All Hallows Eve

Halloween Mummy Brats

The perfect fun festive early evening meal for your trick or treaters on  All Hallows Eve. The recipe idea comes from BHG.
Use one package of refrigerated bread sticks and stretch each dough strip to 12 inches and wrap around a jumbo frank or polish sausage. Use capers or olives for eyes. Bake at 375 degrees or until browned about 15 minutes.
Optional idea: Brush dough with melted butter and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
Serve with mustard and ketchup.

For the big kids try Roasted Butternut Squash Medley. 

This is a sweet mixture of comforting healthy foods. It's a savory and slightly sweet side-dish easy enough for a weeknight meal, but fancy enough to accompany a special dinner.
Butternut squash is naturally sweet, so when roasted becomes slightly caramelized. To compliment this sweetness add a honey crisp apple, savory bacon, onions and pecans to add a nutty crunch. Glazing this medley with a bit of apple cider and brown sugar brings out the flavors and roasting with a bit of seasoning brings all the ingredients together. A yummy dish.  Recipe serves 4.

Cooking Tip: Larger grocery stores this time of the year have precut butternut squash cubes. Use as a time saver. 

Recipe adapted from delightfullymade.com 
Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 - 2 lb (1 medium squash) peeled and cubed into small pieces
• 2 medium Honey Crisp apples, peeled and chopped
• 1 cup red onion, cut into small chunks
• 1/2 c. pecans, roughly chopped
• 1/3 c. apple cider (or apple juice)
• 2 TB. brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp. each salt and pepper
• 1 tsp. dried parsley flakes
• Sprinkle of Saigon cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. chili powder
• 2 TB. fresh, chopped parsley 
• 4 slices, thick-cut bacon, cut into thirds

Directions: 

• Preheat oven to 425 and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone pad. 
• In a large bowl, add the cubed squash, apple chunks, onions and pecans. Toss together. In a small bowl or measuring cup, stir together the apple cider and brown sugar until the sugar dissolves. Pour over the squash mixture and stir to coat.
• Pour the squash mixture on to the prepared baking sheet and evenly disperse. Season with the salt, pepper,chili powder and parsley flakes. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the squash is fork-tender.
• While squash is roasting fry bacon crispy, crumble and set aside on a paper towel.  
• Remove squash mixture from oven, stir in bacon bits. Top with the chopped parsley if desired and serve right away.

 I'm ready for the trick or treaters. How about you? 

P.S. I thought this link to a USA article was interesting as they give the best town in each state for trick-or-treat. Maybe there still is time to reach that town.
 https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/10/30/best-town-trick-or-treat-every-state/812493001/