Halloween Ideas

I'm not a big fan of Halloween. There I've said it. Though I have gone to a few parties in the last several years, it's just not my thing. I hate dressing up and the thought of going house to house begging for candy that will be either be given or thrown away because my children cannot possibly eat it all seems like such a waste to me. Maybe because I'm not big on candy in the first place. But, with Halloween looming around the corner, I thought I'd share some Halloween party food ideas with you.

*Warning: None of these are my own recipes, but rather some fun finds on Pinterest. If you're not on there yet, what are you waiting for? Maybe it's just because I'm an organized freak, but the thought of being able to categorize recipes, things I like, crafty holiday ideas, etc. into their own specific boards where I don't have to print out everything and safe it just appeals to me. When I'm ready for it, I simply log on, go to the virtual folder I created and voila..there it is!

Ok now for some fun Halloween fun! Here are just some of the ideas that caught my eye, but click HERE for a full board of Halloween ideas!

Hungry Couple

Pumpkin Party Martini

Entertainment

Eyeball Jello Shots

The Kitchen Life of a Navy Wife

Pretzel and Mozzarella Cheese Broomsticks

Hungry Happenings

Mushroom Filled Wonton Appetizers

Food Thoughts of a Chef Wannabe

Skull Meat and Cheese Platter

Amee's Savory Dish

Not So Scary Monster Pizza Faces

Just Putzing Around the Kitchen

Orange O'Lanterns

Everyday Moms Meals

Worms in Dirt

Mom Advice

How to Make Chalkboard Pumpkin People

Pizza Bread

Of course, the day of the Superbowl comes and I'm down for the count. I've been fighting Bronchitis and other cold symptoms for weeks now and it comes and goes. So after a 3 hour nap, my hubby and kids wanted some "picky" food to eat while watching the game and asked if we had any pizza rolls that they could just throw in the oven. And of course, we did not. BUT, I had some frozen pizza dough I had taken out to defrost with all intention of making a stuffed bread with so I decided to make my own version of pizza rolls. The best part about this bread was that it took hardly any time to prepare at all and I had all of the ingredients in the house...even better! 

Pizza Bread
1 lb. Pizza Dough
1/2 c. Marinara Sauce (I had some in the freezer but jar sauce would work in a pinch)
3/4 c. Part Skim Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
Dried Oregano
Garlic Powder
Cooking Spray


Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and stretch out the dough to form a rectangle. (You may need to add a drop of olive oil to help stretch it out and not stick to your hands). Spread the sauce over the dough leaving a border, then top with cheese. Sprinkle with oregano and garlic powder then roll the dough towards you forming a log. Pinch the ends to seal in the cheese and place seam side down on the baking sheet. Spray with cooking spray and bake at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes before slicing (a serrated knife works best). Makes 10 slices


Points+=4pts per slice

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Enjoy!


On another note, we have a new addition to our family. Meet Tebow! After having about 4 names since Friday, this is the one our girls finally agreed upon. He is a 3 month old Toy Shih Tzu. Our 9 year old Llaso Apso is SLOWLY getting used to having a brother but I think she's finally starting to come around. :)

Spinach Artichoke French Bread Pizza or Artichoke Spinach Dip

If you're like me, by Friday night I'm usually wiped and don't want to fuss over a big dinner. The girls are usually coming and going (as their social calendar has taken precedence over mine at this point) and hubby is still working late. So I like to make things that are fast, easy and can be reheated quickly. A few years ago I found a recipe in Rachael Ray Magazine for these Spinach Artichoke Pizzas and as I was flipping through my recipe box looking for cookies last week, this one popped out (if you don't remember, my hubby accidentally dropped my recipe box a few months ago and who knows what you'll find in each category now!). I figured I'd give it a try. I didn't follow her recipe exactly but the premise was still there. These were incredible AND I think I found a new way to make Artichoke Spinach Dip too because this way was even better than the way I had made it previously. 

