Jello Worms Recipe great for Halloween!

Do you have a Halloween Party coming up?  Do you want to have the spookiest, creapiest, crawliest dessert of all?  Then have I got a treat for you!  I made this the other day for my work's Halloween party and I won $$ for having the spookiest dessert of all.  These Jello worms are so awesome and  worm-like that it is just a bit on the foul side.  They wiggle and squirm just like a worm would.

You will need 100 bendy straws with the bendy parts extended
You need a package of red Jello..most of the recipes call for Raspberry, but I was a rebel and got Dark Cherry.
You also need 3 packets of unflavored Gellatin to amp up the firmness..nobody wants a soggy worm.
You need about 1/3 Cup of Heavy Cream
Then add in about 14 drops of food coloring.  I used a gel coloring and sadly added too much and my worms went green and weren't too wormy.  Then I decided to do some orange ones for contrast.


Put the Jello and extra Gellatin in a large bowl and mix in 3 Cups of Boiling water.  Whisk together well until everything is melted and combined.  Then let the mixture cool for a bit.  I stuck mine in the fridge for about 15 minutes or so.

Then add in the Cream.  You can either mix well to get a good and cloudy colored worm..or mix gently for a more marbled look. 


Stick the straws with the bendy part on the bottom and place a rubber band around the top and bottom.  Then place them in a tall but narrow container.  I used a drinking glass.  Pour in a little bit of the jello...not too much.  Place the glasses in the fridge for about 20 minutes to get a good solid base started.

After the 20 pour in the rest of the Jello and let sit overnight.

The next morning you will have a gelatinous mound of goo in your glass.  Use a butter knife or something to help get it out.  Peel off the excess Jello and run the straws under slightly warm water to clean them off.

There are several ways to get them out of the straws..but the best way is to use a rolling pin.  Just pop 3 of the straws on the counter..steamroll over them with the rolling pin and watch the creepy worms just squiggle on out.

Believe me when I say that trying to get them out by hand SUCKS!  They are slippery..messy..gooey..and just plain hard to hold onto.  You can always go the pliers route..but the rolling pin is by far the best!

Make sure you wiggle them like a good worm as you eat them.  It makes it feel a bit more real...

 Enjoy as you take in the glory of your wormy dessert.  Praises and prizes galore!


Source:  Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Easy and Spooky Spider Cookies

I love holiday baking!  And, if you ask me holiday baking starts in October.  Yep, Halloween is a very bakeable holiday in my opinion.  There are so many fun and ghoulish things that you can bake up.  The other day I was cruising my blogging buddies page and saw these creepy crawly spider cookies.

I decided to give it a whirl with my older kids and we had a blast making (and eating) these scary spiders.  I found that my chocolate chips weren't melty enough to draw on the legs so I just melted a few left over chips and used that to create the spooky legs.

Halloweeny and perfect!  Whip them up and creep out all your friends.

Oven Peanut Butter S'mores Recipe

I love nothing better than a fun night out in the canyon with good friends.  Hot dogs cooked over an open fire pit, kids running around getting filthy, having to bum salt from the guys next to you cause ya'll forgot yours, and the s'mores!  Oh yes, the s'mores!  They weren't kidding when they named those beauties s'mores..cause you always want s'more!

Alas, you don't always find yourself in the canyon when the craving for a tasty, toasty, melty s'more arises.  So what do you do?!  Check this baby out and you'll never be hungry again!  Or at least you can curb a craving quickly and easily.

You will need Graham Crackers, Peanut Butter, Marshmallows, and Chocolate Chips (I used semi sweet)

Get your awesome and absolutely adorable helper to pitch in on this recipe.  Just have her slather those Grahams with Peanut Butter.  Excellent..that looks great!

Hey now!  what do you think you are doing?  Get back to work.

Next have your helper place a few Marshmallows on each graham.  Nicely done!

What?!  Wait!  This is a serious food blog..there is no room for tomfoolery!

Excellent, let's focus on the food!  Place a few chocolate chips here and there amongst the Mallows.

Place them on a parchment lined cookie sheet and put in the oven under a warm broiler...but be careful!  These cook up very quickly...usually in a minute or so.  Just keep your eyes peeled because one second they aren't done and the next they are darker than you want!

Enjoy..Just like my kids did!

