Fitness Mastermind, LLC Blog:: Fun & Healthy Recipes: Halloween Style

In the spirit of Halloween & everyone searching for fun, yet health-minded treats we have put together this list of Halloween-spirited recipes to make fun for all!

Apple Bites

These toothsome treats are a fun and healthy break from Halloween sweets.

Ingredients

· Apples

· Slivered almonds

Instructions

1. Just quarter and core an apple

2. Cut a wedge from the skin side of each quarter

3. Press slivered almonds in place for teeth.

Tips: If you're not going to serve them right away, baste the apples with orange juice to keep them from browning.

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Carrot Finger Food

Hungry goblins will love getting their hands on these crunchy carrot snacks.

Ingredients

· vegetable dip

· 4 long carrots

· 1 medium carrot

· softened cream cheese

· sliced-almond

· baby carrots

Instructions

1. To prepare them, just fill a serving bowl with your favorite vegetable dip.

2. Wash and peel 4 long carrots for fingers and 1 medium carrot for a thumb.

3. With a paring knife (a parent's job), cut a flat, shallow notch in the tip of each carrot.

4. Then use a dab of dip or softened cream cheese to glue a sliced-almond fingernail atop each notch.

5. Stick the fingers in the dip, as shown, and serve with plenty of peeled baby carrots for dipping.

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Blue Brain Dessert

Believe it or not, this recipe is categorized as a dessert. We assuming that kids will think this is really cool.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

· 6 oz. pkg. blue gelatin

· 16 oz. container small curd cottage cheese

· 1 cup blueberries

Preparation:

1. Prepare the gelatin according to package directions

2. Chill in a glass bowl until it just begins to set

3. Add the cottage cheese and blueberries; fold in carefully.

4. Cover and chill for at least three more hours before serving.

5. Serves 4-20 kids, depending on their tolerance level.

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Edible Eyeballs

Set out a platter of these creepy peepers, and your Halloween party guests are bound to do a double take.

Ingredients

· Carrots

· Cream cheese

· Pitted black olives

Instructions

1. Simply slice carrots into 1-inch-thick chunks

2. Top each with a blob of cream cheese and one half of a pitted black olive

3. Serve.

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Spiced Pumpkin Cookies

The deep flavors of molasses, pumpkin and spices make these wholesome cookies delicious without the addition of butter--and they lend themselves beautifully to the inclusion of whole-wheat flour.

Serves: 36 cookies

Active Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Ingredients

· 2/3 cup whole-wheat pastry flour

· 2/3 cup all-purpose flour

· 1 teaspoon baking powder

· 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

· 1/2 teaspoon salt

· 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

· 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

· 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

· 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

· 3/4 cup canned plain pumpkin puree, (See Ingredient notes)

· 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar, or 1/3 cup

· 2 large eggs

· 1/4 cup canola oil

· 1/4 cup dark molasses

· 1 cup raisins

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 3 baking sheets with cooking spray.

2. Whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, allspice and nutmeg in a large bowl.

3. Whisk pumpkin, brown sugar (or Splenda), eggs, oil and molasses in a second bowl until well combined. Stir the wet ingredients and raisins into the dry ingredients until no traces of dry ingredients remain. Drop the batter by level tablespoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing the cookies 1 1/2 inches apart.

4. Bake the cookies until firm to the touch and lightly golden on top, 10 to 12 minutes, switching the pans back to front and top to bottom halfway through. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.

Tips & Notes

· Make Ahead Tip: Store in an airtight container, with wax paper between the layers, for up to 2 days or freeze for longer storage.

· Ingredient Notes: As you might suspect from its orange color, pumpkin puree is an excellent source of beta carotene.

· When choosing any low- or no-calorie sweetener, be sure to check the label to make sure it is suitable for your intended use.

Nutrition (Per cookie): 68 calories; 2 g fat ( 0 g sat , 1 g mono ); 12 mg cholesterol; 12 g carbohydrates; 1 g protein; 1 g fiber; 67 mg sodium; 76 mg potassium.

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Chocolate Bark With Pistachios & Dried Cherries

With the news that dark chocolate contains some healthful properties, there is a better excuse than ever to indulge during the holiday season. Specks of green pistachios and red dried cherries in this chocolate confection make for a festive holiday gift.

Serves: About 4 dozen pieces

Active Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 1hour

Ingredients

· 3/4 cup roasted, shelled pistachios, (3 ounces), coarsely chopped

· 3/4 cup dried cherries, or dried cranberries

· 1 teaspoon freshly grated orange zest

· 24 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped, divided

Preparation

1. Line the bottom and sides of a jelly-roll pan or baking sheet with foil. (Take care to avoid wrinkles.) Toss pistachios with cherries (or cranberries) in a medium bowl. Divide the mixture in half; stir orange zest into 1 portion.

2. Melt 18 ounces chocolate in a double boiler over hot water. (Alternatively, microwave on low in 30-second bursts.) Stir often with a rubber spatula so it melts evenly.

3. Remove the top pan and wipe dry (or remove the bowl from the microwave). Stir in the remaining 6 ounces chocolate, in 2 additions, until thoroughly melted and smooth.

4. Add the pistachio mixture containing the orange zest to the chocolate; stir to mix well. Working quickly, scrape the chocolate onto the prepared pan, spreading it to an even 1/4-inch thickness with a rubber spatula. Sprinkle the remaining pistachio mixture on top; gently press it into the chocolate with your fingertips. Refrigerate, uncovered, just until set, about 20 minutes.

5. Invert the pan onto a large cutting board. Remove the pan and peel off the foil. Using the tip of a sharp knife, score the chocolate lengthwise with 6 parallel lines. Break bark along the score lines. Break the strips of bark into 2- to 3-inch chunks.

Tips & Notes

· Make Ahead Tip: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Nutrition (per piece): 79 calories; 5 g fat ( 2 g sat , 0 g mono ); 0 mg cholesterol; 11 g carbohydrates; 1 g protein; 2 g fiber; 0 mg sodium; 26 mg potassium.

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Hope you enjoy these 6 healthy Halloween-spirited treats! Not only are they tasty for the health-minded, but should prove for some family fun in making and displaying them at your family Halloween get together and parties!

Until next time!

Keep it fit,

Fitness Mastermind, LLC