Halloween Recipes

Pumpkin Cream Cheese
Start the day off right with a festive breakfast of bagels, pumpkin cream cheese (recipe follows), and fresh apples. This meal also works as a great treat for a morning Halloween party at your child’s school.

Beat in a bowl:
8 ounces softened cream cheese
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 cup of canned pumpkin
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin-pie spice

Serve with toasted bagels and fresh apple slices.

Incredible White Bean Pizza
Before your children venture out in their costumes, make sure they eat a meal before going trick-or-treating. This recipe is fast and simple. With full tummies, they won’t be so tempted to dig into their bag of goodies before they get back home. Be sure to ask your kids not to eat candy while they are out.

1 can white beans, drained and rinsed (12.5 oz.)
1 clove garlic
2 tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1 pizza crust
Shredded mozzarella cheese
Fresh tomatoes, cored and diced
Chopped basil

Directions
Preheat oven to 425°F. Purée first four ingredients in a blender and then spread the mixture over the pizza crust. Sprinkle with the shredded mozzarella cheese, the tomatoes, and the chopped basil. Bake at 425°F until cheese is bubbly, about 10–12 minutes.

Pumpkin Cookies
These cookies are a festive choice for dessert during your Halloween gathering or make great bring-to-school treats if there is a party—a tasty, baked alternative to having candy at school.

1 cup vegetable oil
3 cups sugar
2 eggs, beaten
5 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. ground nutmeg
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. allspice
1/4 tsp. ginger
2 tsp. salt
1 29-oz. can solid-pack pumpkin
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts
3 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350°F. Beat the oil and sugar in mixing bowl. Add eggs, beating well. Sift the flour, the baking powder, the baking soda, the spices, and the salt together. Add to sugar mixture alternately with the pumpkin, beating well after each addition. Fold in the chocolate chips, the walnuts, and the vanilla.

Drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased cookie sheets. Bake in 350°F oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Makes 60 cookies.