Gross Grub: Shield Family Halloween Dinner Favorites

By: Jodie Shield, RD

One way to make sure your kids eat more than just candy this year is to serve them a supper they will never forget.  Here are a few of my family’s favorite recipes for Halloween cuisine – they’re healthy and taste way better than they look!  What are some of your favorite Halloween recipes? If you dare to share!

Menu

Beverage: Slimy Swig

Salad: Brain Surgery Salad

Entrée: Spaghetti and Eyeballs

Slimy Swig

Makes 1 serving

Ingredients:

4 ounces apple juice

8 red-hot candies

3 ounces diet ginger ale

Directions:

Pour the apple juice into a 10 oz glass.  Add the red-hot candies, and let sit for about five minutes.  Stir the juice mixture to mix up the partially dissolved candy.  Pour in the ginger ale, mix gently, and serve immediately and watch it sizzle and vaporize before your eyes.

Brain Surgery Salad

Makes 8 servings

Ingredients:

1 large package lime gelatin

1 16-ounce can fruit cocktail, in natural juice

2 surgical rubber gloves

Directions:

Prepare the gelatin according to package directions.  Transfer to a dome-shaped mold.  Drain the fruit cocktail, and add it to the gelatin when it’s half set.  When the gelatin is firm, remove it from the mold, and place it on a serving platter.  Drape a surgical glove on each side.

Spaghetti and Eyeballs

Makes 8 servings

Ingredients:

2 pounds ground turkey

1 ½ cups seasoned bread crumbs

2 tablespoons ketchup

4 egg whites

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 7-ounce jar pimiento-stuffed olives

1 26-ounce jar prepared pasta sauce

1 pound whole wheat spaghetti

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350?F.  Mix the turkey, bread crumbs, ketchup, egg whites, and oregano together in a large bowl.  Form about 30 small meatballs from the mixture.  To make the “eyeballs,” press an olive into each meatball, pimiento side out.  Place the meatballs in a dish, cover with the sauce, and bake for 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti in boiling water.  Drain and rinse the spaghetti, and put it on a platter or in a large serving blow.  Pour the meatballs over the spaghetti, and spoon the pasta sauce around them.