Horror is not my first genre of choice nor area of expertise. For that, you should really be following Video Creep, videographer, comedian, and horror professional. With his guidance, I’ve picked out the perfect entertainment for your Halloween evening: Troll 2.

What is Troll 2 about?

Described by some as the “best worst movie” and “most disrespected horror films in recent history,” Troll 2 is not going to keep you awake at night. It’s not even going to make you remotely uneasy. The basic premise is laughable right from the start, seeing as there are no trolls to be found during the entire 95-minute runtime, only goblins. It’s also worth noting that it has nothing to do with the preceding movie, Troll, which has only marginally better reviews.

Without spoiling anything, one of the key features is green goop being offered at every meal, which no one seems to find suspicious. Unfortunately, just one bite will turn people into their own sort of human sludge, which is then fed to the hungry goblins.

Naturally, it’s the food element that I find most captivating. Between the implausible story line and iconic acting, the goblin goop is a standout success in terms of execution. I didn’t pity the people that were dumb enough to miss all the warning signs and thoughtlessly indulge in their own demise. Quite the contrary, I envied the goblins; I’ll have what they’re having.

Join me in feeding your inner goblin with the finest human goo that plant-based ingredients have to offer. It’s every bit as nutritious as dissolved people, but without all the fat and gristle! Besides, no one has time for that kind of messy cleanup. Save yourself the hassle of ensnaring and poisoning your own middle class nuclear family, and let’s pull out the blender instead, shall we?

A base of frozen mango and banana creates a naturally sweet, creamy, and subtly tropical foundation bright spices. Turmeric adds a bold sunny yellow hue that harmonizes brilliantly with ginger and cinnamon. The real crowning jewel is the swirl of green goo, of course. This comes in the form of fluid gel made from green juice and agar.

What is a fluid gel?

Despite the fancy molecular gastronomy term, it’s really a very simple concept: Set any fluid with a thickener, then blend it to break down the structure into a substance that straddles the line between liquid and solid, AKA, goo.

What’s the best green juice?

You can make your own green juice from scratch, or buy bottled green juice at the grocery store. I’d suggest going with the latter for the sake of simplicity. A subtly sweet blend with a mix of fruits and vegetables is my preference here to pair with the smoothie itself, particularly if pineapple is involved. Top mainstream brands include:

• Naked Green Machine
• Suja Mighty Dozen
• Bolthouse Farms Green Goodness
• V8 Sweet Greens

At the heart of it, Troll 2 is a movie made for the plant-based crowd. The goblins were vegetarian, after all, so the only way they could enjoy their human feasts was by turning them into inert substance. Let’s raise a glass to these visionaries that were ahead of their time. Cheers, and Happy Halloween!

Yield: Makes 1 - 2 Servings

Troll 2-Inspired Smoothie

Feed your inner goblin with a smoothie inspired by the movie Troll 2. It looks just like people goo, but tastes much better.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Additional Time 30 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

Fluid Gel (Green Goo):

• 1 Cup Green Juice
• 1 Teaspoon Agar Powder

Smoothie:

• 1 Banana, Sliced and Frozen
• 1 Cup Cubed Mango, Frozen
• 1 - 2 Tablespoons Maple Syrup
• 1 Teaspoon Ground Turmeric
• 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Ginger
• 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
• 3/4 Cup Vanilla Non-Dairy Milk

Instructions

1. Prepare the fluid gel first so it has time to set. Place the green juice and agar in a medium saucepan over medium heat and whisk well. Continue stirring until it comes to a boil, then cook for one minute. Remove from the heat and transfer to a small bowl. It will still be thin and liquid at this point. Cool to room temperature before placing it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, or until firm.
2. Transfer the block of gelled green juice to your blender and puree, scraping down the sides of the canister as needed. Pour it to the bowl once completely smooth and rinse out the blender.
3. For the smoothie, place the banana, mango, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, and non-dairy milk in the clean blender. Puree on high speed until smooth. Add the remaining tablespoon of maple syrup if you'd like a sweeter smoothie and blend to incorporate.
4. To assemble, alternate between the smoothie base and dollops of the fluid gel until you fill 1 or 2 glasses and use up both components. Use a long spoon or straw to swirl gently and serve right away.

