Easy recipes for a frightfully fun Halloween

On Halloween night, vampires, zombies, ghosts, and other creepy creatures stroll the streets on the hunt for candy. But before letting your mini monsters join the parade, make sure to quell their appetite with a hearty and delicious meal. Here are a few recipe ideas and tips for concocting a healthy (and yummy!) Halloween feast.

Halloween dinner tips

Halloween is just around the corner, much to the delight of children everywhere. Mountains of candy, crazy costumes, and dreadfully daunting decorations—everything for an evening filled with fun and surprises. While kids love Halloween, it’s often a race against the clock for parents with already-full schedules. Between decorating the house, buying candy, and creating costumes, finding the time to make a tasty and healthy dinner can be a little . . . tricky. Here are a few easy-to-make recipe suggestions and tips featuring a Halloween classic: pumpkins!

A complete, easy-to-make meal

Forget about making a plain old omelette this Halloween. Instead, sit down to a hearty meal, like Geneviève O’Gleman’s honey-mustard chicken—it’s mouth-watering and super quick to prepare! Simply throw all the ingredients in your slow cooker the night before and store in the fridge. The next morning, turn your slow cooker on before leaving for work and you’re done! A nourishing and super-savoury dinner will be waiting for you when you get home . . . and we’re pretty sure the kids will ask for seconds!

Other fun recipes for Halloween night

• Keep the fun going with a taco fiesta! Kids love picking and choosing what goes into their tacos (diced tomatoes, lettuce, salsa, shredded cheese, avocado, cilantro), and parents save on prep time!

• Get the whole family involved in creating their own individual pizzas on whole-wheat pita or naan! Give everyone a pita bread, and let the magic begin. Put veggies (cut the night before), leftover chicken or shrimp, marinated artichokes, olives, and pre-shredded mozzarella in the centre of your table and voilà! No tomato sauce? No problemo. Use a basil pesto instead. It tastes great on a pepper and goat cheese pizza!

Freeze and enjoy later

Pumpkins may be iconic Halloween symbols, but they’re also devilishly delicious to eat! And yet, the morning after Halloween, thousands of pumpkins get tossed in the trash. If you have leftover jack-o’-lanterns, just freeze them and enjoy later.

Freezing tips

Cut the flesh in cubes, place on a baking sheet, and pop in the freezer for an hour or two. Once frozen, transfer the cubes to a freezer bag. You can also freeze pumpkin after it has been cooked. For best results, roast your pumpkin in the oven with a little oil and puree them. Next, pour your delicious concoction into ice trays and put them in the freezer.

Two techniques to have pumpkin on hand whenever you need it—for soups, muffins, pies or stews!

Good to know

• If you plan on using your pumpkin for cooking, it is best to empty it the night before Halloween to keep it as fresh as possible.

• Keep your pumpkin seeds! Delicious and so nutritious, spread them on a baking sheet and grill them in the oven with a little salt, tamari, or whatever spice you like. You can serve them with your appetizers or put them in your kids’ lunch for a healthy snack!

• Whole, uncut pumpkins and squash last at least two months when stored in a cool, dry place.

EASY AND TASTY RECIPES BY GENEVIÈVE O'GLEMAN

Pumpkin possibilities

Pumpkin is not only delicious . . . it’s healthy too! It’s rich in zinc, vitamin A, and fibre. Plus, it’s super versatile: use it in your pies, soups, gratins and smoothies! Hosting a Halloween bash? Surprise your guests with these original recipes by Geneviève O’Gleman. Start with this pumpkin and smoked paprika hummus served with oven-baked whole-wheat tortillas—a healthy appetizer everyone is sure to love. For your main course, serve this fabulous chicken salad with roasted pumpkin, apples, and Brussels sprouts. And for dessert? Whip up a batch of these pumpkin blondies that’ll have your guests licking their plates clean!