For some people Halloween means as much to them as Christmas would to another person. As such, this occasion would be deemed gift giving. I have actually received a card and flowers from a friend on Halloween because it is her favorite holiday. Regardless if you are the gift giver or receiver, here are some great Halloween gift ideas.

Get Creative! Potion labels are a cool way to personalize a bottle of your friend’s favorite drink or bottle of wine. Just add a themed label appropriate for Halloween and you’re set!  Or creating a collage scrapbook already decorated, just waiting for the photos of this year’s party to frame or bind.

Homemade goods are a unique way to show your friends, or guests at a party, that you appreciate them. Everyone loves a good homemade treat. For this holiday, why not do a candied apple or pumpkin spice bread or ghost shaped cookies. 

Tickets to a fun Halloween themed event. There are bound to be places in your city that will celebrate this spooky holiday. Why not help the Halloween enthusiast in your life celebrate by buying them a ticket. It could be a hayride, haunted house, roller coaster theme park or maybe even a special movie premier.

Provide some type of entertainment by purchasing a Halloween book or movie. If your friend is into the whole scary experience, there are plenty of Halloween movies guaranteed to spoke him or her. Check out our list of 10 Awesome Halloween Movies.

If there are other Halloween gifts you have given or received, let us know! It would be nice to see all the imaginative ideas for this holiday.

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This was a recipe recommended by one of our own at ForRent.com. “Junior mints and brownies how can you go wrong?  The candy makes them moist and chewy and it’s a special surprise for your guests who just thought they were plain brownies.  Bring them to your next family event and I can’t guarantee they’ll let you take on the turkey next year but they might trust you with an apple pie or some Mac n’ Cheese.  I give them 2 snaps up!”

Ingredients:

• Cooking spray
• 1/4  cup  butter or stick margarine
• 32  (about 3 ounces) creamy, small-size mints in pure chocolate (such as Junior Mints)
• 1  cup  all-purpose flour
• 1/4  teaspoon  baking soda
• 1/8  teaspoon  salt
• 2/3  cup  sugar
• 1/3  cup  unsweetened cocoa
• 1  large egg
• 1  large egg white

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Coat bottom of an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray.

Combine butter and mints in a 2-cup glass measure; microwave at high 30 seconds or until soft. Stir until smooth, and set aside.

Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup, and level with a knife. Combine flour, soda, and salt in a bowl. Combine sugar, cocoa, egg, and egg white in a large bowl; beat at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended. Add mint mixture; beat well. Add flour mixture; beat at low speed just until blended. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean; cool completely on a wire rack.

Taken from MyRecipes.com

As with tradition when a big holiday is around the corner, we like to post recipes for everyone to see. With this posting, however, we have posted a complete meal! The delicious main course, the heavenly side dish and the ever-so-needed scrumptious dessert!

Cranberry Chicken

Tender baked chicken gets dressed for the holidays with a chunky spiced fruit sauce in this recipe shared by Linda Rock of Stratford, Wisconsin on TasteofHome.com.

Ingredients:

• 6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1-1/2 pounds)
• 1 can (16 ounces) whole-berry cranberry sauce
• 1 large tart apple, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 teaspoon curry powder

Directions:

• 1. Place chicken in a 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20 minutes.
• 2. Meanwhile, combine the remaining ingredients. Spoon over chicken. Bake, uncovered, 20-25 minutes longer or until chicken juices run clear.

Yield: 6 servings.

Crunchy Sweet Potato Casserole

This tasty side dish is sure to be a crowd pleaser! Just seeing the yummy picture is making my stomach growl!!! Provided by TasteofHome.com.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups mashed sweet potatoes
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• TOPPING:
• 1 cup crushed cornflakes
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup butter

Directions:

• In a large bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. Spoon into a greased 1-1/2-qt. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 20 minutes.
• Combine topping ingredients; sprinkle over potatoes. Bake 5-10 minutes longer or until the topping is lightly browned.

Yield: 6 servings. 

