3-D Monster Pops

Holy Halloween!  I just got a huge kick of nostalgia, right in the feels this evening!  I was just scrolling through Facebook, minding my own business, when an article posted to Haunter's Hangout caught my eye.  A member of the group shared this post about zombie popsicle molds.  Normally, a zombie popsicle mold wouldn't necessarily catch my attention; while I do love frozen treats, I'm not a huge zombie fan.  But, as soon as my eye skimmed the accompanying photo, it was like a part of me automatically zoomed back to my childhood as I remembered eating monster popsicles.  Looking at the photo, I could literally feel that awesome sensation of my tongue going over all the little nooks and crannies offered by the unique designs, including Dracula, a mummy, Frankenstein's Monster, and possibly a skeleton.

The photo that sparked the memory. Source

Before that moment, I had completely forgotten these popsicles even existed. I hadn't thought about them for years, and now all of a sudden, I'm flooded with memories.  Memories are now a little fuzzy, but I'm pretty sure the only times I actually ate these were at my grandparents' house in Beckley, WV.  I grew up near Charleston, and I don't remember eating them at home, but I'm not sure if that's because we couldn't find them here...or my mom wouldn't buy them for me.

I'm also not 100% sure the time frame that I had these.  I remember eating them at my grandparents' old house, and I'm pretty sure it was before I was 10, so sometime probably between 1985 and 1992. I also don't think these were limited to just Halloween---I'm pretty sure they were available year round.  Anyway, like I'm apt to do, I went to Google to see if I could find anything out about my beloved childhood treat.

The Monster Pops from my childhood. Dracula was my favorite! Source

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find out much, but I was thrilled to find a photo at least proving that I wasn't totally crazy; these things actually existed.  The picture above comes from the Gone But Not Forgotten Groceries Blog, which notes that they don't own the photo and aren't sure who does. The blog and its comments offered some good insight, though.  Turns out these 3-D Monster Pops were manufactured by the Good Humor and came in boxes of 12. When the author of the blog reached out to Good Humor, they couldn't provide any information.  Flavors included grape, orange, and cherry.  Like me, a lot of people commenting on the post remember eating these in the mid to late 1980's, but they could have been around as early as the 1970's and some people reported finding them in their local store as late as the latter half of the 1990's. It also seems like from the comments that these were marketed largely to the southern states; one person was even located in my general area of southern West Virginia.

I'm absolutely craving one of these 3-D Monster Pops now, so maybe I'll have to buy those zombie molds, if anything, in an attempt to recreate that unique sensation of a 3-D popsicle on my tongue. And, obviously, I'd love to know more about these!  If you know anything about these frozen delights, or have any memories of eating them yourself, please let me know in the comments below.

The Best Halloween Ice Cream Cones on the Web

Now THAT is some black ice cream! I love the festive orange cones, the orange Kit-Kats, the Peeps ghosts, and all the other Halloween candy garnishes. I'm not a huge fan of ice cream, but I think I can overlook that fact for the sake of these beauties!

Unfortunately, I couldn't find an original source for this photo, but it was posted on the Facebook page, Everything Halloween. Another fan of that page noted that this ice cream can be made at home by using activated coconut charcoal. Please note, however: If you are on any type of medication, including hormonal birth control, the activated charcoal will absorb it and render it ineffective!  Let me know if you try it, though...but only if its safe for you to do so!

Vintage Devil Chocolate Mold

 While looking for something totally off-topic, I stumbled across these photos, curated from eBay by the Antique Chocolate Mold website. They are from an eBay listing that went up last August featuring what the seller is calling a rare example of a Bermann vintage  Halloween chocolate mold in the shape of a Devil or werewolf.

I'm not seeing werewolf...but these spooky little guys are definitely demonic looking! I would use these for Halloween, of course...but then I would also use them in December and call them little Krampuses! I think they'd easily be able to pass. Hell, I'd use them year round. They're just the right amount of creepy and historically cool. Who wouldn't want to unwrap and eat one of them?

From what I can gather, this vintage chocolate mold sold for around $150, and if its as rare as claimed, that seems like a steal, lol. I couldn't find any additional information on this mold, or even the Bermann Company (spelled the way listed on the actual item). If you know any more about this subject, I would love to hear it! Let me know over at Theresa's Haunted History Facebook page!

Mac-O-Lanterns and Cheese

Since its been so long since the last Foodie Friday, I tried to find something really unique to get things started back up. I think I found what I was looking for...

This visually interesting dish is an orange bell pepper, carved into a Jack-o-Lantern and used as a bowl to serve macaroni. The recipe comes from The Food Network Kitchen, and although it seems pretty easy to make, I personally would probably just dump some boxed Kraft macaroni and cheese into a raw pepper and call it a day. But, don't be like me---if you're interested in serving this up as a unique Halloween side dish, follow the recipe over at Food Network. There's even a video and complete ingredient list.

