Quick and Easy Halloween Treats

   Halloween is probably the best day of the year.  Dressing up is a life long hobby that I have been practicing for 20+ years.  And I am getting pretty damn good at it, if I do say so myself.  The last few years have held some amazingly epic Halloween parties.  This is the first year we are truly attempting Halloween-themed food.  We have the themed drinks down, but the food has proved difficult in themeing for adults.  Of course, what adult doesn't like some kiddie type food every now and then?  These are two of the menu items for our party this year.  One is more "adult" in flavor and one is a childhood favorite (with a little bit of an adult twist.)

Roasted Red Pepper Cheese Eyeballs
12 oz softened cream cheese
1 C grated white cheddar
1 C grated parmesan (at least 1/2 C needs to be the in-a-can kind)
1 tsp garlic powder
1 roasted red pepper, very thinly sliced and patted dry
1 C crushed walnuts
large black olives, thinly sliced into circles
capers

   Thoroughly mix cheeses and garlic.  Fold in the roasted red pepper strips.  (You can buy these jarred in the grocery store.  Check near the olives.  Capers will be in the same section.)
   On a piece of plastic wrap.  Drop half the mixture down the center.  Roll up with plastic wrap and form into a log about 1-1 1/2 in. in diameter.  Put in freezer for 5 minutes.  Do this to the other half too.
   Spread half the walnuts on a clean piece of plastic wrap.  Unwrap cheese log.  Roll in walnuts.  Rewrap and store in refrigerator.  This can be done up to 3 days in advance.
   Before serving, pop logs in freezer for 10 min.  Use a very sharp knife to cut slices.  Top with one slice of olive and place a caper in the center for a loose interpretation of an eyeball.
   Serve with crackers or toast.
   (For smaller gatherings, cut recipe in half.)

 

No-Bake Cookie Spiders
2 C sugar
1 stick butter
1/2 C milk
4 Tbsp dark cocoa powder
1 Tbsp instant espresso
1 C peanut butter
1 Tbsp vanilla
3 C oats
thin stick pretzels
white chocolate chips

   In a large pot, melt butter.  Add sugar, milk, cocoa, and espresso.  Bring to a boil.  Boil for 1 min.  Remove from heat.  Stir in peanut butter and vanilla.  When peanut butter is melted, fold in oats.
   Drop onto wax paper, about 1 Tbsp sized.  Stick pretzels in the sides of dollops for legs and put on two white chocolate chips for eyes.  (This needs to be done very quickly because the batter sets up fast!  This is easiest if you have at least one extra pair of hands in the kitchen.)  Snap pretzels in half for shorter legs.
   Makes about 3 dozen.