Growing up in Australia Halloween wasn't a very popular celebration in my hometown. We didn't celebrate it like they do here in the States. However I have been blessed to live here for many years now, and have two little girls who love everything about the celebration. In fact, this time of year is one of our favorites. It's starting to get a little cool out side, and socks and jumpers are now our best friends at night time. And with Halloween around the corner, we have been talking about costumes and Halloween gifts and ideas to make. So I thought I would share a few of the healthier ideas we will be making this year together. But before we get into some of our ideas, I wanted to share a little history about this ancient celebration.
People celebrate Halloween or Hallowe'en, also known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve in many different ways. But one thing is for sure, everyone who enjoys this costumed and candy inspired celebrate gather every year on October 31st, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day to show off their best Halloween costumes and trick-or-treat around their neighborhoods or local events.
"Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago, mostly in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1.
This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31st, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth." To learn more about this interesting history, you can visit https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween
But today, since I've enjoyed this modern-day celebration of customs and treats - especially now that I have two little girls growing up here in the states, we wanted to inspire you to try some healthier Halloween ideas this All Hallows' Eve.
Homemade cookies are always a treat. My girls love making them!
Cutout cookies are a lot of fun, and making your own frosting is evening better. Forgo buying pre-made mixes and frosting and make them yourself. While it is still sugary and sweet, you are cutting out a lot of unnecessary ingredients that are not healthy for you. So, create your own and have more fun with your little ones making your own.
Halloween Cutout Cookies
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Frosting:
What you will need:
3-3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup shortening
4 to 6 tablespoons water
Yellow, orange, green, and black paste food colorings
Directions:
In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until lightly blended. Beat in egg and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Shape dough into 2 portions. Shape each into a disk; wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm enough to roll.
Preheat oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with floured 2-1/2-in. Halloween-shaped cookie cutters. Place 2 in. apart on un-greased baking sheets. Bake 8-10 minutes or until edges are light brown. Remove from pans to a wire racks to cool.
In a large bowl, beat confectioners’ sugar, shortening, and enough water to reach spreading consistency. Decorate as desired.
Halloween Popcorn Hands Treat Recipe
Ingredients:
Disposable gloves, clear (Food Contact Gloves-Powder-Free, Latex-Free)
Popcorn, air-popped or light-popcorn
Candy corn pieces
Directions:
Drop candy corn in each of the fingers of the gloves.
Fill the glove with popcorn, making sure each finger gets stuffed.
Tie the end of the glove, and there you have it!
Candy Halloween Gloves
For a full fun Halloween sugar look, fill the gloves with some of your kid's favorite candies. This is certainly a treat in our house, and mixed in with some of these healthier options makes a little bit of "real" candy seem special on Halloween. And some ribbon and spider rings for added detail. You can pick all these items up at your local Dollar Tree store, 99 cent store, or Dollar General store. It's simple and fun!
Halloween Fruit Snacks
I came across this great fruit Halloween snack idea by Suburban Simplicity. It's a great idea for kids to play around with their design skills - and not feel the crash of most confectionary candies.
Start by slicing apple pieces into four pieces. Then on the outer side cut out a wedge, which will be the mouth.
Have your kids peel and cut bananas into two pieces, and shape the ends to make it look like a ghost's tale. Also, have them peel the tangerines.
Photo by: Suburban Simplicity
Pumpkin Carving
Once you've picked the perfect pumpkin the first thing to do is wipe it down and think about your design. Once you've got it, cut the top off and remove the pulp ad seeds and set aside.
We love to crave pumpkins and add a candle in on Halloween night. But mostly, the kids love the pumpkin seeds for roasting.
Create your design!
How To Roast Pumpkin Seeds
Once you have removed the pulp from the inside, be sure to set the seeds aside for roasting.
Wash the pulp off the seeds and lightly dry with a kitchen towel.
Place seeds in a cooking tray with olive oil, lightly add some salt, and place in a pre-heated oven (350F) for 5-15 mins... until golden. Then remove and let cool.
Photo Curtesy of: Cooking