Halloween Recipes for One and All

A grandmother pretends she doesn't
know who you are on Halloween.
~Erma Bombeck

The entire family can help make these Halloween snacks. Let the little ones help form the popcorn balls in the last recipe!

Autumn Popcorn Mix

Ingredients:
10 cups popped popcorn (plain)
1 cup dry-roasted salted peanuts
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons cider
2 tablespoons margarine
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place popcorn and peanuts in a 13x9x2 baking pan. In a pan, stir together the honey, cider, margarine, and cinnamon until well mixed. Bring to boil over medium heat. Drizzle the honey mixture over the popcorn and nut mixture. Toss until well mixed in the pan. Bake for 15 minutes, stirring 2-3 times during baking. When finished, spread the mixture onto a large sheet of foil or a buttered cookie pan. Cool. Store in a covered container.

Caramel Popcorn Clusters

Ingredients:
10 cups popped popcorn
2 cups almonds
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup margarine
1/4 cup light corn syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Spray a large baking sheet with cooking spray or lightly grease with margarine. Mix the popcorn and almonds in a large bowl. Combine brown sugar, margarine and corn syrup in a medium pan. Over low heat, stir the mixture until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat to high and boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in the vanilla, almond extract and baking soda. Pour this over the popcorn and almonds, quickly stirring to coat. Spread the mixture onto the baking sheet, spreading evenly. Bake for 1 hour. Cool and break into pieces and store in airtight container. Notes: You can use another kind of nut besides almonds if you wish. Almond extract would also work for flavoring.

Mini Popcorn Balls

Ingredients:
10 cups popped corn
1 (1-lb.) bag miniature marshmallows
1/4 cup margarine
1 cup toffee pieces or mini M&Ms
1 cup butterscotch chips
Orange food coloring

Place popcorn, candy and butterscotch chips in large bowl; set aside. Heat the butter in a large pan until just melted, then add the marshmallows and cook over low heat, stirring until melted and smooth. Stir in several drops of food coloring and stir. Pour over popcorn and candy, tossing to coat evenly. Cool 5 minutes. Butter hands and form into 2 or 3-inch balls. Notes: Use your imagination on the candy. Use anything that strikes your fancy!

Enjoy your weekend! ~Brenda