3 Easy Recipes to Whip Up To Share With Friends on Halloween

Florida Milk

Before you send your kids off to load up on candy this Halloween, it’s a good idea to fill them up on something nutritious. But, Halloween dinner doesn’t have to be complicated or time consuming. My goal every Halloween — whether we’re staying home or joining friends for a Halloween party — is to create a festive main dish I know my kids will eat without any fuss to line their bellies before the sugar hits. Protein is a must though because it helps slow down digestion of carbohydrates, which can minimize the spikes in blood sugar that often lead to cranky kiddos (and grown ups!). But, that protein doesn’t necessarily have to come from meat.

Instead, you can lean into dairy-based protein sources with some of our favorite kid-friendly recipes. Plus, dairy also adds an often much-needed dose of calcium and Vitamin D. You can also serve these super easy and adorably festive dishes up alongside your favorite frozen nugget for an even more well-balanced Halloween dinner or pre-trick-or-treating snack.

Jack o’ Lantern Mac ‘n’ Cheese

Sometimes, it’s not just about what you’re serving, but also about the presentation, especially on Halloween. Carve out some fun this Halloween with this Jack o’ Lantern Mac ‘n’ Cheese. You can try this recipe for one-pot macaroni and cheese or of course, use your own favorite.

Ingredients:

1 pound uncooked pasta (I used elbows)

3 cups water

2 cups whole milk

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

3 cups your favorite cheeses – I used one cup of each: gouda, pepper jack, and cheddar

salt and black pepper, to taste

6-8 orange bell peppers

Preparation:

Combine the pasta, water, milk, mustard, and seasonings in a large stockpot.

Heat over medium-high heat, stirring the pasta once every few minutes, until it reaches a boil.

Continue cooking the pasta, stirring once or twice per minute, until the pasta is al dente. (Cooking time will depend on the shape of pasta that you use, so please keep a close eye on it.)

Remove pot from heat.

Remove excess water (if needed). I did not have excess, depending on the type of pasta you used, you may. You do want some left in the pot.

Add the cheese to the pasta and gently stir until completely melted. If the pasta seems too dry, stir some of the reserved liquid back in as needed.

Taste and season with salt and pepper if desired.

Cut the tops off the peppers and reserve. Remove the seeds and membranes. Use a sharp knife to carve a jack o’ lantern face into one side of each pepper.

Fill each pepper with mac ‘n’ cheese and enjoy!

Halloween Popsicles

Chocolate milk is the official drink of Halloween, so these chocolate milk Halloween Popsicles are the perfect tasty treat, especially if it’s warm where you are this Halloween. This literally couldn’t be easier, and it also makes for a fun activity with the kids the night before Halloween.

Ingredients:

½ gallon chocolate milk (Your favorite brand is fine. You could even choose a high-protein brand for more nutritional punch.)

1 cup chocolate chips

Halloween sprinkles

1/2 tbsp vegetable or canola oil

Preparation:

Pour chocolate milk into popsicle molds. Freeze for at least 2 hours or until popsicles are fully frozen.

Melt chocolate using the double boiler method. Use a small pot to boil 1-2 inches or water. Once boiling, lower temperature to medium low and place a glass bowl on top of the pot. Add chocolate chips and oil to boil. Use spatula to mix.

Remove popsicle mold from the freezer and run under warm water for 1 minute to slightly loosen the popsicles making them easier to remove from the molds. Place popsicles on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Use a spatula to drizzle chocolate on the top of the popsicles. Immediately top with sprinkles allowing them to adhere to the chocolate before it hardens.

Store the popsicles in the freezer until ready to serve.