Healthy Halloween Treats

Halloween is almost here! Just because Halloween is known for the delicious candy you get doesn’t mean you have to give in to temptation and eat unhealthy. If you are determined to lose weight by the end of the year, there are ways to stay on track throughout holidays like this. Our health clinics at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to give you a couple of healthy Halloween treat recipes we found online that could be great for your next festive party treat. If you child is feeling sick and you need to get them in to a doctor you can trust before the holiday, call Central Ozarks Medical Center today. Our phone numbers and locations are listed on our website at www.CentralOzarks.org.

Healthy Halloween Treats

Source: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/sweet-and-spicy-pepitas-popcorn-balls-recipe-1928429

Sweet and Spicy Pepitas Popcorn Balls

Total: 40 min

Prep: 20 min

Cook: 20 min

Yield: 20 balls

Ingredients

3 (3.5-ounce) bags natural microwave popcorn

2 cups pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds)

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces, plus more for forming

1/4 teaspoon fine salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions

Pop the popcorn according to package instructions. While hot, carefully open package and dump into a large bowl.

Toast the pumpkin seeds in a large skillet over medium-high heat, until browned and popping, tossing and stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes. (Do this in batches, if needed.) Add to the popcorn.

Make caramel: Warm the cream over low heat and keep warm while you cook the sugar. Put the sugar and corn syrup and in a deep, heavy-bottomed large saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves. Stop stirring, raise heat to medium-high, and simmer until the sugar reaches the hard crack stage, or 305 degrees F on a candy thermometer, about 7 minutes.

Whisk the butter and salt into the sugar mixture. Gradually pour in the cream and vanilla taking care since the mixture will bubble up. Reduce the heat to medium and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar reaches soft ball stage, 240 degrees F on the thermometer, about 5 minutes more. Immediately remove from the heat and stir in the cinnamon and cayenne. Cool for about a minute. Pour caramel over the popcorn and stir to evenly coat.

When the popcorn is cool enough to handle, coat your hands with some butter and shape into 4-inch balls. Wrap in waxed paper and tie with a string, if desired. Serve or store covered at room temperature for up to a week.

Source: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/jeff-mauro/deviled-ham-eyeball-sandwich-recipe-2125219#/

Deviled Ham Eyeball Sandwich

Total: 25 min

Prep: 25 min

Yield: 20 eyeballs

Ingredients

20 slices white bread, such as Arnold Brick Oven White Sandwich Bread

2 cups smoked cooked ham, chopped (about 8 ounces)

1/3 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon pickled relish

1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

3 dashes hot sauce, such as Tabasco

Kosher salt

10 pimento-stuffed green olives, sliced in half

Ketchup, for squirting

Directions

Special equipment: 2 1/2-inch round cookie cutter

Punch out rounds from the bread using a 2 1/2-inch round cookie cutter. Lay out the rounds on a baking sheet. Set aside.

Add the ham, mayonnaise, honey, mustard, relish, Worcestershire and hot sauce in the bowl of a food processor. Sprinkle with salt and pulse until finely chopped, but still chunky. Spoon a tablespoon at a time of the ham mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Roll each spoonful into round balls. Stuff 1 olive into the center of each ball for eyes. Lay the balls in the center of the bread rounds. Squirt ketchup around the edges of the bread to mimic veins. Serve to kids and pray they don’t cry from how scary these are.

We believe in leading the way to healthier communities. If you are needing a new doctor at the Lake of the Ozarks to become your family doctor, call Central Ozarks Medical Center today. Visit our website at www.CentralOzarks.org for our contact information. We’d like to wish everyone a Happy Halloween!

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