Oven Peanut Butter S'mores Recipe

Graham Crackers
Peanut Butter
Marshmallows
Chocolate Chips

Pre-heat the oven's broiler.  Spread PB on the Grahams then top with Marshmallows and chocolate chips.  Place in oven on a parchment lined baking sheet... but watch very closely because these go from not done to over done very quickly.  Takes about a minute or so to toast the Mallows.

Enjoy!

Nutter Butter Cookie Balls Recipe

Cookies!  Oh yeah..I said cookies!  Every year my sister and I put together a Christmas Cookie Exchange party.  It is so much fun and we get to sample all kinds of yummy cookies.  I like to try something new and exciting every year.  Some of my treats have been awesome..while others have been less than awesome.  But it's all in good fun so I don't mind the flops.  This year I was cruising the web and saw this little beauty and just had to give it a try.  Crumbled up cookies in a cookie!?  What could be tastier?

You will need Mini Nutter Butter Bites, Nutter Butter Cookies, Peanut Butter (I used creamy), Softened Cream Cheese (I used the diet stuff), and Almond Bark.

Put the regular Nutter Butter Cookies in a zip top bag and using your meat club crush those babies up.  I did this shortly after putting my children to bed and my crushing woke up my 2 year old.  Perhaps next time I'll crush more gently.

Mix together the soft Cream Cheese and crushed Nutter Butters.

It will come together in a kind of dry and slightly crumbly mixture.

Roll into little balls.  I got just over 2 dozen of them.  Refrigerate at least one hour.  I let them sit overnight.

Grab a handful or two of the Nutter Butter Bites and cut them in half.

In a microwave safe dish (I find a measuring cup works best) place the Almond Bark and Peanut Butter in the microwave.  At 50% power microwave in 30 second increments, stirring after each, until everything is melted and combined.

Prepare your station.  Rolled balls on one sheet.  Melted PB goodness in the middle.  Clean sheet covered with parchment on the other side.  Cut up Mini Nutters close by.

Drop one ball at a time in the melted PB mixture.  Using a fork lightly tap on the dish to remove excess chocolatey goo.

Place the coated ball on the clean cookie sheet.

Top wit a mini Nutter.  Repeat until they are all coated and topped.  Allow plenty of time for coating to harden.  You can also place them in the fridge to hurry this process along.

Enjoy!

Nutter Butter Cookie Balls Recipe
Source:  Kraft Recipes

1 8oz package Softened Cream Cheese
24 Nutter Butter Cookies, crushed
3-6 Squares Almond Bark 
1/4 C Creamy Peanut Butter
Mini Nutter Butter Cookies cut in half
 
Mix together the crushed Nutter Butter Cookies and soft Cream Cheese to make a slightly crumbly dough.  Roll the dough into 1 inch balls.  I ended up with just over 2 dozen.  Place on a baking sheet covered with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour.  

In a microwave safe dish mix, add the Peanut Butter and Almond bard.  Microwave in 30 second increments at 50% power until everything is melted and combined.  Make sure to stir after every 30 seconds.  Drop the Balls, one at a time, into the Melted PB mixture.  Using a fork, tap lightly on the dish to remove excess coating.  Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and top with one of the mini Nutter Butter halves.  Once all the balls are coated allow the coating to set.

Enjoy!  

S'mores Krispie Treats

About two years ago my friend had a "Favorite Things" party.  It was a cute party idea where each guest spends a certain amount of money on a few of their favorite things.  Then everyone trades their favorite things with each other.  It was fun to see what everyone loved and to get my fun package.  The girl who bought my package was a whiz with her money.  I couldn't believe how much she was able to buy with $25!  But the true highlight of the party for me were the party snacks.  They served some delicious and tasty s'mores bars that I instantly fell in love with.  If I said I went back for thirds would you think poorly of me?  There was just something about the combo of the Graham Cereal, Chocolate Chips, and Marshmallow-y goodness that kept me coming back for more. 

I needed a dessert for a party my sister threw the other day and this tasty treat came to mind.  I searched online and found this post and I knew we were in business.  Everyone at the party loved this treat.  People gobbled it up in no time.  I only ate two pieces this time..but would have eaten more if I hadn't filled up on all the other goodies at the party.  Give these a try when you need a quick and easy dessert.  You will be glad you did.

You will need Golden Grahams Cereal, Butter, Marshmallows, and Milk Chocolate Chips.

Start off by buttering a dish..nobody wants these tasty bars to stick to the dish so don't skimp. 

In a pot over medium heat add the Butter and let it melt.

Then add the Marshmallows.

Stir together until everything is all melted together and gooey.

Looks like my helper smelled the yummy Mallowyness and came to check it out.

