So let’s forget about the tricks and celebrate the treats.

Sunday, Kaij & Kelton came over for our anual pumpkin party. We had Southwestern Chicken Pot Pies and the kids cut the top crusts into jack-o-lantern faces. A little extra food coloring added authenticity. While we were waiting for the pot pies to bake the kids carved real pumpkins. In keeping with the pumpkin theme we had Sweet Potato Oven Fries that were cut with a cookie cutter. Zesty Oven Roasted Potatoes offered a savory alternative, as well.

What’s a party without sweets? I filled a recycled pumpkin shaped plastic container with Caramel Corn with Peanuts and we really enjoyed a Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake. The cheesecake recipe isn’t mine. You can find it at http://www.SouthernLiving.com

Another successful recipe that isn’t mine came from Dreamfields Pasta. I really like their products because the are low-carb and low-glycemic. The recipe I tried was Dreamfields Asian Pork and Pasta.

After that healthy stir fry we had to be a little naughty, so Chicken Fingers with Buttermilk Gravy found their way to the dinner table. Decadence is so much fun!
Our next meatless meal was one of the best I’ve come up with in quite some time! (pardon the bragging, please) I had planned to make Eggplant Parmesan, but when I got started the eggplant was no good. OK, punt! I already had the ricotta, etc., and the marinara was thawed, so I pulled out frozen spinach and started playing. Super Spinach Lasagna was our newest meatless entree and the leftovers were just as good as the first serving.

Ever since our children were little, our traditional Halloween supper has been chili. It’s easy and deceptively filling. I always told them that they couldn’t go out trick-or-treating until they ate. Little did they know I had an ulterior motive; if they were full to start with they wouldn’t have candy for dinner. It worked every time.
Gosh, it’s goten hard to catch up this last two weeks, so I’ll publish now and add on soon. Friday night’s Po’Boys were really good.
Be thankful for what life gives you.