More Halloween Treats great and gross

Rice Krispy Treats

Ingredients
3 tbsp. unsalted butter
10 oz. regular marshmallows, or 4 c. miniatures
6 c. Rice Krispies

The secret to making these is preparation.
Have your 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan all greased and ready,
and use a LARGE saucepan.
You haven't had fun until you've tried to transfer a wad
of molten marshmallow from one pan to another because
you realize you started too small.

Over low heat, melt butter, then add marshmallows and
stir frequently until melted. Remove from heat.

Stir in cereal until coated. Press into greased pan using
spatula or waxed paper. Cut into squares when cool.

Variations
Rice Krispy Treats are perhaps the ultimate blank slate.
You can make them with Cocoa Krispies.
You can add small amounts of almond, vanilla or whatever
extract you like to the marshmallows.
You can add food coloring.
Even peanut butter and chocolate syrup.

Then there are the mix-ins.
You name it, it can go in ... chocolate chips, raisins, cinnamon
red hots, M&Ms and toffee bar bits are all good choices, but
let your mind wander.

If you take the squares out of the pan while they're still
slightly warm and pliable, you can do all manner of creative
things.
Push licorice sticks in for arms and legs, top with a gumball
or hard candy, and make "Killer Robot Krispy Treats."
Shape them into amorphous blobs, add two chocolate chips
for eyeholes, and make "Ghost Krispy Treats."


Creepy Cookies
Using sugar cookie recipe, you can let the kids do as much
or as little of the baking as you wish, then set up cookie-
decorating stations with tubes of icing, sprinkles, and any
other sugary bits that come to mind.

This time of year, Halloween-themed cookie cutter sets
are everywhere, so make a few batches of ghosts, bats,
pumpkins and black cats.

Ingredients
1 ½ c. confectioners' sugar
1 c. butter flavored shortening
1 egg
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
½ tsp. almond extract
2 ½ c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cream of tartar

Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit.
Lightly grease cookie sheets.
Mix the sugar, shortening, egg, vanilla and almond extract
until creamy.
Mix in the flour, baking soda and cream of tartar.
Make several small balls of dough.
Roll out dough to about ¼ inch thick.
Cut into desired shapes with well-floured cookie cutters.
If desired, press candies, raisins, nuts or sprinkles into cookies.
Place cookies onto the prepared sheets.
Bake for eight to 10 minutes, depending upon whether you
like hard or soft cookies. Remove cookies and let cool on a rack.


Catbox Cookies
Of course, no party is complete without a centerpiece, and
Halloween is the time when you can feel free to let the dark
side of your cooking creativity have free rein.

To make the "cat box" for these gross-but-tasty treats,
use a box of Grape-Nuts or other barley cereal.

Be sure and "garnish" with plenty of gummi flies, worms,
and any other disgusting edibles you can think of.

I've seen ramen noodles, peanuts and raisins used to gross
effect.

Ingredients
¼ c. honey
¼ c. molasses
2/3 c. butter
1 egg, at room temperature, lightly beaten
2 1/3 cups whole-wheat flour
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. ground ginger
½ tsp. ground cloves
1 large box Grape-Nuts

In a medium bowl, microwave the honey until it bubbles,
about 1 minute.
Stir in the molasses, butter and egg.
Beat until smooth.

Stir in the flour, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves until combined.
Then add the "realistic" additions of your choice such as
coconut, ramen, chocolate chips, or peanuts.
Chill dough until firm.

Preheat oven to 350° F.
Roll dough into logs about ¾ inch in diameter.
Cut into pieces the approximate length of cat doots.
Roll logs lightly in the Grape-Nuts, place on an
ungreased cookie sheet, and bake for 12 minutes in the
preheated oven.

To add realism, spend a couple of bucks for a plastic cat
box and line it with the Grape-Nuts. Add garnishes.