Recommended Products

Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. I have experience with all of these companies and I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something through my links.

• 
  Now Foods, Real Food, Organic Maple Syrup, Grade A, Amber Color, 32 fl oz (946 ml)
• 
  Now Foods, Real Food, Agar Powder, 2 oz (57 g)
• 
  Vitamix 5200 Blender, Professional-Grade, 64 oz. Container, Black

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 289Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 91mgCarbohydrates: 27gFiber: 6gSugar: 54gProtein: 6g

All nutritional information presented within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on BitterSweetBlog.com should only be used as a general guideline. This information is provided as a courtesy and there is no guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. Even though I try to provide accurate nutritional information to the best of my ability, these figures should still be considered estimations.

The post Just Trolling appeared first on BitterSweet.

You will love the vibrant colors of all your favorite fruits beautifully displayed together on a fruit charcuterie board. Serve this as a perfect side dish or dessert alongside a creamy fruit dip at your next party!

I love serving this show-stopping fruit charcuterie with any meal, but my favorite way to serve it is with breakfast. The fresh juicy fruit is always a crowd-pleaser in the morning for guests. It would be perfect alongside this breakfast casserole, these easy cinnamon rolls, and a side of bacon.

What is a Fruit Charcuterie Board?

I love a good charcuterie board because it visually draws in your guests! It’s the best mixture of sweet ripe fruit. Every bite is a different fruit, and every bite is sweet and juicy! The best fresh fruit charcuterie boards are made with fruit that is in season.

Everyone loves charcuterie boards because they are bursting with so many different tastes and textures! There are endless possibilities, from citrus to berries to tropical fruits like pineapple and papaya. Any type of fruit you can get your hands on will work, be creative as you want. Serve your fruit charcuterie board with this fluffy fruit dip, this strawberry dip, or this incredible cheesecake dip.

Fruit Ideas For Your Charcuterie Board

Everyone LOVES this fruit charcuterie board! Feel free to use as many fresh fruits as you would like.  Here is a large list of ideas that you can choose from for your board. Your guests will keep coming back to the delicious fruit board because of all the perfectly ripe and tasty fruits!

• Pineapple: Sliced in half and the rest cut into chunks.
• Green and Red Grapes: I like to leave some whole and some still on the vine.
• Mango: Cut into chunks or slice it up!
• Blueberries: Left whole with stems removed.
• Raspberries: Left whole with stems removed.
• Kiwi: I love to cut kiwis in fun shapes!
• Blackberries: Left whole with stems removed.
• Strawberries: I like to serve some whole and some halved or sliced.
• Star Fruit: The shape is perfect for fruit charcuterie boards.
• Kumquat: The tart and sour flavor of the kumquat is fun to add to the sweet fruit.
• Pink Dragonfruit: The prettiest color of fruit there ever was!
• Oranges: Sliced or cut into wedges.
• Fruit Dip: I love my fruit dip, but feel free to use yogurt or whipped cream.

The Recipe Critic Recommendation

Wood Charcuterie Board

Belvedere Large Round Acacia Wood Cutting Board

Circular shape and natural wood color, perfect for entertaining!

CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK

Let’s Make the Best Fruit Appetizer

Making this simple fruit charcuterie board is so fun and easy! I like to display the fruit using different shapes and sizes to make it visually beautiful. Everyone loves the pineapple leaves left on it because it adds interest and texture. This board will be the star of our next party or get-together!

1. Slice and Place the Pineapple: Slice a pineapple in half and scoop out the center. Set on a large round wood board or platter.
2. Wash and Prepare the Fruit: Wash and dry the fruit, then slice, peel, or cut the fruit into desired shapes.
3. Arrange the Fruit: Arrange the fruit around the pineapple and fill the pineapple with some fruit. Display the fruit in colorful sections and distribute it throughout the board. 
4. Prepare the Dip: Make the fruit dip by following the linked recipe, then spoon it into a pretty bowl. I sprinkled it with cinnamon to make it even prettier. Place it onto the board and enjoy dipping!

