Witch's Broomstick Halloween Cheese & Pretzel Snacks

I don't know about you but I cringe at the thought of the amount of candy that will be presented to my daughter come Halloween night and how quickly she will beg me to devour it all.  In search of something with a little less sugar, I came across these cute little broomsticks.  They are fast and easy and I love how they don't involve candy!    

Ingredients:
Yields 12
Recipe by CocinandoconCatMan.com

• 6 string cheese sticks
• 12 pretzel sticks
• Chives

Directions:

Cut each string cheese stick in half.  Carefully press a pretzel stick into the uncut side of each cheese stick about 1/2 inch deep.

Make the bristles.  Using sharp scissors, cut thin slices that are about 1 inch in length.

Gently tie a chive around the top portion of the string cheese and snip off the long ends.

Enjoy!

Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Savory Pumpkin-Sage Sauce

Can you believe Halloween is less than a week away already?!  I haven't even started looking for sales on candy yet.  Tonight is our town's annual Halloween parade.  It's a very small town and a very small parade but I look forward to watching the children strut their stuff in their homemade costumes while I sip on some hot chocolate and try not to get hit in the head by flying candy from the firetrucks.  Next on the list will be to carve some pumpkins from the garden and then roast the seeds.  On Halloween night, I will have some of my family over; half of us go tick-or-treating with the kids and the other half stay behind to hand out candy and have fun.  

In addition to the parade, carving pumpkins, roasting seeds and trick-or-treating, I am always trying to squeeze in as much cooking and baking of my favorite fall foods as I can.  What are some of your Halloween traditions and favorite fall foods to make?

Speaking of fall food, this sauce is one that I have recently experimented with.  The creamy pumpkin-sage sauce pairs so well with this perfectly roasted pork tenderloin.  The sauce is very rich, so a little goes a long way!  Who says pumpkin has be sweet?  

Crab Cakes with Creamy Sriracha Sauce

These delicate crab cakes are so flavorful and delicious!  Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and deemed "Some of the best crab cake I've ever had" by my husband.  The addition of the spicy sriracha sauce just puts these over the top!  They are good enough for company but also perfect for those busy week nights.  This is definitely a family favorite!

Baked Cod with Tomato & Artichoke Sauce

Dress up your cod with something different tonight.  Flaky cod topped with a rich tomato and artichoke sauce that is light and fresh and can be made in 30 minutes.  I love how the tart artichokes compliment the sweet tomatoes in this sauce.  This dish is so flavorful and healthy at the same time!  

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Kahlua Cream Cheese Frosting

Halloween is right around the bend!  I wanted to highlight one of my favorite tasty Halloween recipes that would be a perfect treat for your festivities!  The delicious, creamy Kahlua cream cheese frosting is for adults only, so if you are serving children, simply leave out the Kahlua.  

Giveaway Winner Announcement!

The winner of the "Guess How Many" giveaway contest is...

"1126" from Dawrenda Cooper!

The actual number of baking chips was 1,217!  Congratulations to Dawrenda and a big thank you to all who participated!  Dawrenda, please send your mailing address to mail@cookingcreation.com.  Once I have your information, I will get started on your batch of Nutella Chocolate Chip Cookies!  

I think I'm going to host these giveaways more often!  Thanks again to all who participated!  

Creamy Chicken Alfredo Pasta

This delicious chicken alfredo pasta is rich and creamy and can be ready in under 30 minutes.  It is one of my go-to recipes after a busy day and is a family favorite.  I serve this with a side salad and crusty bread.  I also substitute the chicken with shrimp, scallops or crab, depending on what I have on hand.  

Crock Pot Balsamic Chicken over Pasta

This delicious pasta dish is hearty, healthy and full of flavor.  My family loves the rich, tart and sweet taste of balsamic vinegar - it's definitely a favorite!  If you're unsure about how much balsamic vinegar is right for you, start off by using 2 tbsp.  You can always add more once it's done cooking.  In addition to the amount called for in the recipe, I tend to drizzle about 1/2 tsp more on top of my plate.  Yum!

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Turkey Treats

In an effort to stray from my usual "Oreo Turkey Treats" and "Candy Pilgrim Hats" as treats for the kids on Thanksgiving, I came up with these cute little chocolate covered strawberry turkey treats!  Only five ingredients paired with a little bit of patience and you will have cute, delicious turkey treats that your guests will gobble up!  

As a side note, I know it's a tad early to start posting Thanksgiving recipes.  Honestly, my mind has been in Thanksgiving mode for quite some time now mainly because I have been working with Food.com on Thanksgiving recipe posts since August.