Howl-O-Ween: Treats and Tricks

Here are some pictures of the dogs from previous Halloweens:








 Of course the best part of Halloween is the treats.   I first tasted Popcorn balls a year ago and I loved them.  They are definitely a once a year treat, you can almost feel your teeth rotting as you eat them.  

Halloween Popcorn Balls

 
1 cup plain unpopped popcorn to be made in a stove top popcorn maker like the Whirley Pop

1 stick of butter

2 1/2 cups Dark Brown Sugar

1 cup light Corn Syrup

1 can sweetened condensed milk

Pop the popcorn in the popper and place in a very large bowl.   You need to make totally plain popcorn for this recipe so dont add anything and don't use microwave popcorn.

Melt the butter in a sauce pan over medium high heat with the sugar, corn syrup, and condensed milk.  Bring to a boil and boil for 5 and a half minutes stirring almost constantly with a silicone spatula (make sure to scrape the bottom and the sides).  

Pour the caramel over the popcorn and stir.   When it is cool roll the popcorn into balls and wrap in treat bags.

Another great treat is candy bark from Bon Appetit.  Usually chocolate bark involves nuts and dried fruit, but this version uses halloween candies, making a treat that is much tastier then the candy on its own.

Halloween Candy Bark (you can make this treat a week ahead and bring it to any parties you might be attending).

2 12 ounce bags of bittersweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup each of chopped Butterfinger  candies, Peanut Butter cups, Reeses Pieces, Heath Bars, and honey roasted peanuts.
4 oz melted white chocolate.


Line a jelly roll pan (a baking sheet with sides) with aluminum foil.   Melt the chocolate chips in a sauce pan over low heat stirring constantly with a heat proof spatula.  As soon as they are completely melted pour on to the foil and spread out evenly.  Scatter over the candies and nuts, pressing slightly so the candies and nuts adhere to the chocolate.  Melt the white chocolate and drizzle over.  Allow to harden and then break into chunks with a knife.  Store in the Fridge.