Top of the morning to you! Hope you were brave and tried the Oxtail Soup recipe last weekend...yummy! Oh, oxtails have such a different flavor that I have not experienced before. Usually, I'm a bit afraid to try something new, but this savory soup was a huge hit with me and #3 as we brunched in the Ozarks last week.

Well, on to even newer and possibly scarier horizons. I am going to be really, really brave during the next few weeks because you know what's coming up! Yes, Halloween, my most favorite holiday of the year! And I'm starting early, so we don't miss out on all this goblin fun! Let's plan scary, kooky, spooky, and ghostly things into our menu. I know it's a wee bit early, but I just can't wait...because it's my most favorite month of the year and besides, it's never too early to have Halloween shenanigan fun! "Be afraid, be very afraid" and please, do come along to see what I have planned for this exciting and bountiful time of year! Shop green and copy this page to use for a convenient shopping list. Remember to get your pumpkin early at your local, neighborhood pumpkin patch. Happy Early Halloween!

Menu

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Savory Pumpkin Soup taken from Jones2888 at http://grouprecipes.com/

Ingredients
2 cans (15 ounces each) pure pumpkin
2 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) canned chicken or vegetable broth
1 cup whipping cream
2 garlic cloves, smashed
1 bay leaf
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Whisk pumpkin, broth, cream, garlic and bay leaf in a heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat

Bring to a simmer, whisking often

Add syrup and ginger

Simmer 10 minutes

Remove garlic and bay leaf

Season to taste with salt and pepper

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Halloween Pizza Treats taken from annieamie at http://grouprecipes.com/

Ingredients

4 English muffins
Pizza sauce
Mozzarella cheese
Pepperoni
Green onion, peppers, mushrooms, etc. to decorate
*You can use a pre-made pizza dough like Boboli or use the canned pizza dough. You can even use hamburger buns!

Directions
Cut English muffins in half
Spread pizza sauce over the muffins and sprinkle on cheese
Cut pepperoni to create pumpkin faces or monsters
Use peppers, mushrooms, green onions, zucchini, carrots, raisins, olives, etc for other details

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Frankenstein Salad taken from mountainmama at http://grouprecipes.com/

Ingredients
2 packages (6 ounces each) lime gelatin
2-1/2 cups boiling water
3/4 cup bean sprouts
12 orange jelly beans
6 red jelly beans
3 tablespoons sour cream
12 miniature marshmallows
Purple kale, optional

Directions
In a bowl, dissolve gelatin in water

Pour into an 8-in. square pan that has been coated with cooking spray

Refrigerate for 4 hours or until firm

Cut into six rectangles; place each on a plate

Decorate with bean sprouts for hair, orange jelly beans for eyes an a red jelly bean for nose

Fill a small plastic bag with sour cream; cut a small hole in the corner of the bag. Pipe a jagged smile on face

Place marshmallows on side of head for bolts

Garnish plates with kale if desired

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Orange Witches Brew Punch taken from mountainmama at http://grouprecipes.com/

Ingredients
1 package (6 ounces) orange gelatin
1/2 to 1 cup sugar
2 cups boiling water
1 can (46 ounces) apricot nectar
1 can (46 ounces) pineapple juice
3/4 cup lemon juice
4 liters ginger ale, chilled

Directions
In a large bowl, dissolve gelatin and sugar in water

Stir in the apricot nectar, pineapple juice and lemon juice

Freeze in two 2-qt. freezer containers
Remove from the freezer 2-3 hours before serving

Place contents of one container in a punch bowl; mash with potato masher

Stir in ginger ale just before serving. Repeat.
Yield: about 8 quarts

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Easy Halloween Cookies taken from mamajune at http://grouprecipes.com/

Ingredients
1 (12-ounce) bag white chocolate chips
1 tablespoon vegetable shortening
Ritz crackers
Creamy or crunchy peanut butter
Orange candy sprinkles

Directions
In small, heavy saucepan melt chocolate and shortening together over
low heat, stirring until smooth
Make sandwich cookies out of the Ritz crackers using peanut butter for
the filling
Dip each cookie into the melted chocolate mixture and place on waxed
paper. Sprinkle with the orange candy sprinkles. Allow to dry at room
temperature.
Store in an air tight container at room temperature

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Carved Halloween Pumpkin for your door http://pumpkincarving101.com______________________________________________________________

Coffee, Tea, or stick to the Witches Brew!