Ghastly Halloween Punch

Ingredients:

1 Envelope Kool-Aid orange flavored mix - unsweetened

1 Envelope Kool-Aid grape flavored mix - unsweetened

2 cups sugar

3 quarts hot water

1 quart ginger ale, chilled

Gummy Worms for garnish

Instructions:

Several hours before serving, mix together hot water, Kool-Aid envelopes and sugar. Place in refrigerator.

When ready to serve, slowly pour ginger ale into Kool-Aid mixture; add Gummy Worms.

Crock Pot Apple Butter

Apple Butter is so easy to make, why not make up a batch in your crock pot this fall? Store your apple butter in the refrigerator, or freeze in air-tight plastic containers (leave about 1/4 inch of space between apple butter and top of container).

You will need:

3 quarts apples, peeled, cored and sliced thin

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

3 cups of sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

Place your apples in a 5-quart crock pot.

With heat set to high, let apples cook overnight.

The following morning, add sugar, ground cinnamon and ground cloves.

Turn the heat to low setting and allow to cook for 8 to 12 hours.

Ready! Eat!

Crock Pot Chicken and Swiss

My crock pot is one of my best friends. I love that I can throw all my ingredients into it, forget about it, and return home later to the aroma of a delicious dinner waiting for me. And, I've only dirtied ONE dish!

Here's a great comfort food chicken dish -

Ingredients:

3 large chicken breasts

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 cup chicken broth

1 cup swiss cheese, shredded

1 cup baby carrots

salt and pepper to taste

Place chicken breasts in crock pot. In a bowl, mix together remaining ingredients; pour mixture over chicken. Cook on low for 8 hours.

Brownie Stir-Ins

Whether you start out with a brownie mix from the store or using your family's favorite homemade brownie recipe, there are so many options as far as stir-ins go. Instead of chocolate chips or chopped walnuts, try any one of these for a yummy change!

Junior Mints

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, chopped

Craisins

Raisinettes

Miniature marshmallows

Cashews

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

butterscotch chips

sliced bananas

Maraschino cherries

Snickers bar, chopped

chocoate covered peanuts

instant espresso powder, 1 tablespoon

coconut

salted mixed nuts

toasted sunflower seeds

salted pretzel sticks

Fold in any of the above stir-ins as the last step before spreading the brownie batter into the baking dish.

Swiss Cheese Fondue

Impress your guest(s) with a bottle of nice wine, a fondue pot with delicious Swiss cheese fondue, and squares of crusty bread!

Ingredients:

1 medium garlic clove

1 1/2 cups dry white wine

1 pound shredded Swiss cheese

1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce

dash ground nutmeg

crusty bread for dipping

Instructions:

Rub the entire inside of fondue pot with garlic clove - don't miss a spot!

Set pot to low heat and pour in wine.

Let wine warm thoroughly; add shredded Swiss cheese.

Stir constantly until the cheese is melted.

Cook for 2 minutes (continue to stir); then stir in nutmeg and Tabasco sauce.

Serve with crusty bread.

Cinnamon Applesauce

Applesauce from the store is just, well, applesauce from the store. Make it special - make it yourself.

I pulsate my cooked apples in the blender for just a few seconds, as I like it somewhat chunky. If you wish, pulsate until the applesauce is completely smooth. Also, adjust the sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice to your liking.

I prefer Mcintosh apples for applesauce. But Granny Smith is also a good choice.

Ingredients:

3 to 3 1/2 lbs peeled, cored and quartered apples

2 tablespoons lemon juice

3 inches of cinnamon stick

1/4 cup dark brown sugar

1/4 cup white granulated sugar

1/2 cup water

1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Into a large pot, add all ingredients; cover and bring to a boil

Lower heat - simmer for 20 minutes.

Remove applesauce from heat; remove cinnamon stick.

After sauce slightly cools, pour into blender and pulsate a few seconds (longer for really smooth applesauce).

Ready to serve!

Store left-overs in refrigerator or freeze in plastic air-tight containers.

FUN: add green food coloring before freezing and serve during Christmas dinner.

Blueberry Cheddar Crisp

• This Blueberry Cheddar Crisp won't heat up the kitchen - it's baked in the microwave. So, you don't have to wait for cooler weather to enjoy a Crisp.
• Cheddar cheese gives this Crisp that something special.

Ingredients:

• 5 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• FILLING:
• 4 ounces mild cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 
  
• topping:
• 3/4 cup quick-cooking oats
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 5 tablespoons cold butter

Directions:

• 
  
• In a 2-qt. microwave-safe dish, mix together the 1/3 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• Microwave, uncovered, on high for 8 minutes, stirring once half way through.
• In a mixing bowl, using electric mixer, beat shredded cheese, 1/4 cup sugar, egg, 1 tablespoon flour and milk; beat until smooth.
• Spread cheese mixture evenly over blueberry mixture.
• In a bowl, combine together all of the topping ingredients except for butter. Once ingredients are well combined, cut in the butter and work it until crumbly.
• Sprinkle the topping over cheese mixture.
• Microwave, uncovered, on high for 6 minutes.
• Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!