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Thoughts of Halloween often conjure haunting visions of buckets of candy, trays of caramel apples and oodles of other sugary snacks.Although it's only once a year, the aftermath of Halloween can linger for weeks as your child's stash of candy whittles away. But why torture yourself? Why not make Halloween fun with a few creative ideas to get everyone in the mood? Here are a few great party ideas to keep the spirit of Halloween alive.

Parents, always supervise any cooking activities with your children. Enjoy these recipes but keep age appropriation in mind when allowing your child to eat and/or to create certain foods.

While everyone should eat healthy 90 percent of the time, there is a time to let loose every once in a while. While everything listed below is not 100 percent healthy, everyone needs to splurge 10 percent of the time and this goes for kids too. Have fun and always monitor small children when preparing, cooking and/or eating certain types of food. These treats are quite frugal to come by and actually really fun.

Halloween Treats

Spiders

1 12-ounce pkg. chocolate chips
1 medium can of chow mein noodles. Use only the amount you need and freeze the rest.
1 pkg. M & M candy

If needed, add 2 to 4 tablespoons water to thin chocolate.

Melt chocolate in microwave. Stir in noodles. Drop by spoonful onto waxed paper. Add two M & M's for the spider eyes.

Slush Drink

1 pkg. lime gelatin1 cup sugar
4 cans or more (up to 2 quarts) 7-Up
4 cups boiling water
3 cups pineapple juice
1 glass bottle of cherries (just add a few cherries, not the whole bottle)

Mix all ingredients together except 7-Up. Place in container with a lid. Freeze four to five hours. Remove from freezer when mixture is slushy. Fill glasses one-half full of slush. Fill remainder of glass with 7-Up. Or, add the 4 cans for a larger serving size for a party treat in a glass punch bowl or pitcher. Throw cherries in for added spooky effect.

Popcorn Treats

1/2 cup candy corn
Vegetable cooking spray
4 cups miniature marshmallows (use the colored ones for cool colors)
8 cups popped corn (without butter)

Lightly coat 13 x 9 glass or metal pan with cooking spray. Cut each piece of candy corn in half lengthwise.

Black Kitty Kats

1 cup crunchy peanut butter
1/3 cup water
2 eggs
1 chocolate cake mix (You're on your own with this one. I make it from scratch with wheat flour.)
M & M's (plain or peanut if you choose to use plain peanut butter)
Red hots
1 small jar or can of coconut pieces (choose coconut or candy pieces below for kitty whiskers)
1 small jar or can of orange cake decorating candy pieces

Beat together peanut butter, eggs and water. Gradually add cake mix. Mix well. Roll and form cookie dough into 1-inch balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten balls with bottom of glass dipped in sugar. Pinch out two ears at top of cookie. Add M & M's (eyes) and red hots (nose). Press fork into dough to form whiskers and fill with coconut pieces or cake decorating candy pieces after they come out of the oven. Bake at 375 degrees for eight to 10 minutes. It should make 4 1/2 dozen.

Face Paint

1 tsp. Cornstarch
1/2 tsp. Water
1/2 tsp. cold cream
2 drops food coloring

In a small mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. Place in fridge for two hours and apply to dry face. Let set at least 20 minutes before going outdoors.

Chocolate Halloween Eyeballs

1 pkg. seedless grapes
1 to 2 cups of chocolate chips
1 pkg. red hots
wax paper
different colored toothpicks

Wash seedless grapes and drain. Spread out onto paper towel and pat dry. Transfer onto wax paper. Melt chocolate chips and cool slightly. Pour onto room-temperature grapes and/or dip into chocolate mix. Within one minute, stick a red hot into the middle of a chocolate covered grape. For better eyeball affects, make a circle around the red hot with vanilla frosting. Insert toothpicks into the side of the treat. Eat right afterward or share chilled eyeballs with friends and family.

Jodie Lynn is an internationally syndicated parenting/family/health columnist. Her latest parenting life and health paperback book is Mommy CEO revised edition. Check out the NEW "Mom, CEO" merchandise: caps, sweatshirts, calendars, cups, T-shirt, totes, etc. at parenttoparent.com. All Moms Are Working Moms and are the first CEOs (Chief Everywhere Officer).

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