Pumpkin Spice Cake

I’ve actually made this little dessert. Not only is it very delicious, but it’s super easy to make too!

Ingredients:

• Yellow cake mix
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup of water
• 1 cup of canned pumpkin
• 1 ¾ teaspoon of cinnamon (divided)
• ¼ teaspoon of ginger
• ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg
• 2 ½ cups ov vanilla frosting

Directions:

•  Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix cake mix, eggs, water, canned pumpkin, tspn of cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. Beat on low for 30 seconds, then 2 minutes on medium.
•  Pour into well greased/floured pans (2 9-inch round pans or bundt cake pan). Bake 20-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool.
•  Mix remaining cinnamon with frosting. Frost top of one 9-inch round cake, place the second 9-inch round cake ontop and frost all around the cake. Or if using a bundt cake, frost on the outside.
•  Serve and Eat!!!

With all the festivities surrounding the planning of your Thanksgiving feast, it’s no wonder you have forgotten one very important detail-the centerpiece! No worries, I’ve complied five easy and quick ways to make your centerpiece perfect for your family gathering.  The best part….most of them can be found at your local grocery store or right in your own home!!

Pumpkin Patch Centerpiece

For this masterpiece you’ll need pumpkins in a variety of sizes; one being large. Place the large pumpkin in the center of the table and arrange the other-sized pumpkins around it. To add a little bit more of décor, also add a few leaves and/or twigs.

Pumpkin Candle Centerpiece

For this Thanksgiving centerpiece, you’ll need a medium sized pumpkin, a 6 inch pillar candle, twigs, berries, and/or leaves. Cut the stem off of the top of the pumpkin. Place the pillar candle on top of the pumpkin and trace around it. Take a sharp knife and cut the circle out with about a 3 inch cut into the pumpkin and discard. Put the pillar candle inside the hole, place the twigs, leaves, and/or berries as an accent next to the candle.

Fall Bowl

With entertaining this Thanksgiving extra bowls will be sparse, as they will most likely be used for the mash potatoes, sweet potatoes and green beans. I would just recommend serving one of the sides in another shape serving ware and use the bowl for the centerpiece. For this creation, you’ll need leaves, twigs, pinecones, a pumpkin and a vibrant color ribbon.  Place the pumpkin in the middle of the bowl, tie the colored ribbon around the pumpkin (recommended colors would be red, orange or yellow). Then arrange the leaves, twigs and pinecones around the pumpkin.

Mini-Pumpkin Place Card Holders

For this table ornament, you won’t be doing one centerpiece as much as you’ll be doing several; in fact, you’ll be doing one for each guest. However many you plan on entertaining is how many little pumpkins you’ll need. Now, if this truly is a last minute project you can substitute some of the mini pumpkins for other fruits, i.e. apples and oranges.  You’ll need paper, a pen and toothpicks. Cut the paper into small square pieces. Write the names of your guests on one piece of paper. Then stick that name, with a toothpick, to the pumpkin, apple or orange. Set in front of a place setting. If you’d rather not designate seating, place these items inside a basket with leaves adorning it.  

Cake Plate Pumpkin

If you haven’t already used your cake plate or (tiered) fruit tray then save it for your beautiful centerpiece. Place the cake/pedestal plate or fruit tray in the center of the table. Arrange mini-pumpkins, a variety of fruits, leaves, twigs, or whatever you can find on top. This really is the ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ type of décor.

On our site we’ve provided you some tips for your Thanksgiving feast , décor, and now your centerpiece, we truly hope this Thanksgiving will be a pleasant experience. For more centerpiece ideas check out About.com and Bhg.com.

Apple BitesTaken from FamilyFun.com

These toothsome treats are a fun and healthy break from Halloween sweets.

RECIPE INGREDIENTS: Apples
Slivered almonds

1. Just quarter and core an apple, cut a wedge from the skin side of each quarter, then press slivered almonds in place for teeth.

2. Tip: If you’re not going to serve them right away, baste the apples with orange juice to keep them from browning.

A delicious and healthy snack to serve this year for Halloween! Enjoy…..