Charcuterie Boards For Holidays

If you love this fruit charcuterie for summertime, you’ll love making them for every season.  It’s so fun to make charcuterie boards year round and for every holiday.  I have you covered for your next holiday party!

Appetizers

Fall Charcuterie Board

Appetizers

Valentine’s Charcuterie Board

Appetizers

Halloween Charcuterie Board

Appetizers

Christmas Wreath Charcuterie

Print

Fruit Charcuterie

You will love the vibrant colors of all your favorite fruits beautifully displayed together on a fruit charcuterie board. Serve this as a perfect side dish or dessert at your next party alongside a creamy fruit dip! 

Course Appetizer, Dessert, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword fruit charcuterie, Fruit Charcuterie Board

Prep Time 20 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Servings 20

Calories 78kcal

Author Alyssa Rivers

Ingredients

Fruit:

• Pineapple
• Green and Red Grapes
• Mango
• Blueberries
• Raspberries
• Kiwi
• Blackberries
• Strawberries
• Star Fruit
• Kumquat
• Pink Dragonfruit
• Oranges
• Fruit Dip

Instructions

• Slice a pineapple in half and scoop out the center. Set on a large round wood board or platter.
• Wash and dry the fruit, then slice, peel, or cut the fruit in desired shapes.
• Arrange the fruit around the pineapple and fill the pineapple with some fruit. Display the fruit in colorful sections and distribute it throughout the board.
• Make the fruit dip by following the linked recipe, and spoon it into a pretty bowl. I sprinkled it with cinnamon to make it even prettier. Place it onto the board and enjoy for dipping!

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 78kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 15mg | Potassium: 192mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 194IU | Vitamin C: 37mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 1mg

These delicious, sweet and tender Pumpkin Cinnamon Chip Muffins have a good dose of spice and the amazing addition of cinnamon chips!

Pumpkin Cinnamon Chip Muffins are in my top ten list of favorite muffins to bake and enjoy. I love a good pumpkin muffin, and the cinnamon chips added in just makes them so incredible.

Grocery stores used to sell cinnamon chips near the chocolate chips. Some still do! I spot them in Walmart or Target once in a while (especially during the holidays). In fact, I just saw them there the other day! Otherwise, I order cinnamon chips in bulk online so I can make other things like cinnamon chip banana bread, cinnamon fudge and snickerdoodle pudding cookies.

Ingredients needed:

• all purpose flour
• baking powder, baking soda and salt
• white sugar
• pumpkin pie spice and ground cinnamon
• eggs
• unsweetened pumpkin purée
• unsweetened applesauce
• canola or vegetable oil
• vanilla extract
• cinnamon chips

How to make Pumpkin Cinnamon Chip Muffins:

The complete, printable recipe is at the end of this post.

They rise slightly, and they should be easy to pop out of your muffin pan once they’ve cooled off for a bit.

Let them cool completely on a baking rack.

These pumpkin cinnamon chip muffins freeze nicely. Just pop them into a large freezer zip baggie, and freeze up to three months. Take them out to defrost when you want to enjoy an incredible muffin. At room temperature, they’ll be fine for a few days. Enjoy!

The Best Muffin Recipes:

• Raspberry Muffins
• Maple Drizzled Apple Muffins
• Pecan Pie Muffins
• Bakery Style Blueberry Muffins
• Snickerdoodle Muffins

Print

Pumpkin Cinnamon Chip Muffins

If you've never had cinnamon chips, it's about time you try them!

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Keyword cinnamon chips, pumpkin, pumpkin muffins

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 18 minutes

Total Time 28 minutes

Servings 18 muffins (1 per serving)

Calories 212kcal

Author RecipeGirl.com

Ingredients

• 2¼ cups all purpose flour
• 1½ teaspoons baking soda
• 1½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup granulated white sugar
• 1½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 2 large eggs
• 1½ cups canned unsweetened pumpkin puree
• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
• 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup cinnamon chips
• 2 tablespoons granulated white sugar
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly spray 18 muffin tin cups with nonstick spray.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together dry ingredients (through the pumpkin pie spice).
• In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, pumpkin, applesauce, oil and vanilla until well blended. Stir in dry ingredients and mix only until combined (do not over mix). Gently fold in cinnamon chips.
• In a small bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon.
• Scoop the batter into muffin pans, and sprinkle tops with the cinnamon/sugar mixture. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Turn onto rack and cool.

