Ghoulish Dairy Delights
Guest blogger Jenny Flake recommends some surprisingly nutritious Halloween treats
Halloween is the one time of year when scary things are welcome in our homes and at our tables. With the holiday creeping up on us, my family and I decided to put 3-A-Day of Dairy’s spookiest recipes to the test. Join us as we gear-up for October’s biggest event with some surprisingly nutritious Halloween treats.
Invasion of the Pumpkin Pancakes
Nothing fills the house with the aroma of Halloween like cinnamon, spices and pumpkin —a delicious way to wake the kids on Saturday morning. When I surprised my boys with a piping hot plate of Pumpkin Pancakes smothered in low-fat yogurt and raisins, I was anxious to see how my little goblins would react. “Wow Mom, what kind of pancakes are these?!” “Mmm…pumpkin, is it almost time for Halloween?” Needless to say, the pancakes were a hit! Not only was it a refreshing change from the usual pancakes with syrup —the boys also enjoyed pretending the raisins were little bugs!
The Creepy Black Forest Has Eyes
Next on our Halloween journey: Creepy Black Forest Haunted Smoothies. Perfect for the day my kids had their friends come over to play. As this bunch of boys ran wild around my house, I knew this treat would be an instant favorite. Their looks of fright at the maraschino cherry eyeballs (an absolute must!) were priceless. The delicious combination of low-fat vanilla yogurt and low-fat chocolate milk is pure genius. Can you think of a tastier way to trick your little ones into getting their calcium?
Attack of the Miniature Muenster Kabobs
Sometimes my kids can be finicky about cheeses. Muenster Monster Kabobs are enticing, Halloween creepy and delicious—the perfect way to introduce my boys to something new. Plus, these festive centerpieces are sure to be the hit of any party. Talk about a bonus—they’re both edible and adorable! The irresistible little Muenster cheese ghosts with peppercorn eyes will tempt your pickiest guests to indulge—if they dare. Balls of cantaloupe skewered with a few parsley leaves to mimic little pumpkins are a wholesome, sweet treat that compliments the cheese and makes for a dramatic conversation piece.
After creating all the spooky, tasty treats, my boys just can’t stop making nutritious Halloween recipes. Everything edible is transformed into some ghoulish delight. Cheesy Chicken Crunchers are now Creepy Crawler Chicken Bugs, thanks to a bowl full of pretzel sticks and some black olives for eyes. With the help of a little green food coloring, Cheddar Fondue has become Bubbling Witches Brew. And Pomegranate Smoothies are now Frosted Goblin’s Blood—good heavens, I’ve created a monster!
Jenny Flake’s love of all things culinary started in 2001 when she and her husband moved into their first home. Having a brand new kitchen and only knowing how to cook grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup inspired her to learn everything she could about cooking. After watching daily cooking shows and reading countless cookbooks, she found her real passion in creating and writing her own recipes. In 2004 she entered her first cooking competition and still enjoys trying her luck in all kinds of cook-offs. Check out Jenny’s brilliant creations on her Picky Palate blog, Well Fed Network’s Kid’s Cuisine and her 3-A-Day of Dairy Meal Plan on BlogHer.