Blog Post with More Ideas to Make a Spooky Halloween Meal 

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Wormy Apple Croissants and Other Halloween Recipes in the Amazon Spotlight 

Wormy Apple Croissants and Other Halloween Recipes (Snap)

Wormy Apple Croissants and Other Halloween Recipes (Snap)

by: Larrew, Brekka Hervey

Amazon Price: $19.20 (as of 07/10/2009)Buy Now

A collection of fun recipes to make with children at Halloween.

You can start with the Wormy Apple Croissants.

Blog Post with More Spooky Halloween Treat Ideas 

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More Healthy Halloween Treats 

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Finding healthy Halloween treats can be a challenge. I don't think there is a child who doesn't think of candy when he thinks of Halloween. By finding some healthy halloween treats as alternatives to candy, you can balance some of the sugary treats w...

More Spooky Halloween Treats 

featured lens Creepy Halloween Recipes

Welcome to WhiteOak's Kitchen of Spooky Halloween Treats. I want to list some yummies for the little ones, who can help you in the kitchen for some fun. Remember you do not have to spend lots of money, to make your childrens treat nice and yummy! So...

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Reader Feedback on the Spooky Halloween Meal Lens 

Will you be fixing a Spooky Halloween Meal?

Lensmaster

paperfacets wrote...

p.s. lensrolled with my "bats in the kitchen."

ReplyPosted June 16, 2009

Lensmaster

paperfacets wrote...

The finger treatments are very effective!

ReplyPosted June 16, 2009

Lensmaster

rms wrote...

greetings from gothic temptations!

ReplyPosted November 11, 2008

Lensmaster

KimGiancaterino wrote...

I'm just fascinated by all of the great ideas you've put together here. Have you ever tried broccoflower? It's a cross between broccoli and cauliflower and looks a lot like moldy brains. I'm making it for dinner tomorrow. Chopped fingers would be the perfect accompaniment. I hope you'll add this lens to Culinary Favorites From A to Z.

ReplyPosted November 01, 2008

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