Notes

• Use an ice cream scoop with a spring handle to scoop the batter into the muffin tins. It’s so easy and no mess!
• You might be able to find cinnamon chips in your market's chocolate chip aisle, and if your market doesn't carry them... talk to the manager! They're made by Hersheys. Sometimes I spot them at Walmart or Target. Otherwise, I order them online.

Nutrition

Serving: 1muffin | Calories: 212kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 209mg | Potassium: 79mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 3212IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Pumpkin Cinnamon Chip Muffins appeared first on Recipe Girl®.

An Apple Brown Betty is a warm and comforting apple dessert that is full of fall flavors. The apples are coated in lemon juice with a brown sugar spiced crumble throughout that satisfies with every bite. If you don’t like oats, this recipe is for you!

I love a good apple dessert! I even have a whole round up that I put together that has them all in one place. We’ve made so many good ones over the years! If you are looking for a great fall apple recipe, you should try this easy Apple Dump Cake, this delicious and satisfying Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake, or this stunning Apple Tart.

Apple Brown Betty

If you are a fan of fall flavors, then this is the dessert for you! Every bite is packed with warm spices and soft (but not TOO soft) apples. An apple brown betty is similar to an apple cobbler or apple crisp. What sets it apart is that the crumble mixture is spread throughout the dish instead of just sprinkled on top. Which, if we are being totally honest, is why I love this recipe so much! The topping is always my favorite part in a cobbler because it has all of the flavor! I want lots of it with every bite, and this recipe delivers!

I also really like that it doesn’t have any oats in it, it’s just flour. So if you don’t like oats, this is the perfect recipe for you! You still get that nice crumbly texture because of the way the butter is incorporated into the flour mixture. Serve it with some whipped cream or vanilla ice cream and it’s the ultimate crowd pleaser!

Ingredients

This Apple Brown Betty recipe is so easy to make, and is simple ingredients that you probably have on hand already! I love the fall spices in this recipe because apples are at their sweetest in fall. It’s a great recipe to share with family and friends! You can find exact measurements below in the recipe card.

• Apples: I love Honeycrisp apples and Grannysmith for this recipe. You can use your favorite apple, the most important thing is how you prepare, peel, and slice the apples.
• Lemon Juice: This helps to bring all of the fresh flavor out of the apples and brightens up the whole dish.
• All Purpose Flour: This goes on the top to make a crumble instead of using oats.
• Granulated Sugar: Sugar helps to make the sticky gooey topping we all love.
• Brown Sugar: Brown sugar has mollases in it which gives it a nice deep flavor.
• Ground Cinnamon: It’s a must in this recipe! It is the perfect fall flavor and goes great with apples.
• Nutmeg: This spice is a little sweet and full of flavor.
• Allspice: It is actually just from one plant but it tastes like all of your favorite fall spices combined!
• Cardamom: It’s fruity with a little kick and I love it in this recipe!
• Salt: A little salt helps to balance out the sweetness and to bring out all of the delicious flavors in this dessert.
• Butter: You will want to use unsalted butter, and make sure it’s cold! You want it cold when you put it into the food processor to help it crumble.

Apple Brown Betty Recipe

Prepping the apples for baking is a bit of a labor of love, but it’s SO worth it! If you have one of those apple peelers-corers-slicers, you could definitely use that here to move things along. Other than that, this recipe is a breeze and so fun too!

1. Prep: Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease a baking dish (I used a standard pie dish) with nonstick spray or butter.
2. Add Lemon: In a bowl, pour your lemon juice over your apples and mix to coat well.
3. Pulse: In a food processor, pulse your flour, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cardamom, and salt until it’s well-mixed.
4. Add Butter: Start pulsing in your cubed butter, about 1 tablespoon at a time, until it is all incorporated. No chunks of butter should remain,
5. Layer: In your baking dish, layer ½ of your apples on the bottom, ½ of your crumb mixture on the apples, then your remaining apples on top of the crumb mixture, and finally, the last of your crumb mixture on top.
6. Bake: Bake for 40-50 minutes. Your apples should be tender, and your crumbs will be crisp and golden brown.

