(Family Features) Scaring up a good time this Halloween starts with spooky costumes, ghoulish decor and treats you can share with your favorite ghosts and goblins. For an extra haunting twist, skip the store-bought candies and break out your cauldron for tempting homemade sweets.

You can celebrate the seed-to-snack simplicity of one of fall’s favorite snacks – popcorn – with crunchy desserts that pair perfectly with your favorite spooky traditions. Popcorn’s smell, taste and versatility help it enhance Halloween as a budget-friendly solution for ghostly gatherings.

Embrace the taste of autumn – pumpkin spice – with a snack that allows you to indulge throughout the season. These White Chocolate and Pumpkin Pie Spice Popcorn Bites offer warm flavor without the scare. Simply pour melted pumpkin pie spice-seasoned chocolate over popped popcorn, toss with toffee bits and sea salt then break into bite-sized chunks for a seasonal sweet that’s perfect for celebrating National Popcorn Poppin’ Month.

Visit Popcorn.org to find more Halloween-inspired snacks.

Go for a Ghoulish Snack Bar

Encourage a little devious creativity this Halloween with a popcorn bar (char-boo-terie board) that features everyone’s favorites. Start with enough freshly popped popcorn to feed all your little zombies and vampires then add seasonal favorites like candy corn, chocolate candies, individually wrapped treats, dried fruit, nuts and beyond.

To pop popcorn on a stovetop, cover the bottom of a 3- to 4-quart pan with a thin layer of vegetable oil (don’t use butter, it will burn). Place 3 kernels of popcorn in the pan, cover with a loose lid that allows steam to escape and heat. When the kernels pop, pour in enough popcorn to cover the bottom of the pan, one kernel deep, then cover the pan and shake to evenly spread the oil. When the popping begins to slow to a few seconds apart, remove the pan from the stovetop. The heated oil will still pop the remaining kernels.

White Chocolate and Pumpkin Pie Spice Popcorn Bites

Servings: 12

• 12 cups unsalted, unbuttered popped popcorn
• 3 cups chopped white chocolate or white chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon light olive oil
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 cup toffee bits
• 1 teaspoon flaked sea salt, crushed

1. Line large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper. Place popcorn in large mixing bowl.
2. In microwave-safe bowl, combine white chocolate, olive oil and pumpkin pie spice; microwave on medium 2-3 minutes, or until melted and smooth, stirring after each minute.
3. Pour melted white chocolate mixture over popcorn; add toffee bits and toss to combine. Transfer to prepared baking sheet, spreading to edges of pan; sprinkle sea salt over top.
4. Let cool; refrigerate 1-2 hours, or until set. Break into chunks for serving.

Tip: Homemade pumpkin pie spice can be made by combining 3 parts ground cinnamon with 1 part ground nutmeg, 1 part allspice and 1 part ginger.

SOURCE:
Popcorn Board

At our core, we at STM Daily News, strive to keep you informed and inspired with the freshest content on all things food and beverage. From mouthwatering recipes to intriguing articles, we’re here to satisfy your appetite for culinary knowledge.

Visit our Food & Drink section to get the latest on Foodie News and recipes, offering a delightful blend of culinary inspiration and gastronomic trends to elevate your dining experience.

https://stmdailynews.com/category/food-and-beverage

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(Family Features) For a frighteningly fun time in the kitchen this Halloween, gather your family around the cauldron to create a sweet, spooky dessert. Tricks and treats may provide thrills, but a homemade concoction can be the star of your hauntingly happy evening.

This Ghostly Graveyard Cake takes imagination and creativity from everyone with tombstones, skulls and spooky icing daring all to try a bite. With looks this chilling, it’s a perfect treat to enjoy while watching everyone’s favorite scary movie.

Find more deliciously devious desserts at Culinary.net.

Ghostly Graveyard Cake

• 1          box chocolate cake mix
• 10        chocolate creme cookies
• 1          cup black melting chips
• 1          cup red melting chips
• 1          cup heavy whipping cream
• 3          cans buttercream icing
• 1          purple food coloring
• 1          black food coloring
• skull sprinkles
• tombstones and bones candies

1. Prepare cake mix according to package instructions in three 6-inch baking pans. Once baked, allow to completely cool outside of pans.
   
    
2. In zip-top bag, using rolling pin, crush chocolate creme cookies; set aside.
   
   
3. In separate small bowls, add black melting chips and red melting chips.
4. In microwave, heat heavy whipping cream 1 1/2 minutes. Pour half the mixture into one bowl of chips and other half into other bowl of chips. Stir until chips are completely melted; set aside.
   
   
5. After cakes cool, on cake board, add small amount of buttercream icing so cake sticks. Using bread knife, level cakes.
6. Place one cake on cake board and add thin layer of icing on top. Place second layer of cake on top and add thin layer of icing on top. Place final layer of cake on top and add thin layer of icing on top. Add thin layer of icing to entire cake. Freeze 15 minutes.
7. In small bowl, mix two parts purple food coloring to one part black food coloring. Ice cake with deep purple icing. Using grooved scraper, scrape along sides of cake. Using angled spatula, smooth top of cake.
   
   
8. Add skull sprinkles around edges of cake. Using piping bag with small opening at tip, drip black drip mixture around top edges of cake. Repeat using red drip mixture.
   
   
   
   
9. Add chocolate creme cookie crumbs to top of cake. Add tombstones and bone sprinkles to top of cake.
   
    
   
    
   SOURCE:
   Culinary.net

https://stmdailynews.com/category/food-and-beverage

(Family Features) With football season in full swing, it’s time to break out game day favorites that get the crowd on their feet. This Bison Barbecue Meatloaf may not be a traditional tailgate item, but it’s a perfect way to bring the family together for weeknight games.

Visit Culinary.net to find more game day dishes.

Bison Barbecue Meatloaf

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Servings: 4-6

• 1 pound ground bison
• 1/3 pound hamburger (optional)
• 2 tablespoons mesquite seasoning or barbecue seasoning
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce

Glaze:

• 1 cup barbecue sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar

1. Heat oven to 350 F.
2. In bowl, mix bison; hamburger, if using; seasoning; egg; and barbecue sauce. Place in loaf pan.
3. To make glaze, mix barbecue sauce and brown sugar. Spread over meatloaf.
4. Bake 45 minutes.

SOURCE:
Culinary.net

At our core, we at STM Daily News, strive to keep you informed and inspired with the freshest content on all things food and beverage. From mouthwatering recipes to intriguing articles, we’re here to satisfy your appetite for culinary knowledge.

Visit our Food & Drink section to get the latest on Foodie News and recipes, offering a delightful blend of culinary inspiration and gastronomic trends to elevate your dining experience.