I think this would make an adorable part of any family dinner, but since the macaroni spilling out the top DOES kinda look like brains, I'm sure it can be spookified up for a more mature audience!

Photo by Teri Lyn Fisher

Jack Skellington Pie

I came across this photo while on Pinterest, and thought it was too cool not to share! And, while trying to find the photographer/baker to give credit to, I discovered a ton of different variations on this spooky twist to a classic crusted pie!

Obviously, there are also multiple websites and even YouTube videos available to help walk you through the process of adding a little Nightmare Before Christmas to YOUR favorite pie! I guess you could use just about any filling you wanted, but me personally....well, I'd turn Jack, the Pumpkin King, into Jack: The Pumpkin PIE King! Happy Foodie Friday!

Fancy Halloween Cookies

This are some darn fancy Halloween cookies! These would be great to serve at an upscale, yet spooky, dinner party....but who could have the heart to actually EAT them?! They're more art than food! Anyway, this example is from the Cookie Connection website, said to be inspired by the work of Arty McGoo and Sweet Ambs.

Skeleton Cupcakes

For Skeleton Week's Foodie Friday post, I wanted to share these cute skeleton cupcakes from All Day Chic. You can find the full tutorial on the website, but these look easy enough. The best part...they use white chocolate/yogurt covered pretzels. I LOVE dipped pretzels, lol. 

Spooky Halloween Chili

Okay, so I don't actually eat chili. However, I know plenty of people who love it, especially on a cold, wet, rainy fall day. Today IS a slightly cold, and super wet and rainy day here in the tri-state, making a spooky chili dish perfect for today's Foodie Friday post!

Ya'll know how much I love REALLY simple ideas for giving food a creepy Halloween feel, and you can't really get much simpler than this. Make a pot of chili like you normally would (or find one of thousands of recipes online), and cut out fun, Halloween shapes from slices of cheese. A variety of Halloween cookie cutters are available this time of year at just about any store for only a few dollars. The photo and recipe for this variation comes from Parents.Com and is included in a slideshow feature 'last-minute' Halloween dinners!

Healthy Halloween: Veggie Trays

Usually my Foodie Fridays involve less-than-healthy options for Halloween themed breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, desserts, and even cocktails---but sometimes I like to provide a healthy alternative to the traditional sweet and sugary treats of the season! Today, I'm sharing a few ideas for Halloween veggie trays. Veggie trays are a great way to offer a healthy option at Halloween parties and gatherings, and can even be incorporated into a family snack tray. Here are some options:


I love how quick and simple this idea is. De-gut your pumpkin, and just slide the container of dip right into it. Add your favorite cut veggies and you're done. For a Halloween party, you could take the creativity a step further with a fun platter and added touches, such as some olive spiders!

Source: One Little Project

Nothing screams Halloween like a Jack-o-Lantern, and the adorable icon of the season makes a great shape for a veggie tray featuring MY favorite cut veggie, carrots! Again, you can really put your own mark on this creation, using various veggies for the stem, vine, grass, etc. Get creative! 

Source: Mom Endeavors

If Jack-o-Lanterns aren't your thing, or you want something a little spookier, how about a cauliflower skull? I like this option because it allows you to have a variety of veggies available without having to worry about making them into something specific, lol.

Source: Mommy on the Money

As a paranormal investigator, I HAD to include something that features a ghost! This one is similar to the cauliflower skull, but instead is a lil' ghostie made of cauliflower on a bed of other veggies. I seriously might need to make this one!

Source: Mommy on the Money

Grim Reaper Cake

For today's Foodie Friday blog, I wanted to share another awesome Halloween cake with you all! Over the years, I've been honing and refining my own personal Halloween decorating aesthetic...and recently I've really begun to embrace the classic black and orange motif. There's just something about black and orange together that evokes a sense of nostalgia. To me, it just screams vintage Halloween.

So, I instantly fell in love with this cake, especially the little haunted house. I'm not a HUGE fan of the Grim Reaper, honestly. I much rather would have seen a classic ghost figure or something, but it is well done, and does look pretty cool.  I wasn't able to find an artist/baker for this cake, so if you know who it belongs to, please let me know and I'll properly credit them.

Hehehe, I actually found this image on Pinterest, which in and of itself isn't that funny, but the fact on what it was classified under IS. I found this image in a collection of ideas for someone's TWO YEAR OLD daughter's Halloween birthday. Yeah, this would make an awesome birthday cake, especially for someone reaching one of those milestone 'over the hill' birthdays, but I'm pretty sure having Death on a two year old's birthday cake sends the wrong message, lol.

Welcome, September!