Other Fall Desserts to Try

I love all things fall! The weather, the leaves, the colors, and of course the food! Soup and baked goods have my heart. If you can relate to all of that, then these recipes are for you! You’ll love the fall spices and warm flavors in these desserts.

Desserts

Pumpkin Cheesecake Snickerdoodles

Breakfast

Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Desserts

Pumpkin Cheesecake with Caramel Sauce

Desserts

Pumpkin Roll Bars

Print

Apple Brown Betty

An Apple Brown Betty is a warm and comforting apple dessert that is full of fall flavors. The apples are coated in lemon juice with a brown sugar spiced crumble throughout that satisfies with every bite. If you don't like oats, this recipe is for you!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword apple brown betty, apple dessert

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes

Servings 8 people

Calories 377kcal

Author Alyssa Rivers

Ingredients

• 4 cups apples peeled cored and thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ⅓ cup brown sugar packed
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon allspice
• ½ teaspoon cardamom
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup cold butter cubed

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375℉ and lightly grease a baking dish (I used a standard pie dish) with non stick spray, or butter.
• In a bowl pour your lemon juice over your apples and mix to coat well.
• In a food processor pulse your flour, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cardamom, and salt until it’s well mixed.
• Start pulsing in your cubed butter about 1 tablespoon at a time until it is all incorporated. No chunks of butter should remain,
• In your baking dish, layer ½ of your apples on the bottom, ½ of your crumb mixture on the apples, then your remaining apples on top of the crumb mixture, and finally the last of your crumb mixture on top.
• Bake for 40-50 minutes, your apples should be tender and your crumbs will be crisp and golden brown.

Nutrition

Calories: 377kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 286mg | Potassium: 113mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 41g | Vitamin A: 568IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg

There are so many great reasons to make Chai Spice at home! It is a blend of warm fall spices that make it perfect for cakes, cookies, and even your coffee or tea.

Chai spice is one of my favorite fall flavors! I really love making spice blends at home because I feel like they have more flavor, and they also have fewer preservatives! If you are like me, you’ll love this Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice that I always have on hand or this Apple Pie Spice which is so perfect for fall desserts! I also love savory homemade spices like Cajun Seasoning and this Homemade Fajita Seasoning.

Chai Spice Recipe

Chai spice is so easy to make at home, and it tastes so fresh and warm! I absolutely love having this spice blend on hand. It is great for baking fall treats and adding to your tea or your morning oatmeal. Chai spice doesn’t actually have any chai leaves in it. It is a blend of spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom. A lot of people don’t know that it’s really easy to make at home!

If you have only had chai spice in your coffee, you’re going to love how versatile this spice blend is! It’s similar to a pumpkin pie spice because it has all the warm spices that go great in pumpkin pie or apple cobbler. It has white pepper which gives it a little heat that feels great in a warm tea or chai latte.

Ingredients

All of these ingredients are dry spices that you might already have in your pantry. This spice blend is so easy to make and full of flavor. I love the warm spices that bring out great flavors of fall.

• Ground Cinnamon: This is a must for your fall recipes!
• Ginger: It adds spice and a little sweetness.
• Cardamom: This spice is piney and fruity and perfect for fall baking.
• Allspice: It’s actually made from one plant and tastes like all fall spices in one!
• Nutmeg: It’s what gives eggnog it’s Holiday flavor and it adds so much to this blend.
• Cloves: They are a little sweet with plenty of warmth.
• Ground White Pepper: This little kick is what makes your spices warm in your mouth and makes Chai spice different from other blends

How to Make Chai Spice

It’s as easy as dump and mix. It takes 2 minutes to mix and you will have chai spice in your cabinet for a year.

1. Measure: Measure all of the spices into a bowl.
2. Combine: Whisk the spices together until combined.
3. Store: Store in an airtight container or jar at room temperature for up to 1 year.
4. Use: Use as needed in baked goods or recipes that call for chai spice.

Fall Recipes to Try

Baking is one of my favorite things to do in the fall. The oven heats up the house and makes it smell warm and like the Holidays are coming! It’s also a great time to share treats with friends and family who are visiting. I am so happy to share some of my favorite fall treats with you!

