Whether dressed in a fairy princess costume, super hero garb or as a spooky goblin, children have fun trick-or-treating through neighborhoods on Halloween. In an effort to keep these little ones safe the one night a year they get to go door to door asking for candy, the American Academy of Pediatrics has listed on their website Halloween safety tips, which include costume safety, homeowner tips, parental guidelines and alternative ideas for treats instead of candy. Some of their advice includes using reflective gear, planning out routes and making sure children know to call 911 in case of an emergency.

Vicksburg and Warren County will observe trick-or-treating from 6 to 8 p.m.

And for those who will be attending Halloween or fall parties, it is good to know fun eats do not always have to come from a trick-or-treat sack. In addition to tasty treats that can be found on the “web,” Margie Heltzel shared a few of her recipes she used at the Kids in the Kitchen workshop held at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center, Tuesday.
Monster Munchie Mix

4 Cups of chocolate chex cereal

4 Cups of pretzels

4 Cups of bugles

1 Bag of Halloween M&Ms

1 Bag of candy corn

1 Bag of Mellowcreme pumpkins

Combine all ingredients in a large pan or bowl. Store in an airtight container or place in treat bags to distribute to friends and family.
Halloweenie Mummies

1 Package of hot dogs

1 Tube of crescent rolls

Mustard or ketchup

Heat oven to 375 degrees. On work surface, roll crescent roll dough into a rectangle.

Cut into thin strips. Wrap 1 strip of dough around each hot dog to look like a little mummy; press firmly at each end to secure. Place on cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Use ketchup or mustard to make eyes on the mummies.
Wild Witch Cheese Dip

1 Pound of ground meat, browned

1 Pkg. (16 oz) Velveeta, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

1 can Ro*Tel Original Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, undrained

Sour Cream

Jalapeños

Combine tomatoes and Velveeta in medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat 5 minutes or until Velveeta is melted completely and mixture is blended, stirring frequently. Add the browned ground meat. Serve warm as a dip with Halloween tortilla chips. Top with sour cream & jalapeños.
Candy Corn Parfaits

Mandarin oranges

Pineapple chunks, fresh or canned

Whipped topping

Candy corn

Halloween sprinkles

In jars or clear plastic cups place 1/3 cup mandarin oranges in each, then 1/3 cup pineapple. Top each with 3 tablespoons of whipped cream, candy corn, and Halloween sprinkles.
Bat Brownies

Box of brownie mix, prepared

Chocolate frosting

Miniature chocolate chips

Prepare your favorite brownies according to the directions. Leave in pan to cool.

Once cooled, use a bat cookie cutter to cut bat brownies. Ice each brownie with chocolate frosting and add two miniature chocolate chips to make eyes! Enjoy!
Candy Corn Pretzel Hugs

• Circle or square-shaped pretzels

• Hershey’s Kisses Hugs

• Candy corn

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Align pretzels on the sheet. Unwrap Hugs and place one on each pretzel. Stick in the oven until the hug begins to melt down. While the Hugs are melting in the oven, get the candy corn ready because you will have to move quickly once the pretzels are out of the oven.

Remove pretzel hugs from oven and gently press a candy corn down on each one. The Hug should flatten out when you press the candy corn on it. If it is not flattening out, place the pretzel hugs back in the oven for 30 more seconds.

Let the pretzel hugs cool completely and let the chocolate set for about 10 minutes in the refrigerator. These are a great make ahead treat: make them 1-3 days before you need them and store covered in the refrigerator. sallysbakingaddiction.com.
Halloweeño Jalapeño Popper Mummies

• 10 Jalapeño peppers, sliced in half lengthwise and pith/ seeds removed (use rubber gloves so your hands don’t burn from the jalapeño). Leave the stem if you can on some or all of the halves.

• 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

• 8 Ounces jack cheese, shredded

• 1 scallion (green onion), finely chopped

• ½ Teaspoon salt

• 1 Package refrigerated crescent rolls (I use Pillsbury)

• 2 eggs, beaten

• Candy eyeball (can be purchased at Michael’s or on Amazon or you can always use a little cream cheese and piece of a black olive for the eyes)

Preheat oven 400 degrees. In a small bowl, mix the cream cheese, jack cheese, scallion and salt until well blended. Roll out the crescent rolls and separate into 4 rectangles (not triangles) with a perforation in the middle of each. Press your fingers into the perforations to seal them. Using a pizza cutter, cut each rectangle into 10 long pieces lengthwise.

Fill each jalepeño half with the cheese mixture. Wrap each jalapeño half with the dough, leaving a space for the eyes. Use two pieces of dough if necessary. Brush with egg mixture and place on baking sheet.

Bake in oven for 8-10 minutes. Remove from the oven and press the eyes into the cheese where the opening is. Remove eyes before eating. Serve immediately.
American Academy of Pediatrics Halloween Safety Tips

· Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.

· Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.

· Because masks can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives. Hats should fit properly to prevent them from sliding over eyes. Makeup should be tested ahead of time on a small patch of skin to ensure there are no unpleasant surprises on the big day.

· When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories look for and purchase those with a label clearly indicating they are flame resistant.

· If a sword, cane, or stick is a part of a child’s costume, make sure it is not sharp or long. · Do not use decorative contact lenses without an eye examination and a prescription from an eye care professional. While the packaging on decorative lenses will often make claims such as “one size fits all,” or “no need to see an eye specialist,” obtaining decorative contact lenses without a prescription is both dangerous and illegal. This can cause pain, inflammation, and serious eye disorders and infections, which may lead to permanent vision loss.

· Review with children how to call 911 (or their local emergency number) if they ever have an emergency or become lost

HOME SAFE HOME:

• To keep homes safe for visiting trick-or-treaters, homeowners should remove from the porch and front yard anything a child could trip over such as garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations.

• Homeowners should check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.

• Wet leaves should be swept from sidewalks and steps.

• Restrain pets so they do not inadvertently jump on or bite a trick-or-treater.

 

ON THE TRICK-OR-TREAT TRAIL

• A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.

• Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.

• If your older children are going alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you. Agree on a specific time when they should return home.

• Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.

• Because pedestrian injuries are the most common injuries to children on Halloween, remind Trick-or-Treaters to:

• Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going.

• Remember reflective tape for costumes and trick-or-treat bags.

• Carry a cellphone for quick communication.

• Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.

• If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.

• Never cut across yards or use alleys.

• Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks, and never cross between parked cars or out driveways.

• Don’t assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing trick-or-treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn’t mean others will.

• Law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.

HEALTHY HALLOWEEN:

• A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.

• Consider purchasing non-food treats for those who visit your home, such as coloring books or pens and pencils.

• Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.

• Try to ration treats for the days and weeks following Halloween.