Good Versus Healthy Halloween Treats

Everyone wants to be the house with the good treats.It's a badge of coolness and a feeling of smug pride. Yet what is good? Is it gooey, cavity inducing sweets or nutrition  packed fruit or pretzels. That's the question. What the best goody to give out.


Ask any kid and they'll tell you , candy is best. We all know that. Yet what's the best candy health wise to give out?.Dark chocolate , whether kisses or fun sized bars are one good option. Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants.Its also less sweet than the milk variety. If you do want to hand out candy bars then consider Almond Joys and Mounds. These coconut rich treats have eight calories a piece and the Almond Joys also have fiber thanks to the nuts. . A piece is only around eighty-eight calorie and less than six grams of fat. Think Tootsie for another treat. Both the tiny rolls and pops are low in calories A tootsie roll is only seventy calories while the candy filled lollipop is just sixty. Both have zero grams of fat. If you want to give out something colorful think Smarties or Sweet tarts.These tart little discs have no fat, very little sugar and hardly any calories. A Smarties roll is has only twenty five while a small pack of Smarties has only thirty. Hand out three or four rolls or packs to each trick or treater and you're golden.Twizzlers are fun too  - and better yet low in calories They're also chewy too, so it'll take some time to eat and digest them.

You may want to go the fun and healthy route instead.Apples and pears are always good, Think a bowl filled with different kinds such as Fujis and Granny Smiths  along with Bartlett, Bosc, and Anjou pears.Pretzels are always good. They're low in calorie and fun to munch .Keep in mind that some kids do suffer from gluten allergies so have the gluten free variety on the ready. You can go entirely gluten free or go half and half with packets of regular pretzels. What about Goldfish? Luckily Pepperidge Farm does have a gluten free version that's just as tasty as the original,They 're actually puffy - which are even more fun to eat and their flavors are buffalo wing,mega cheese and cheddar bacon.  You can buy Halloween themed packets or make your own. A few moms and dads may feel granola bars are also a great give out.If you decide on this  just be super careful with what you give out. Keep in mind many have nuts and that's lethal for kids with nut allergies.Try 18 Rabbits brand which is wheat, nut and dairy free.They come in such flavors as Caramel Apple, Chocolate Banana, Mango. and Chocolate Cherry Kind brand is also very good.with such yummy flavors as vanilla blueberry, salted caramel, and maple pumpkin seeds with sea salt.

What to go with for next week? That's up to you - but keep in mind what those trick or treaters parents want.for their kids. Be cool, but be wise too.

Times Food Gift Guide

Buying the right gift for the foodie or home chef is always a tough deal.You're in a quandary about what to get pots, pans, gadgets foods? Or would they like embroidered linens to create a pretty table?Thank heavens for the New York Times Food section gift guide.There are some really interesting choices made by the sections staff of writers.

One of the things I love about the Times is that there is a variety of truly unique items.Personally I. Would love to wake up to a stocking full of Kikerland Lollipops.These are unique lollipops with  a whole orange ,kiwi, lemon or pineapple slice encased in a crystalline lozenge.The company also has herb and fruit flavor s like rosemary and lavender along with dried strawberries.For more of the child in your favorite foodie or for the child foodie in your life there is the book entitled .Julia Child. It was written by Kyo McClear and illustrated by Julie Mortstad, with the story being about Julia Child's friendship with Simone Beck aka Simca.It's a whimsical take on America's greatest chef in child form zipping around on roller skates making cheese soufflé and peach compote. Another neat kid foodie gift is the Kukkia Crepe Shop Kit which has a chalkboard crepe griddle and  a wooden trowel for spreading batter.There are also fabric crepes to be filled with fabric fruit and pretty ribbon  for tying.

Of course there are suggestions for adult home chefs. Any woman would appreciate a whimsical whisk charm on a gold or sterling silver chain. It's a great conversation started and attention getter. for serious home chefs there is the handground and made Cut Brooklyn knife from the artesenal cutlery company, Cut Brooklyn.They are beautifully crafted and long lasting, truly a gift that will become an heirloom. a colorful spatula by  is another   good gift These come in a rainbow of colors, from black and white to orange and purple and are made of durable and sturdy silicon.Also recommended is the Le Creuset Braiser, perfect for braising and also browning, Linens make memorable Christmas and Chanukah gifts, Sam Sifton recommends a tasseled and richly embroidered table runner from Anthropologie while Melissa Clark suggests cute sackcloth tea towels from Etsy.

Consider some of these  gifts when shopping for the foodies and home chefs in your life. They make interesting holiday gifts. They're different , and a fun deviation from the standard kitchen and food presents.

A Candy Store's Worth Of Recipes

Everyone loves candy as we've just witnessed yesterday with Easter.Store bought bonbons can be good but what's even better is the homemade kind.Nothing beats fresh buttery fudge or creamy homemade caramels straight from the stove.Even better is that once one batch is gone ,another batch can be made. There's no need for a special trip to the local confectionary store for some more almond bark or lollipops. Author and candy maker Jane Sharrock knows this and gives us a plethora of yummy recipes in her latest book, 300 Best Homemade Candy Recipes (Robert Rose Publishers).There is almost every kind of sweet here, from nutty pralines to actual sugarplums made with apricots.What is the best part is that Ms. Sharrock separates the recipes into four categories, from novice and super easy to experienced.Once the home candy maker has tried a few recipes he or she can graduate to the next level.Another plus is the explanation of the different stages from soft ball to brittle.These help in more complicated candies such as lollipops and ganache.Ms. Sharrock also updates old recipes descriptions such as butter the size f a walnut or egg and clabber milk(essentially soured milk)'She had written an entire chapter on chocolate dipping along with hints for achieving the perfect coating.Another sweet touch are the anecdotes added to almost every candy.Many recipes are from family and neighbors and they are acknowledged in little stories under the recipes. The book is great and has some good how to photographs as well. I love the lollipop how too as well as the fudge one.Candy making seems so scary due to the intense high temps as well as getting it right, however the pictures seems to take a lot of the fear out of it. Ms Shartock has candy recipes for almost every taste.Some of the ones I'd love to try-are the pastel butter mints along with the old fashioned candy apples as well as the many fudge ones.Having grown up on homemade Jersey shore candy ,anything fresh from the kitchen is appealing.There is also a section on "healthy " candy,ones that re made with sunflower seeds and dried fruit..These recipes are great for moms who don't want to make something ultra decadent,There are also recipes that could work for birthday and theme parties such as popcorn balls and a neat sounding popcorn cake . What better favors than with glass candy and homemade toffee.All of the recipes would make lovely birthday or Christmas presents too. Candy really is dandy and the homemade kind even more so.Jane Sharrock proves that in her cookbook.It's not only a great book for candy lovers but also for home chefs who want to expand their repertoire.