Wow, is it really September already??? This year is flying by, which is a good thing! It means Halloween will be here that much faster. Since we're starting the official countdown, I thought this photo was quite fitting. For a couple of weeks now, I've already been seeing the pumpkin flavored goodies creeping onto store shelves....and I have a feeling that things are going to definitely pick up. Hehe, last year, I admitted the fact that I am NOT a fan of pumpkin spice anything, let alone any type of pumpkin spice coffee beverage. I was accused of not being a true white girl, which is slightly ironic since my recent AncestryDNA results back that up!

Terrifying Tacos!

Halloween may fall on a Monday this year, but that doesn't mean you can't serve up some spooky tacos for a Taco Tuesday Halloween dinner! In my home, the Halloween celebrations last throughout the month of October, so some version of these will definitely be making their way into our lives in the weeks leading up to the big day. 

Food.com brings us this quite basic example of a basic crunchy shell taco. To achieve the spooky eyes, a few dollops of sour cream garnished with sliced black olives are strategically placed. Even though I personally can't stand sour cream, I think this version is the most likely one I'll try! 

Betty Crocker also has created a spin on the monster taco idea. Instead of the classic shredded cheese, an artfully cut slice of American cheese serves as a the teeth, and a tomato slice acts as the tongue. Cute!

I've seen this next example a few different places on the web, including the site, Adventures of a Gluten Free Mom. Just make your favorite taco, and add a spider made of olives as a garnish for an instant Halloween vibe. Hehehe, I think using the whole olive in this position makes the spider look a little more like an octopus, so I'd probably tweak that a bit myself if choosing to recreate this dish! But how cute is that little spider? He could be added to several different dinners for an instant transition into Halloween dining!

And, that does it for spooky tacos. However, if you a big fan of Mexican food like I am, don't fear! I have several more ideas coming up for you in the coming months!

Halloween Dinner: Italian Style

Pasta is definitely our go-to for quick, easy, and delicious dinners. There's a lot you can do with the different types of pasta and sauces, and the ingredients usually tend to run pretty cheap. In its Halloween section of its website, Kraft Foods explains how to kick up the spooky factor a notch with these gruesome meatball eyes! This is another great dinner idea for all ages. Serve it before a night of trick-or-treating...or present this dish at a fancy Halloween dinner party with a twist. I think I'll be trying this one myself, but I may be toning down the size of those monstrous meatballs just a bit, lol.

Get the recipe at Kraft:

The Magic of Mini Reese Cups

Today's Foodie Friday post is another collection of treats for those of us who just aren't very...bake-y. I love fun, clever, EASY goodies that are perfect for any Halloween party or event and that do NOT require much (if any) actual baking. Here are just a few examples I've found that use mini Reese Cups, one of my favorite Halloween candies!

Witch Brooms
This idea comes from Couponing To Disney, and you don't get much cuter or simpler than this; just stick a pretzel stick into a mini Reese Cup for an instant witch broom. Dump the rest of the pretzel sticks into a festive bowl for additional Halloween party snackage....or save a few for this savory version.

Peanut Butter Spider Cookies
This next idea is by Stefanie Fauquet of Mommy Musings. It's a little more labor-intensive if you choose to actually bake the cookies according to the recipe and full instructions as found at the link above. However, its possible to take a shortcut by just adding these little spiders to the top of some store-bought cookies and securing with a tad more icing!

Bat Bites

Today's last example comes from Chelsea's Messy Apron, and is an adorable way to incorporate both your Reese Cups AND Oreo cookies, two staples of Halloween treats! These little bats only require four ingredients total, and can quickly be assembled for any Halloween party. 

If you loved the ease of this simple treats, check out my other blog, Easy Halloween Cookies, featuring even more no-bake options! How cute would the Reese Cup Witch Brooms look  paired with the Witch Hats made from Fudge Striped Cookies and Hershey Kisses?

Halloween Fruit--Volume I: Ghost Edition

I'm not gonna sit here and tell you that Halloween ISN'T all about the candy. I mean, trick-or-treating is a HUGE tradition...as are all the yummy, sugary concoctions that are routinely the staples of any good Halloween party.

However, if you're watching your weight, unable to eat too many sweets, or simply just want a few healthier options to throw into the mix, Halloween or year-round, check out these frightening fruity favorites! There are hundreds of great examples, so this is a topic you'll see pop up again. Since I'm a paranormal investigator and researcher---I think I'll focus on GHOSTS for this first volume.

Okay, so let's EASE into the concept of fruit for Halloween, with these strawberries that aren't strictly healthy. It looks like they've been dipped in white candy melts (but you could probably use white chocolate chips, too). The face appears to be drawn on with food-grade markers, which you can find in the baking/cake decorating/party section of most stores, such as Walmart. But, you can probably use chocolate candy pieces or black icing as well. This photo came from Pinterest, with no original source, so if you know who owns it, lemme know and I'll give 'em credit!





I LOVE these ghost pears! They look fairly easy to make, and are pretty versatile. They would be just as awesome at a fancy Halloween dinner party as they would as a sneaky and fun way to trick your kids into eating more fruit. The complete recipe and photo come from Tesco: Real Foods. Go check 'em out for this idea, and many more great Halloween desserts, treats, and snacks!

Fruit Salad, Yummy Yummy! Even the Wiggles can appreciate this spooky take on the fruit salad. Use mandarin oranges, pineapples, and whipped cream to create the traditional colors of candy corn---that famous Halloween candy that we all love to hate and hate to love---and top off with a ghostly marshmallow Peep! This is another quick and easy dessert, that combines a certain level of elegance with fun. The best part is, this can EASILY be made using canned mandarin orange slices and canned pineapple if you want to go that route, but can also be made using fresh ingredients for those who prefer that route. You could make a bunch of these at one time with minimal time and effort. Experiment with different serving glasses to change up the look. This particular version came from Love From the Oven.


A list of ghostly fruits could not be complete without the banana ghost and mandarin orange pumpkin platter. This cute idea was my first introduction to, and the inspiration for, this blog about healthy Halloween treats. It has been recreated numerous times (some much better than others) and shared all over the internet. It's SUPER easy. Peel your fruit. Cut your bananas in half. Stick on some chocolate chips for eyes/mouth, and a small piece of celery for your pumpkin stem. Plate and be done. This particular photo comes from Cozinhando Fantasias.

Super Easy Halloween Cookies

We've made it to another Foodie Friday!

I don't know about you, but Betty Crocker I am not.  I absolutely hate to bake; I find it messy and time consuming, and just not at all something I enjoy.  However, I do love having Halloween parties and serving up really clever themed treats.  That's why today's post is dedicated to a few of the yummy Halloween goodies that you can make without ever having to turn on the oven!  That's right...take some store bought cookies, and decorate as little or as much as you like for a cute treat that will make people think you're channeling Martha Stewart.

These witch hats are super easy.  Buy a package of Keebler Fudge Stripe cookies (or any generic knock-off with a chocolate coated round bottom) and flip 'em upside down. Get a package of Hershey kisses and attach with icing. You can then add sprinkles, bows, or any other embellishments, or leave as is. Adorable, creative, and no baking required!

Sure everyone loves Oreos, and there's nothing wrong with picking up a bag of Halloween Oreos, pouring them into a fun bowl and calling it a day...but if you want to go an extra step, consider these spider Oreos!  Candy pieces, such as M&Ms, make great eyes, and black rope licorice gives it that final...kick.  If you can't find black rope licorice, use pretzel sticks! From Betty Crocker.

Are spooky ghost cookies more your thing?  Buy a package of Nutter Butters.  Melt a bowl of white chocolate chips or candy melts in the microwave in 30 second bursts, stirring between zaps until melted.  Dip the cookies in and let dry on waxed paper.  Use black icing or brown/chocolate candy pieces for the eyes and add a mouth if you wish.  Delish!

From Sandy Toes and Popsicles

Halloween Pizza

Yummy! Today's Foodie Friday post is all about one of my favorite foods---pizza! It really is the perfect food; all it takes is the right ingredients and you've encompassed the entire food pyramid in one delicious, easy to make treat for the whole family!

When it comes to Halloween pizzas in particular, there are so many different options. Time to get creative!  I've chosen a few of my favorite inspirations, mainly focusing on mini-pizzas which would be great to serve up for a quick family dinner before trick-or-treat or at any Halloween party as really cool finger foods.  Bon appetit!

These adorable pizza mummies are quick and simple to assemble---just pop on some sliced black olives for eyes, and lay your cheese down in a criss-crossing pattern for the desired 'wrapped' effect.  This particular version comes from the Halloween Alliance website.

These pizzas also rely on intricately placed strings or slices of cheese and sliced olives!  This would look cute as a mini pizza or amazing in a full-sized version with a spider (or two) for every slice! Photo from Indulgy.

What's Halloween without the jack-o-lanterns?  Swap out the traditional mozzarella cheese for a cheddar or cheddar blend and you get a nice orange color.  Add black olives, pepperoni, or your favorite vegetables to create the face and top off with a green pepper stem.  Healthy AND delicious! Courtesy of 360 Family Nutrition. 

World's Best SandWITCH

It's Friday again, and that means its time to feature another yummy Halloween recipe that you can serve any time of year!  Last week the focus was more on a quick, family dinner...so this week let's look at a cute and clever option for lunch time.

This sand'witch' comes from the Food Chics blog.  The complete recipe can be found at the link provided, but this one is SUPER simple!  Fill the sandwich with your favorite protein and you've got a pretty well-balanced, nutritional, and cute lunch.  But, if you need a coordinating side dish, these witch brooms made from mozzarella cheese and pretzel sticks would be perfect!