Halloween Treats: Recipes and Crafts for the Whole Family (Holiday Celebrations)

These days, Halloween is the most popular holiday next to Christmas. At its heart are family and friends having fun together-which is what this book is all about. In this cornucopia of creative Halloween ideas, simple crafts, tasty treats, and ghoulish good times abound. From delicious “one cauldron” dinners such as creamy pumpkin soup to

These days, Halloween is the most popular holiday next to Christmas. At its heart are family and friends having fun together-which is what this book is all about. In this cornucopia of creative Halloween ideas, simple crafts, tasty treats, and ghoulish good times abound. From delicious “one cauldron” dinners such as creamy pumpkin soup to luscious devil’s food cake and black cat cookies, here are recipes ideal for entertaining adults and children alike, both in the kitchen and at the table. And then there are the crafts. Kid-friendly projects such as trick-or-treat bags, spooky lanterns, and tissue ghosts, and easy ideas for beautiful centerpieces, place mats, and name cards keep everyone from the tots on up busy and happy. Filled with clever projects and delicious snacks, and illustrated throughout with colorful photographs, Halloween Treats will keep the whole family (and friends of all ages) entertained. Happy Halloween!Cocoa Cobweb Cupcakes, Black Cat Cookies, and Stained-Glass Spooks are just a few of the spirited tastes you’ll encounter in Donata Maggipinto’s delightful Halloween Treats. But it’s not just recipes–you and your favorite little goblin will love creating spooky craft projects such as Candy Cauldrons, Leaf Lanterns, and Paper Bag Pumpkins together in anticipation of All Hallows’ Eve. Maggipinto includes craft ideas for “Pixies” (children 4-8 years old) as well as older children, and nearly every recipe includes a safe task for younger helpers. (For example, while mom or dad should heat the milk for hot cocoa, kids can roll and stamp out marshmallow ghosts as accompaniment.) A few of the craft ideas will require a trip to the art supply store (such as lampshade paper for the very nifty flashlight lanterns), but Maggipinto leaves plenty of room for the magical combination of imagination and found objects. Her great “fanciful masks” are dime-store masks decorated with autumn leaves, candy wrappers, feathers, or anything else you might have at hand.

Maggipinto believes that Halloween festivities should last for at least a week; you’ll find enough project instructions and recipes here for a month of Halloween fun. Grownups will love her Halloween dinner party menu (with Pumpkin Crackle Custard for dessert!) and kids can help by making corn kernel napkin rings and three-tiered pumpkin centerpieces. If you’re looking for costume ideas, you won’t find them here–the book is focused firmly on kitchen and decoration fun–but the beautifully illustrated Halloween Treats is a wonderful treasure trove of tricks and treats that every family will enjoy working on together. –Rebecca A. Staffel

Get leads. Get sales. Get growing. [2]