Halloween means tons of candy and over-the-moon kids who can’t sit still. Far be it for Mom and Dad to get their little monsters to sit down for a healthy meal before trick-or-treating—after all, it wouldn’t be Halloween without an abundance of sugar.
That said, we humbly believe that the following ideas will make for a fun and vitamin-packed meal for your whole family to enjoy before roaming the streets.
Stuffed “pumpkin” peppers
Whatever type of rice you like, be it Asian-fried , Mexican, mixed with vegetables or plain, they all make for a delicious stuffing in these “pumpkin” peppers for the family. Core and seed one pepper for each person, taking care not to damage the “hat.”
Then, using a small knife, carve out a face on each pepper, as shown in the photo above. Voilà, it’s spooky cute!
Ghost pizzas
Pizza is the quintessential comfort food for any occasion and appeals to just about everyone. Why not make a fun and easy Halloween version? We propose little ghosts!
Ingredients:
- Naan bread
- Tomato sauce
- Grated mozzarella cheese
- Black olives (for the eyes and “o”-shaped mouth)
Using a medium-sized cookie cutter in the shape of a ghost—or your free-hand artistic talents—cut some ghosts out of the naan bread. We recommend this type of bread because it will not lose its shape during cooking.
Assemble the pizzas, starting by spreading a layer of sauce and topping it with cheese. Decorate with olives for the ghosts’ faces… even if your kids end up picking off the olives and leaving them on their plate. It’s Halloween, and the visual effect is what counts! Bake the ghosts in a 350°F oven for 5 to 7 minutes.
Magic draught
Because, this special day screams for a magic potion! For optimal effect, purchase an inexpensive plastic cauldron (although, any large punch bowl will do). While you’re at it, why not buy two plastic eyeballs, or even some fake spiders to float in your concoction!
What you need:
- 4 cups apple juice with darker colour (e.g. Tradition brand)
- 1 cup orange juice
- ½ cup lemon juice
- 3 cups ginger ale
- 1 package of gummy worms (optional)
Simply stir all potion ingredients together in the cauldron, and cast your spell!
Bathroom-tissue roll “candies”
While it’s unlikely your home lacks for decorations at Halloween, there’s always room for some bathroom-tissue roll art made by creative children and doting parents. This craft activity is always a great way to recycle and spend some quality time together.
For this occasion, we propose making giant candies to decorate the Halloween table… a prelude to the real delights that will be collected later on! Here’s how to make them (in English only).
Crudité skeleton
This multicoloured skeleton composed of crunchy vegetables from head to toe is the ideal snack to serve to kids in hyperactive mode when they arrive home from school or daycare.
In addition to being a cinch to do, its on-theme visual appeal will make the youngsters forget they’re eating healthy on this festive occasion.
The face:
- Small round bowl filled with your choice of dip
- 4 black olives: 2 for the eyes, 1 for the nose and 1 sliced into small pieces to make a dotted line for the mouth.
The torso:
- 10 cucumber rounds lined up to form the spine
- 10 slices of red pepper for the rib cage
The pelvis:
- Around 10 slices of white mushrooms on top of each other to create the pelvis.
The limbs:
- 6 celery sticks: 2 for the collarbones, 4 for the legs
- 4 carrot sticks for the arm bones
- 2 broccoli florets for the hands
- 3 cherry tomatoes, halved, for the feet
There is an example of a crudité Skeleton
Have a delicious Halloween dinner! Boo!-n appétit!