Desserts

Apple Dump Cake

Desserts

Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake

Desserts

Pumpkin Cheesecake Snickerdoodles

Desserts

Cinnabon Cinnamon Roll Cake

Print

Chai Spice

There are so many great reasons to make Chai Spice at home! It is a blend of warm fall spices that make it perfect for cakes, cookies, and even your coffee or tea!

Course Seasoning

Cuisine Indian

Keyword Chai Spice, Homemade Spice

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 0 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Servings 8

Calories 19kcal

Author Alyssa Rivers

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons ginger
• 1 tablespoons cardamom
• 2 teaspoons allspice
• 2 teaspoons nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground white pepper

Instructions

• Measure all of the spices into a bowl.
• Whisk the spices together until combined.
• Store in an airtight container or jar at room temperature for up to 1 year.
• Use as needed in baked goods or recipes that call for chai spice.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 19kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 0.4g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 41mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 15IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 1mg

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday, though my appreciation for it has changed substantially over the years. Long gone are the nights spent trick-or-treating, seeking the thrill of the hunt as much as the sugar high to follow. Off-the-shelf costumes are permanently off the shopping list, since I refuse to dress as the “sexy” version of literally anything. Now, I’m content to enjoy the spooky season in a similar way to other special events: By playing with my food.

Whether you’re throwing a Halloween party for one or one hundred, solid snacks are an absolute must. Balancing out the abundance of candy and booze alike, reasonably healthy and savory options are paramount to killer bash. For that, I turn to classic guacamole, but with a ghoulish twist.

Pick your favorite recipe and get crafty! Here are four different ways to dress up the same old green goop as a fun, festive party starter.

Sick Dip

I’m sure everyone’s familiar with the classic barfing jack-o-lantern motif by now, but what if we could make that into an edible centerpiece? Allow me to present sick dip, replacing the pumpkin with a carved bell pepper.

1. Cut around the top in a jagged pattern just like you would for a traditional jack-o-lantern. Pull off the top and remove the seeds and membrane inside.
2. Use a paring knife to carefully carve out eyes and a large opening for the mouth.
3. Place the pepper on a serving plate and fill it with your guacamole, pushing some out the mouth hole.
4. Fill the rest of the plate with more guacamole and place the top back onto the pepper.
5. Serve with the paring knife sticking out of the pepper for guests to slice off their own crudites.

Guacamole Graveyard

Parting is such savory sorrow when the final resting place is this delicious. You could pipe “RIP” onto the tombstones with smooth guaca-mole, but I prefer to keep it simple and classy.

1. Spread your guacamole into a rectangular dish an in even layer.
2. Stick crackers in, spaced at regular intervals, in two or three rows.
3. Spoon a mound of minced black olives or tapenade in front of each cracker tombstone to make the burial plots.
4. Serve with more crackers on the side.

Monster Mash

Kids will especially love this silly Frankenstein face! You may even be able to convince them to eat their veggies this way. You can even blend fresh spinach into the guacamole to make it more green and add an extra superfood boost.

1. Spread your guacamole in a circle on a round plate, leaving a larger border at the top.
2. Stick crackers or cut vegetable crudites into the top part for the hair.
3. Cut a black olive in half and add them to the middle as eyes.
4. Cut a jagged smile out of a bell pepper or carrot slice for the mouth.

Wicked Web

When all else fails, weave a simple spiderweb that’s guaranteed to catch guests’ attention.

1. Spread your guacamole into a round dish in an even layer.
2. Drizzle plain, unsweetened vegan yogurt, ranch dressing, or sour cream in a spiral pattern, starting in the center and radiating out.
3. Use a toothpick to drag the loops alternating inward and outward from the center.
4. For the spider, place one whole olive near the middle of the web. Cut another olive in half lengthwise, and then slice four little legs from each piece. Arrange them next to the side body.
5. Enjoy with any of your favorite dippers.

Get into the Halloween spirit and whip up a ghastly appetizer that will haunt your friends and family all season! What’s your favorite diabolical dish?

The post GuacTober appeared first on BitterSweet.