As we turn the calendar and start prepping for Halloween – and all the parties that seem to come with the season – I am offering a few fun entertaining ideas that are quick, easy and affordable.
As parents, we try to get our kids to eat better bites throughout the year and balance the party fare so that it’s not all sweets, but this is one of those times we permit a little fun. Usually the classroom party sign-up sheet includes an opportunity for parents to bring a veggie tray, fruit and dip along with one sweet treat. Here are some options to make your party planning easier.
In August, we featured a recipe of Melon Monsters and Salad Stuffed Cyclops that would be perfect fruit and veggie party additions to the cupcakes. Check out the recipes here.
Creamy Orange Dip and ‘Cinnamoned’ Apples
3/4 cup low fat vanilla yogurt
1/3 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
1/3 cup Greek vanilla yogurt
Golden delicious apples
Cinnamon
Stir the yogurt, frozen orange juice concentrate and whipped topping together. Wash, core and slice the apples. Place the slices of apple into a snap and seal (or Ziploc) sandwich sized bag, add cinnamon and shake until all of the apples are covered. This is my trick for sending sliced apples in the lunchbox. It masks all browning and tastes great.
Carrotty-Orange Veggie Dip
1 cup sour cream, nonfat
2 tablespoons carrot juice
_ teaspoon onion powder
_ teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
Stir the nonfat sour cream, carrot juice, onion powder, salt, garlic powder and white pepper together. Serve with an assortment of cut vegetables. Serve with the washed, cut vegetables. You can go festive and go with everything green and orange.
Monstrously Fun Cupcakes
Vanilla cake mix
Mini pretzel sticks
Marshmallows, large and mini
Green frosting
Black gel frosting
White chocolate melting rounds
White chocolate morsels
Make the cupcakes as directed on the box and let cool directly. It should make 18-24 cupcakes. Top each cupcake with a large marshmallow by connecting the marshmallow and cupcake together using a mini pretzel stick. Frost the top of the cupcake covering the marshmallow to create height.
To make the three little monster creations pictured here, follow these instructions:
Left: Add a large melting round to the center of one cupcake. Use the black gel frosting to add the center of the eye, mouth and eyebrow.
Center: Add two mini pretzel sticks to two mini marshmallows and insert them for an eye-popping effect. Use the black gel frosting to add the center of the eye to each mini marshmallow and a mouth.
Right: Add mini morsels to the front of the one cupcake to create a monster with many eyes. Use the black gel frosting to add the center of the eyes and eyebrows.
To learn more about Jodie and check out her other recipes, visit www.jodiefitz.com.