Pour the Cereal into a large bowl.

Pour the Marshmallow meltyness over the top.

Stir gently to get the Marshmallow sauce all over the Cereal.

Wait a few minutes for it to cool down a bit..then add in the Milk Chocolate Chips!  Buy the good ones..you won't be sorry.

Gently press the mixture into the Buttered dish.

Melt a bit of the Chocolate Chips and use a spoon and drizzle the melted Chocolate over the top.

Cut into squares and Enjoy!

S'mores Krispie Treats
Source:  Chef in Training 

1/4 C Butter
1 (10 oz) Bag Marshmallows
1 Box Golden Grahams Cereal
1-2 C Milk Chocolate Chips

Heat a saucepan over medium heat and once the pan is warm add in the Butter.  Once the Butter is melted add in the Marshmallows.  Stir the Butter and Marshmallows together until the Marshmallows are completely melted.

 Place the Cereal in a large bowl and add the Marshmallow sauce.  Gently stir everything together, making sure to coat all of the Cereal pieces.  Let cool for a few minutes.

Meanwhile Butter a 9x13 dish, don't be shy you don't want the cereal goodness to stick to the dish.

Add the Chocolate chips to the Cereal/ marshmallow mixture and gently stir them around.  Add the mixture to the Buttered dish and press down lightly.  You can eat them like this..or to take it to the next level you can melt a little more Chocolate and drizzle it over the top.

Cut into squares and Enjoy!

Peanut Butter & White Chocolate Rice Krispies Treat Recipe

Have I got a yummy treat for you today.  I saw this little gem and just had to give it a try. Luckily for me my neighbor had just come home with her adorable new born baby and was in need of a tasty supper.  I whipped up a some delicious Chili Lime Enchiladas and a batch of these White Chocolate & Peanut Butter krispies for dessert.  Boy was I glad I tried these because they were amazing.  They came together quickly and easily and I only had to use my microwave to melt the chocolate.  Whip these up right away because you are going to love them.

You will need Mini Marshmallows, Mini Chocolate Chips, White Chocolate Chips, Peanut Butter, and Rice Krispies.

Slowly melt the chocolate in a microwave safe dish.  I started by lowering the power to 50% and went for 1 minute, stirred, and then nuked in 30 second increments.  Make sure to stir between each nuking. 

Add the Peanut Butter into the melted White Chocolate

and mix it all together well.  At this point you should probably enjoy a little taste..just to make sure it is as good as you imagine it is.

Add the Rice Krispies in with the White Chocolate/PB mixture.  This dish was too small so I actually moved it to a bigger dish when I realized that mixing without spilling was impossible.

Add in the Mini Mallows and the Mini Chocolate Chips and mix together well but gently.

Spray a 9x9 dish with non-stick spray.

Then add the mixture and gently press down.  No need to crush it..just press a bit.

Top with a few extra Mini Chocolate Chips and let it set up for an hour or two.  When the chocolate has hardened cut them up.

Make sure to take some to your neighbor who is in desperate need of a meal. 

Then you can enjoy one for yourself.

Peanut Butter & White Chocolate Rice Krsipies Treat Recipe
Source:  Cookies and Cups

12 oz Bag White Chocolate Chips
1/2 C Creamy Peanut Butter
3 C Rice Krispies Cereal
1 1/2 C Mini Marshmallows
1/4 C Mini Chocolate Chips plus a bit extra for Garnish

Lightly spray a 9x9 dish with non-stick cooking spray.

Using a microwave safe bowl melt the White Chocolate Chips in the microwave.  Set the power to 50% and start by setting the time to 1 minute.  Stir the Chocolate and stick back in continuing to use 50% power in 30 second increments until the Chocolate is fully melted.  Be careful to stir well between each use of the microwave.  You don't want to over melt the Chocolate or it will turn out hard and weird.

Once the Chips are fully melted add in the Peanut Butter and mix together really well.  In a large bowl add the Rice Krispies, Mini Chocolate Chips, and Mini Marshmallows.  If the Chocolate mix is really warm you may want to wait a few before you add in the highly meltables but I just threw them right in.  Mix everything together gently but thoroughly.

Transfer the Krsipies mixture to the dish and press it down gently.  No need to press too hard and crush everything together.  Sprinkle a TBSP or two of the Mini Chocolate Chips on top pressing them down a bit to make them look very pretty.  Allow them to cool for an hour or two. 

Cut into treats and Enjoy.