Hosting a Halloween party this weekend? Check out these totally eerie-sistible food and drink recipes. BCBSKS members can find even more recipes through the WebMD portal in BlueAccess®.

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Jalapeno Cheese Spread Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 block (8 ounces) light cream cheese
• 1/3 cup jalapeno jelly
• Reduced-fat wheat crackers (such as Reduced-Fat Wheat Thins®)

Preparation:

1. Place the cream cheese block on a serving plate.
2. Spread jalapeno jelly evenly over the top.
3. Serve with reduced-fat wheat crackers.

Yield: 8 servings

Nutritional Information: Per serving of spread: (not including crackers) 94 calories, 3 g protein, 10 g carbs, 4 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 13 mg cholesterol, 0.1 g fiber, 137 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 44%.

© 2003-2006 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved.

Apple Pie Crisp Recipe

Ingredients:

Crisp Topping:

• 1/2 cup walnuts
• 1/2 cup unbleached white flour
• 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 tablespoons no-trans-fat margarine with 8 grams of fat per tablespoon, melted (melt in microwave or small saucepan)
• 3 tablespoons maple syrup, pancake syrup, or light pancake syrup

Filling:

• 4 cups cored and thinly sliced apples (Pippin and Granny Smith work well), firmly packed
• 1/4 cup sugar (or substitute 2 tablespoons Splenda)
• 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
• 2 tablespoons unbleached flour

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a 9×9-inch baking dish, 9-inch cake pan, or deep-dish pie plate with canola cooking spray.
2. Toast the walnuts by spreading on a pie plate and heating in oven until fragrant (about 7 minutes). Chop the nuts medium-fine.
3. Combine the flours, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a mixing bowl. Drizzle the melted margarine and maple syrup over the top and blend on LOW speed until crumbly. Add the chopped nuts and mix well. (The topping can be prepared up to a week ahead and refrigerated).
4. Put the sliced apples in a large bowl. Add the sugar and apple pie spice to a 1-cup measure, then pour over the apples and toss. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of flour over the apples and mix gently. Pour the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
5. Spoon the topping over the apples, pressing down lightly. Place the dish on a baking sheet (if necessary) to catch any overflow. Bake on the center rack of oven until the topping is golden brown and the juices have thickened slightly, about 35-45 minutes.
6. Serve warm with light vanilla ice cream!

Yield: 8 servings

Nutritional Information: Per serving (using Take Control margarine): 227 calories, 4 g protein, 37 g carbohydrate, 7.5 g fat (0.7 g saturated fat, 2.7 g monounsaturated fat, 3.8 g polyunsaturated fat), 0 mg cholesterol, 3 g fiber, 35 mg sodium, 1 g Omega-3 fatty acids, 4 g 0mega-6 fatty acids. Calories from fat: 35%.

© 2003-2006 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chardonnay Spice Cake Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 box (18.25 oz) white cake mix
• 1 package (5 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 3/4 cup fat-free sour cream
• 3/4 cup Chardonnay (or other white wine)
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup egg substitute

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray the inside of a Bundt pan with canola cooking spray, then dust with about 2 tablespoons of flour.
2. Add cake mix, vanilla pudding mix, and nutmeg to mixing bowl and beat with electric mixer on LOW speed to blend well.
3. Add the sour cream, wine, eggs, and egg substitute to mixing bowl and beat with mixer on medium speed for 5 minutes (scraping sides and bottom of bowl after a minute).
4. Pour into prepared Bundt pan and bake for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cake cool on rack in pan for 10 minutes. Invert pan on serving plate carefully to release the cake.
5. Serve.

Yield: 12 servings

Nutritional Information: Per serving: 259 calories, 5 g protein, 48 g carbohydrate, 5.5 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 2.3 g monounsaturated fat, 1.9 g polyunsaturated fat, 35 mg cholesterol, 0.6 g fiber, 440 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 23%.

© 2003-2006 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved.

Haunted (Black Cauldron) Punch Recipe

This punch will stain (because of the grape juice), so serve it outside or in a well-protected area.

Ingredients:

• 6 cups 100% grape juice (the dark purple type)
• 6 cups diet orange soda
• 6 cups diet ginger ale soda

Preparation:

1. Add all ingredients to a large serving punch bowl and stir gently to blend well.
2. Add ice or frozen “hands” (made by freezing water inside a new rubber glove) as desired.

Yield: 18 one-cup servings of punch

Nutritional Information: Per serving: 53 calories, 0.5 g protein, 12.7 g carbohydrate, 0 g fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 0.1 g fiber, 20 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 1%.

© 2007 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved.

Hot Spiced Cranberry Cider Recipe

Ingredients:

• 6 cups apple cider
• 5 cups Ocean Spray Light Cranberry Juice Cocktail
• 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 1 1/2 teaspoons whole cloves
• 3/4 lemon, thinly sliced

Preparation:

1. Add apple cider, light cranberry juice cocktail, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, cloves and lemon slices. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
2. Remove cinnamon, cloves and lemon slices with a slotted spoon. Serve hot. (You can also add all of the ingredients to a slow cooker and heat on HIGH until nice and hot, then reduce heat to LOW to keep warm through the evening.)

Yield: 11 servings (about 1 cup each)

Nutritional Information: Per serving: 93 calories, 0 g protein, 23 g carbohydrate, .2 g fat (0 g saturated fat), 0 mg cholesterol, 0.2 g fiber, 6 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 2%.

SOURCE: © 2005 Elaine Magee

© 2003-2006 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved.