Food and Beverage
Spooky Snacks that Make Halloween Pop
From watching scary movies to dressing up as ghouls and goblins, spooky season means it’s time to pop up your loved ones’ favorite snacks for a ghostly good time.
Last Updated on July 14, 2024 by Daily News Staff
(Family Features) From watching scary movies to dressing up as ghouls and goblins, spooky season means it’s time to pop up your loved ones’ favorite snacks for a ghostly good time. Before heading out to trick-or-treat, gather your minions in the kitchen for some family-friendly fun crafting these haunting yet tasty treats.
Throughout October, you can honor National Popcorn Poppin’ Month with eerie, delicious eats like Spooky Popcorn Spider Web, Green Halloween Zombies, Witchy Popcorn Balls and Popcorn Caramel Apples that add festive fun to the Halloween excitement.
As a perfect ingredient in treats of all types, popcorn is beloved for its seed-to-snack simplicity as a non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free snack that’s naturally low in fat and calories. Add in its irresistible smell, taste and versatility, and it’s easy to see why it pairs so well with spooky celebrations.
Find more Halloween treats at popcorn.org.
Spooky Popcorn Spider Web
Yield: 1 spider web
- 1/4 cup butter
- 8 cups mini marshmallows, divided
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 9 cups popped popcorn, divided
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, divided
- black string licorice
- candy eyes
- Line round pizza pan with parchment paper; set aside. In large saucepan over low heat, melt butter; stir in 5 cups marshmallows, stirring constantly, 3-4 minutes, or until completely melted. Stir in vanilla. Remove from heat. Stir in 8 cups popcorn until coated. Spread onto prepared pizza pan in irregular round shape, about 1-inch thick, to resemble spider web. Refrigerate about 15 minutes, or until firm.
- In microwave, melt remaining marshmallows about 20 seconds, or until melted. Using spatula, string strands of melted marshmallow over popcorn spider web to create cobweb effect.
- In heatproof bowl set over saucepan of hot (not boiling) water, melt 3/4 cup chocolate chips; cool slightly. In large bowl of remaining popcorn, pour chocolate over popcorn, folding gently to coat. Spread mixture on waxed paper-lined baking sheet, separating into eight small clusters. Affix two candy eyes to each popcorn cluster. Refrigerate 10-15 minutes, or until set.
- Melt remaining chocolate chips. Cut licorice into 1-inch lengths. Using small spoon, dab circles of chocolate onto spider web. Affix chocolate-coated popcorn onto chocolate circles. Affix licorice lengths to chocolate popcorn clusters to resemble spider legs.
- Refrigerate 15 minutes, or until set. To serve, cut into smaller pieces.

Witchy Popcorn Balls
Yield: 8 popcorn balls
- 16 chocolate wafer cookies
- nonstick cooking spray
- 3 quarts popped popcorn
- 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter or margarine
- 3 cups miniature marshmallows
- 3 tablespoons (1/2 of 3-ounce box) lime gelatin dessert mix
- green food color (optional)
- 3/4 cup chocolate chips
- licorice strings
- 8 chocolate ice cream cones
- orange sugar sprinkles, placed in small dish
- jelly beans
- candy corns
- Spread sheet of waxed or parchment paper over work surface and place wafer cookies on it.
- Spray large mixing bowl with nonstick cooking spray and place popcorn inside.
- In medium saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Stir in marshmallows and gelatin powder until marshmallows are melted and mixture is smooth. Adjust color with 1-2 drops food color, if desired. Pour mixture over popcorn and mix until coated.
- Spray hands with nonstick cooking spray and press firmly to form into eight balls. Place balls on eight wafer cookies. Press candy decorations into popcorn balls to form “eyes,” “nose” and “mouth.”
- In small, microwave-safe bowl, heat chocolate chips, covered, 10 seconds. Stir to aid melting. Repeat as needed until chocolate is melted and smooth.
- Spoon about 1/2 teaspoon melted chocolate on top of each popcorn ball. Press licorice strings into chocolate to form “hair.”
- Dip cone edges into melted chocolate then orange sugar sprinkles. Place on remaining wafer cookies to form “witches’ hats.” Place hats on popcorn balls. Allow chocolate to set about 45 minutes before serving.
- Serve or seal individually in plastic wrap.

Green Halloween Zombies
Yield: about 7 pieces
- 2 1/2 quarts popped popcorn
- 6 tablespoons butter or margarine
- 3 cups mini marshmallows
- 4 tablespoons lime gelatin powder
- red gum balls
- candy corn
- flat green candy strips or fruit leather
- green sugar sprinkles
- Place popcorn in large bowl; set aside.
- In medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir marshmallows into butter until melted. Stir in gelatin powder until evenly colored.
- Pour melted mixture over popcorn and stir until evenly coated. With buttered hands, shape popcorn into seven ovals.
- Flatten one oval slightly and squeeze one end to form “skull” shape. Place on parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining ovals.
- To decorate: Press two gumballs into each skull to form “eyes.” Press candy corn into skull to form “teeth.” Use scissors to trim candy strips and press into top for “hair.” Sprinkle with sugar sprinkles.
- Allow “zombies” to set about 20 minutes before wrapping individually in plastic wrap or serve immediately.

Popcorn Caramel Apples
Yield: 4 apples
- 1 quart freshly popped popcorn
- 1 package (9 1/2 ounces, 35 total) caramels, unwrapped
- 1/4 cup light cream or half-and-half
- 4 lollipop sticks or wooden candy apple sticks
- 4 apples
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- sugar sprinkles
- decorative ribbon (optional)
- Place popcorn in large bowl; set aside. Place sheet of waxed paper on work surface.
- In small saucepan over medium-low heat, heat caramels and cream. Stir frequently until caramels are melted and cream is blended into caramels.
- Push one stick into apple center and dip into caramel. Spoon caramel over apple to coat. Repeat with remaining apples
- Place caramel-coated apple in bowl of popcorn and press popcorn onto caramel to cover. Place apple on waxed paper to set; repeat with remaining apples.
- In small, resealable plastic bag, microwave chocolate chips 10 seconds and press chips to aid melting. Repeat, heating at 10-second intervals, until chips are completely melted. Cut small corner off bag and squeeze chocolate onto each apple, allowing chocolate to drip down sides. Sprinkle with sugar sprinkles.
- Tie bow to each apple stick, if desired. To serve, cut apples into slices.
SOURCE:
Popcorn Board
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Food
Have a ‘Hoppy’ Easter with a Holiday Ham

(Feature Impact) When your kitchen is full of colorful eggs, candy baskets, tempting sweets and all that comes with Easter, sometimes a holiday classic is just the answer for simplifying the season. Perfect for pairing with deviled eggs, potato salad and a traditional Sunday feast, this Maple-Glazed Easter Ham provides a hands-off approach to the main dish.
With an easily prepared glaze and your oven doing most of the work, you can keep your attention on time spent with loved ones. Visit Culinary.net to find more seasonal favorites, both classic and contemporary.

Maple-Glazed Easter Ham
Recipe adapted from Southern Living
Total time: 3 hours
Servings: 10
- 1 bone-in spiral-cut ham (8-9 pounds)
- 1 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (4 ounces) bourbon
- 1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- orange slices and wedges, for garnish
- fresh rosemary sprigs, for garnish
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Place ham in large roasting pan and fill with 1/2 inch of water. Cover pan with aluminum foil and bake about 2 hours, basting every 30 minutes with juices from pan, until meat registers 120 F at thickest portion.
- In medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stir maple syrup, brown sugar, bourbon, ginger and cinnamon; bring to boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 6-8 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover to keep warm and set aside.
- Remove ham from oven and discard foil. Increase oven temperature to 400 F. Using pastry brush, glaze ham with 1/3 cup maple-bourbon mixture.
- Bake ham about 30 minutes until top is lightly caramelized and meat registers 145 F at thickest portion, brushing with remaining glaze every 10 minutes.
- Remove from oven and transfer ham to serving platter. Let rest 15 minutes and garnish with orange slices, orange wedges and rosemary sprigs.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
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SOURCE:
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/food-and-drink/
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recipes
A Delightful Bite for a Bit O’ Luck
Going green for St. Patrick’s Day can stretch beyond beer, clothes and decor – it can even make its way to the dessert table. With a classic recipe and a dash of green food coloring, these Luck O’ the Irish Cupcakes offer a sweet-tooth-satisfying bite as you gather friends and family for the festivities.
Last Updated on March 15, 2026 by Daily News Staff
A Delightful Bite for a Bit O’ Luck
(Feature Impact) Going green for St. Patrick’s Day can stretch beyond beer, clothes and decor – it can even make its way to the dessert table. With a classic recipe and a dash of green food coloring, these Luck O’ the Irish Cupcakes offer a sweet-tooth-satisfying bite as you gather friends and family for the festivities.
Find more holiday-worthy nibbles and noshes throughout the year at Culinary.net.
Luck O’ the Irish Cupcakes
Recipe adapted from Delish
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour
Yield: 12 cupcakes
Cupcakes:
- 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 3 large egg whites, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup full-fat sour cream, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup whole milk, at room temperature
Frosting:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
- green food coloring
- To make cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350 F and arrange rack in center of oven. Line 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners. In medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- In large bowl, using handheld mixer on medium-high speed, beat granulated sugar and butter until light and fluffy, 3-4 minutes. Add egg whites and vanilla; beat until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add sour cream and beat until combined.
- Add half of dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Beat on low until incorporated. Add milk and beat to combine. Add remaining dry ingredients and beat until combined.
- Add batter to liners until three-quarters full. Bake 19-22 minutes, until slightly golden on top.
- Remove cupcakes from pan and cool completely.
- To make frosting: In large bowl, using handheld mixer on medium-high speed, beat butter until fluffy. Add powdered sugar and beat until combined. Add heavy cream, vanilla and salt; beat until combined. Mix in green food coloring.
- Transfer frosting to piping bag and pipe frosting onto cupcakes.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
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SOURCE:
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/food-and-drink/
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Food and Beverage
A Hearty Stew to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
Last Updated on March 13, 2026 by Daily News Staff
(Feature Impact) Green beer and decor may get all the attention, but for hosts looking to wow their St. Patrick’s Day guests or astound their loved ones, a traditional Irish recipe can become an annual tradition. Celebrate the luck o’ the Irish with this St. Patrick’s Day Stew, a hearty, beefy meal loaded with chuck stew meat, potatoes, carrots, onions and, of course, stout beer.
To find more recipes that put tradition center stage, visit Culinary.net.
St. Patrick’s Day Stew
Recipe adapted from Simply Recipes
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Servings: 6
- 1 1/4 pounds marbled chuck beef stew meat, cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks
- 1 teaspoon salt, plus additional to taste, divided
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 cups beef stock
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup extra stout beer
- 1 cup red wine
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 4 carrots, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 3 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Sprinkle beef chunks with 1 teaspoon salt. In large pot over medium-high heat, heat olive oil.
- Pat beef dry with paper towels and add to pot, working in batches to avoid crowding pot. Cook until browned on one side then flip and brown.
- Add garlic cloves to pot with beef and saute 30 seconds, or until fragrant. Add beef stock, water, beer, wine, tomato paste, sugar, thyme, Worcestershire sauce and bay leaves. Stir.
- Bring mixture to simmer then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
- In separate pot over medium heat, melt butter. Add onions and carrots; saute until golden, about 15 minutes.
- After beef mixture simmers 1 hour, add onions, carrots and potatoes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Simmer uncovered until beef and vegetables are tender, about 40 minutes. Discard bay leaves and spoon excess fat.
- Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
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SOURCE:
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/food-and-drink/
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