Ok.  Let the countdown begin. Only 18 more days until Halloween, and there’s still so much to do for those of us who live for this goulish season!

By now, you should have your costumes picked out for each occasion.  If you don’t have them laid out and ready to go, then you should at least have an idea of what you will be.  If not, shame on you….  There is simply too much to do and time is running out.

This year, we are having some friends and their kids over for Halloween.  So I am planning lots of family friendly activities for the party.

And what’s a party without some yummy food?  With a Halloween twist, of course.

Here are a few recipes everyone is sure to enjoy:

1. Gooey Chocolate-y Slime Bowls

Ingredients

8 2-ounce bars of baking white chocolate
2 tablespoons heavy cream
6 to 12 drops green food coloring
Angel food cake, cut in large cubes
Red and green grapes, rinsed and removed from stem
2 to 3 bananas, sliced into 1-inch rounds
2 to 3 red or green apples, rinsed, cored and sliced
2 oranges, peeled and divided into sections
1 to 2 pineapples, cut into large chunks

In a medium-sized, microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate uncovered in a microwave set on medium-high for 1 minute. Stir and microwave for additional 10- to 20-second intervals until smooth.

Don’t overcook. (For an alternative method, use a glass or nonreactive double boiler set on medium-low heat. Stir regularly until the chocolate is smooth.) Add the cream and food coloring and stir thoroughly.

Keep warm in a double boiler or fondue pot and present with cut cake and fresh fruits. Makes 8 servings.

2. Bug Juice, by Jodie Shield

Ingredients

2 10-oz. pkgs. frozen strawberries, defrosted
1 6-oz. can lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 quart ginger ale
2 cups raisins
6 gummy worms

1. Mix the strawberries and lemonade concentrate in a blender until smooth and thick.

2. Gradually add ginger ale.

3. Transfer the beverage to a punch bowl. Stir in any remaining ginger ale and the raisins. Place the gummy worms on the rim of the bowl for a swampy effect. Makes 10 servings.

3. Bat Chips

Ingredients

1 large flour tortilla per person
1/4 cup olive oil
Salt

Preheat your broiler. Using Halloween cookie cutters, cut each tortilla into bat and ghost shapes. Lightly brush both sides of each creature with oil. Arrange on a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan. Broil, flipping once when they begin to brown. When brown on both sides, lightly sprinkle with salt.  Serve with your choice of dips, with the Halloween twist, of course!

4. Monster Toes- Kids will love the gross-out factor of this tasty finger food. Parents will love the fact that it is candy-free. Try some for a party or pre-trick-or-treating dinner.

Ingredients:

Cocktail wieners
6-inch tortillas
Ketchup or mustard
Toothpicks

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut a wedge into the end of each cocktail wiener to make a toenail.
2. Cut the tortillas into strips about 4 inches long and 3/4 inch wide. Discard the ends.
3. Soften the strips in the microwave between damp paper towels for 10 to 30 seconds.
4. Roll each wiener in a tortilla strip and secure with a toothpick.
5. Bake for 7 to 8 minutes. Remove them from the oven, then fill the toenail with ketchup or mustard. Remove the toothpicks before serving.

Now some drink recipes for the older family members:

Brain Hemorrage

2 oz Schnapps
2 tsp Irish Cream
1 tsp Grenadine

Pour Schnapps into a large shot glass. Slowly pour Irish Cream into Schnapps so that it basically forms a “brain” in “formaldihide”. Finally, dribble the grenadine (dribbling onto a spoon then into the schnapps helps) directly into the center of the irish cream mass . As the grenadine amount slowly increases it will eventually burst through the irish cream creating a “hemoraging” “brain”.

Crawly Jello Shooters

You’ll need vodka, water, Jello (lime, orange, black cherry and grape work well for Halloween drinks), Gummy Worms and disposable clear plastic shot glasses. Prepare Jello according to package directions and add Vodka. Pour liquid into shot glasses and chill. Before they get firm, add a gummy worm to each glass. Serve chilled. Your party guests will enjoy these Halloween spirits!

Porch Crawlers

2 cans Lemonade - pink & frozen
10 bottles Beer
26 oz gin/vodka

Combine all ingredients in a punch bowl.

Dark Angel

You’ll need black vodka, Jagermeister and Red Bull to make this creepy concoction. Create this layered drink upside-down. First add Red Bull and ice to a highball glass. Then layer shots of black vodka and Jagermeister, with the black layer on top. This is a cool orange and black Halloween drink to match your party!