Happy Halloween!  Here are a couple quick-to-whip-up recipes for your Halloween celebration!

Witches Brew

2 cups pineapple juice
2 cups orange sherbet
1 liter bottle ginger ale
Combine pineapple juice and sherbet in a large punch bowl. Gather the guests to watch the eerie mixture bubble and boil when you pour in the ginger ale. Serves about 15.

Bloody Popcorn

Ingredients:
Popcorn
Butter
Red food color

Pop the popcorn however you usually make it. Melt the butter and add some red food color to turn it to “blood”. Add the bloodied butter to the popcorn and toss to coat.

Find more in our Holiday Recipes Section!

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Low-Fat Chocolate Milk Ice Cubes
Three simple ways to create an array of outstanding treats begin with you ice tray.

Pour low-fat chocolate milk into ice cube trays and freeze.

From there you can grind them into a Great Granita or simply place popsicle sticks into trays before freezing to create a cool and convenient chocolate ice pop.

Or, cool down coffee into an Iced Chocolate Cafe:

Iced Chocolate Cafe
Ingredients:
4 low-fat chocolate milk ice cubes
1/2 cup cooled brewed coffee
1/2 cup low fat chocolate milk

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Family-Friendly Whole Grain Ideas for Every Meal!

Breakfast:  Whole grain bagel, whole grain raisin toast, whole grain ready-to-eat cereal, oatmeal, whole grain English muffin, whole grain waffles, whole grain pancakes

Lunch:  Stuffed whole grain pita, sandwich on rye bread, whole grain wrap, sub sandwich on whole grain roll, whole grain vegetable burger, hamburger on whole grain bun, barley mushroom soup

Snack:  Popcorn, whole grain crackers, oatmeal cookie, whole grain chips, whole grain granola bar, whole grain graham crackers, whole grain pretzels

Dinner:  Brown rice with a stir fry, whole grain pasta with your favorite sauce, tacos in corn tortillas, wild rice, bulgur pilaf, home made pizza on whole grain pita crust, whole grain cornbread

Read entire article: Whole Grains Made Easy

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Tea Party Popcorn

A whole-grain snack for Tea lovers and TEA Party goers alike!

Ingredients:
2-1/2 quarts popped popcorn*
1/4 cup melted butter
2 tablespoons instant lemon-flavored iced tea mix
1 tablespoon sugar

Directions:

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It’s easy to make your own gourmet chocolate peanut butter at home. Put it in a fancy jar, and it’s great for gifts, bake sales, or fund-raisers.

Ingredients:
•1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
•1-1/2 cups smooth peanut butter
•1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
•1/4 cup confectioners sugar
•1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•1 teaspoon instant coffee granules
•1 teaspoon hot water

Directions:

Melt chocolate chips in a double-boiler or in the microwave until smooth. Take care not to scorch the chocolate. Let cool until barely warm, but still liquid.

Scrape melted chocolate into a large bowl. Add peanut butter, butter, sugar, and vanilla extract. Stir until thoroughly combined.

Mix instant coffee with hot water until completely dissolved. Add coffee to the chocolate peanut butter mixture until combined.

Scrape into glass jars with tight seals. Serve as a spread with cookies, crackers, or toast or use as a filling for cakes.

Pretty jars of chocolate peanut butter make great gifts for any occasion and also work well for bake sales and other fund-raisers.

Yield:  About 2 cups peanut butter

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Acai Berry is an extremely nutritious fruit that is being seen more and more in both juice and pill form. However, the most benefits come from the berry itself.

Because of this, there are some great recipes using Acai that you can use so that you get the most out of the Acai Berry and enjoy some great flavor in the process.

Read the latest article on our sister site for the recipes:  Acai Berry Concoctions.

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Double Chocolate Muffins

Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1-1/3 cups mashed ripe bananas
1/3 cup olive oil
2 egg whites or egg substitute equivalent to 1 egg
1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. In a small bowl, combine bananas, oil and egg whites or substitute and gently stir into the dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in chocolate chips gently. Fill greased or paper lined baking cups 3/4th’s full. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until muffins test done.

