Halloween treats

(WTNH) - Holly Pinafore prepares some Halloween treats for kids and adults.

2 cups gluten-free chocolate cookies (Oreos for those who don't have wheat allergies)

2 cups low-fat milk or almond milk

1 package instant chocolate pudding

1 tub whipped topping such as Cool Whip

gummy worms

FOR GROWN-UPS: 1/2 cup Pinnacle® Whipped Cream Vodka (found in any liquor store)

Plastic cups or festive Halloween goblets (if you want, you can serve this party-style in a large bowl instead and let people serve themselves)

 

Mix dry pudding powder with the milk. Follow directions on the pudding box (it should be the no-cook pudding that goes straight into your fridge when prepared). Let that settle while you crush the cookies. Now would be a good time to mix in a little bit of whipped cream flavored vodka if serving to grown-ups only!

 

Place your chocolate cookies into a zipper bag. Whip out your hammer, mallet or fist and pound on the cookies until they're finely ground...enough to look like actual dirt. This is a great way to release frustration after a stressful work day!

 

Mix the pudding with the whipped topping until everything is well incorporated.

 

Add about a handful of the crushed cookies to the bottom of each plastic cups or fancy plastic Halloween goblet (I found these for $2.50 each at the drugstore), then add some of the pudding mixture to each cup. Combine it with more of the cookies until it starts to look like dirt, then add creepy crawly candies such as gummy worms (I like to use the sour kind). You can add candy eyeballs and spiders, and a bunch of other Halloween goodies. This dessert beats any jack-o-lantern full of candy. And it's so easy, my three-year-old nephew can make it.

 

Also, if we've got time, I'd like to share my cocktail called the DRACULA DAQUIRI:

 

Mix all or any of the following juices into frozen glasses (use the good stuff, not the juice cocktail):

 

Cherry juice or cranberry juice

Orange juice

Pineapple juice

Frozen raspberries

A squeeze of lime

(Light rum for the big people, ginger ale for the kiddies)

Plastic fangs (to float inside the glass)

Red sugar to go along the rim

 

Depending on your preference, you can blend everything together in the blender or shake it up old-school style then garnish with some plastic spiders and float a pair of plastic fangs in each drink!