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Have a frightfully fun Halloween

Make no bones about it - Halloween is a great time to scare up some fun!

I enjoy hosting (and attending!) Halloween parties - and these easy ideas make it a treat to do:

* Make a cereal-box graveyard. Take black-and-white tempera paints and mix them into three shades of gray: light, medium, and dark. Paint empty cereal boxes with the medium gray. Use sponges to mottle the gravestones with light and dark gray spots. Once they’re dry, write names and dates with a marker.
* Play ring around a pumpkin. Paint point values on pumpkins - 5, 10, 15, and 25 - and arrange the pumpkins with the highest point value farthest away. Players stand at a starting line and try to toss a hula hoop around a pumpkin. Each person gets three tries, and high score wins.
* Don’t forget the goodie bags. Use markers, paint and crayons to decorate goodie bags for handing out. Spooktacular Spoons are perfect for Halloween party bags. And wrap up Boo-ti-ful Ghosts in pretty cellophane paper and ribbons and hand them out to guests and trick-or-treaters.

For more howlingly good Halloween tips and recipes, visit VeryBestBaking.com.

Boo-ti-ful Ghosts
(Makes 12 ghosts)

    Wax paper
2 cups (12-ounce package) Nestlé Toll House Premier White Morsels
3 tablespoons vegetable shortening
12 lollipop sticks (found in craft stores)
    Assorted candies for decorating

LINE baking sheets with wax paper.

PLACE morsels and shortening in large, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on MEDIUM-HIGH (70%) power for 1 minute 30 seconds; STIR. Morsels may retain some of their original shape. If necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until melted; cool slightly.

PLACE lollipop sticks on prepared baking sheets, spacing about 6 inches apart.

SPOON melted morsel mixture halfway over lollipop sticks into ghostly shapes. Decorate with candies. Refrigerate for 15 minutes or until set.

Spooktacular Spoons
(Makes 18 to 20 spoons)
    Wax paper
1 cup (6 ounces) Nestlé Toll House Premier White Morsels
2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
18 to 20 plastic spoons
Assorted candies for decorating
Festive plastic wrap or clear lollipop bags (found in craft stores)
Orange and black ribbon

LINE baking sheet with wax paper.

PLACE morsels and shortening in medium, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on MEDIUM-HIGH (70%) power for 1 minute; STIR. Morsels may retain some of their original shape. If necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until melted; cool slightly.

DIP one spoon into melted morsels; shake off excess. Place on prepared tray. Make ghostly face with candies. Repeat with remaining spoons. Refrigerate until set.

WRAP each spoon in a sheet of plastic wrap. Gather at base of spoon; tie with orange and black ribbons. Trim ends of plastic wrap, if desired.

Courtesy of Family Features. Source: Nestle

Jenny Harper is Consumer Test Kitchen Project Manager for the Nestlé Test Kitchens and VeryBestBaking.com.