Recipe makes one dozen muffins.

Printable page.

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Here’s a few quick, easy, cool and creamy, beat-the-heat summer time treats you can whip up in a snap – and they’re all low in fat and calories!

Fudgsicle Mousse
Take a no sugar added fudgsicle and scrape it off the stick (microwaving it for about 15 seconds helps). Then add 1-2 tablespoons of peanut butter and 1-2 tablespoons of light frozen whipped topping or whipping cream. Mix together and enjoy.

Faux Ice Cream Sandwich
Spread 2 tablespoons whipped topping on each of 12 graham squares.  Top with remaining graham squares.  Place in a single layer on cookie sheet.  Freeze three hours or until firm.  Individually wrap; store in freezer for up to one week.  Makes 12.

Frosty Freeze Pie (Low Calorie Recipe)

Crust:
2 cups low-fat graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup fat-free Promise Ultra margarine, melted
3 tablespoons granulated sugar

Filling:
8 ounces fat-free cream cheese, softened
7 ounces marshmallow cream
2 cups orange sherbet, slightly softened
3 cups Cool Whip Free, thawed

Directions:
To prepare crust, combine crumbs, margarine, and sugar in a mixing bowl. Press mixture firmly in a 9-inch pie pan. Chill one hour, or until firm. To prepare filling, combine cream cheese, marshmallow cream, sherbet, and whipped topping in a mixing bowl. Mix until smooth. Pour into crust. Freeze until firm. Remove from freezer ten minutes before serving. This pie may be frozen for up to three months. Makes 8 servings Frosty Freeze Pie.

Nutritional information per serving:
Calories: 234
Fat: 2g
Calories from fat: 8 percent
Protein: 4g
Carbohydrate: 51g
Cholesterol: 7mg
Sodium: 286mg

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M&M’s Gorp: Healthy Recipe

Yes, you can even make M&Ms healthy! First, chocolate does have vital nutrients. Peanuts contain healthful plant protein (see Peanut Power) and raisins are low in fat and sodium and pack a nice energy punch!

Ingredients:
1 part M & M’s
1 part raw peanuts or assorted nuts
1 part Sunkist raisins

Directions:
Mix ingredients well in a zipper-lock bag.

Note: If you keep this sealed in a zipper-lock bag, it lasts a year or more.

This health recipe makes 2 pints of M&Ms Gorp.

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Chocolate Layer Bars

No one will know  these delicious chocolate layer bars are reduced in fat and calories!

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup buttermilk

CREAMY LAYER INGREDIENTS:
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup reduced-fat butter, softened
2 cups confectioners’ sugar
3 tablespoons fat free milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

FROSTING INGREDIENTS:
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter, cubed
1/3 cup fat free milk
1/4 cup baking cocoa
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in the eggs, applesauce and vanilla until well blended.  Combine the flour, cocoa and baking soda; add to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition.

Pour into a 15 x 10 x 1-inch baking pan coated with cooking spray.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.  Cool completely on a wire rack.

For creamy layer, in a small mixinb bowl, beat the butters, confectioners’ sugar, milk and vanilla until fluffy, about 4 minutes.  Spread over top of cake.

For frosting, in a small heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, butter, milk, and cocoa.  Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently; cook and stir 2 minutes longer.  Remove from the heat; stir in chocolate chips until melted.

With a hand mixer, beat frosting for 2 – 4 minutes or until thickened. Gently spread over the top. Store cake in refrigerator.

Recipe makes 40 layer bars.

Nutrition Facts per bar:
175 calories, 8g fat (5g saturated), 27mg cholesterol, 94mg sodium, 27g carbohydrate, 1g fiber, 2g protein.
Diabetic exchanges: 1-1/2 starch, 1-1/2 fat.

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