The Tricks and Treats of Halloween

Happy Halloween! This is one of the few holidays I don’t do much for. I live too far in the country now to pass out candy. But that’s not the only reason I’m not a big fan of Halloween.

This holiday used to be all fun and games. Now, people have made it too much and too creepy.  You can’t let your kids go trick or treating anymore. I guess you can go to people you know but that is not much candy.

I remember when our church would host a “fall festival.” It was an alternative to trick or treating.  I loved it. I was in charge of getting the games together, food together and all the help. We had a blast. We would have popcorn, cotton candy, chili dogs and cokes. All for free. Kids just needed to show up and enjoy the fun.  

I loved the fall festival because we got the whole church involved. The young and young at heart would help build the games I would think up. Then, the night of the carnival, they would help man the stations.

The cakewalk was a big hit. All the adults would donate homemade goodies and the kids would walk to the music and then stop. If they were standing on the number they drew they would get a goodie of their choice. It was so much fun. 

We even had a pony ride for one year.

I love doing great fun, non-scary alternatives for kids to enjoy. The world puts it out there but we don’t have to follow in their footsteps and do the scary things. 

There are also a lot of fun costumes you can wear. I loved it when the adults would come dressed to man the stations. Christians still have fun.

As a kid, I do remember when we would get a pillowcase and go with a group of kids all around town. Sometimes the parents would go and sometimes not. When we got home we had a pillowcase full. I mean really full.  

Sadly, you can’t do the same these days.  It is too dangerous. In fact, I would be too scared to eat the candy. We have some scary people out there — those that would potentially do harmful things.  

Halloween reminds me that it is time to get ready for Christmas. After today, it’s like a blink of an eye and Christmas is here. I love to decorate early and enjoy the holidays. It is my favorite time of the year.

Be careful out there and try to find some fall festivals to join. If you do go trick or treating, make sure you kids can see through their costumes and they are wearing light-colored clothes so people can see them. Remember it gets dark fast nowadays.

Crunchy Reese’s Pieces Bars

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup Butter Or Margarine (1/2 Stick)

40marshmallows (10-oz. Pkg) Or 4 cups Miniature Marshmallows

1 cup Reese’s Peanut Butter Chips

6 cups Reese’s Puffs Cereal

3/4 cup Reese’s Creamy Peanut Butter

1 Cup Reese’s Pieces Candy Or Mini Reese’s Pieces Candy

DIRECTIONS

1. Butter 1 (13 x 9×2-inch) pan.

2. Place peanut butter and butter in large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at HIGH (100%) 45 seconds or until butter is melted and mixture is blended and smooth. Add marshmallows; stir to coat with peanut butter mixture. Microwave at HIGH 1 minute; stir. If necessary, microwave at HIGH an additional 15 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating, until marshmallows are melted when stirred. Add peanut butter chips; stir until chips are melted and mixture is blended.

3. Immediately add cereal, stirring until well coated. Press mixture evenly in prepared pan. Sprinkle candies over surface, pressing in firmly. Cool completely. Cut into bars. Makes 24 bars.

Note: Cereal mixture can also be rolled into balls about the size of popcorn balls.


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