Spinach Artichoke French Bread Pizza
(And Artichoke Spinach Dip!)
Inspired by Rachael Ray
1 Loaf Ciabatta Lunga
1-15oz. Can Artichoke Hearts, chopped
1-10oz. Package Frozen Chopped Spinach, defrosted and drained
2 Cloves Garlic, chopped
2 tbsp. Butter
2 tbsp. Flour
1 1/2 c. 2% Milk
1 c. Shredded Asiago Cheese
1/2 c. Pecorino Romano Cheese, grated
1/2 tsp. Fresh Ground Pepper
8oz. Fresh Mozzarella, 16 thin slices
1-2 tbsp. Fresh Thyme

Cut the bread into four sections, then slice horizontally, creating eight halves. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and add the garlic. Stir until the flavor of the garlic starts to release then add the flour, forming a roux. Reduce heat to low and add in the milk, both cheeses, and the ground pepper. Whisk together until all of the cheese has melted and the sauce becomes thick. Add in the artichokes and spinach and mix until well blended. Portion the sauce on top of each bread half and top with 2 slices of fresh mozzarella and thyme. (You will have some sauce left. Serve it w/ tortilla chips as a snack another time!). Bake at 425 degrees for about 10 minutes, then broil for 2 minutes to get the cheese browned. Serves 8. 

Points+=9pts (Approx. It is 7pts. without the bread)

Enjoy!

Pizza with Spinach Salad in a Vanilla Fig Vinaigrette

Did you ever wander into a store not expecting to buy anything? 

Well last week while I was in Home Goods shopping for some gifts, I came across some specialty vinegars from Wine Country Kitchens. Now, this was probably only my third or fourth time in the store, and I didn't realize they carried these kind of items. I was thinking that I still had some feta cheese left from the other night so I picked up a bottle of the Vanilla Fig Balsamic and thought it would be something new and different to try (and for only $6.99 a bottle it was truly a great find!) The sweetness of the vinegar, cranberries and pecans mixed with the sharp flavor of the feta made this a great salad. 

Spinach Salad with Vanilla Fig Vinaigrette

6oz. Bag of Fresh Spinach; de-stemed and washed

1/4 Cup Chopped Pecans

1/4 Cup Craisins

2 oz. Feta Cheese, crumbled

1/4 Cup Prepared Dressing(see below)

Mix all ingredients together until well incorporated. Serve chilled. 

Dressing (makes 1 cup):

1/4 Cup Vanilla Fig Balsamic Vinegar

3/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 Tbsp. Kosher Salt

1/2 tsp. Crushed Black Pepper

Whisk all ingredients together or store in a sealed, air tight jar and shake. 

After leaving the store and was headed back to my car, I realized I was parked in front of a Pizza place. So I stopped in, purchased a ball of dough (yes, you can do that usually at any pizza place and it was only $3 and change) and thought some pizza and salad would be a nice, quick dinner.  My kids prefer the non-traditional kind of pizza without the sauce whenever we make it at home so we opted for some fresh tomatoes and basil. You can add whatever toppings you'd like and we've even made white pizzas with ricotta cheese. 

Pizza with Beefsteak Tomatoes and Fresh Basil

1 Pizza Dough, room temperature

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Garlic Powder

1 1/2 Beefsteak Tomatoes, sliced 1/4" thick

1/2 Chop Fresh Basil, chopped

2 Cups Part Skim Mozzarella, shredded 

Heat oven to 425°F. Coat a 17x11 (approx. size) cookie sheet with oil and stretch out the dough until it covers the entire bottom of the pan. Sprinkle some garlic powder over the dough. Next, add your sliced tomatoes to the top of the dough, leaving 1/4" border around all four edges. Add the basil on top of the tomatoes and then the cheese. Using a brush, lightly coat the edges with the oil. Bake in the oven for approximately 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbling. Serve hot. 

*Tip: A small, inexpensive brush can be purchased at any local hardware store for under $1 if you don't have an "official" pastry brush and works just as well!

Enjoy!