GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Come Monday night, we will once again be awash in goblins, ghouls, ghosts, super heroes and other little (and sometimes, not so little) fantasy outfits. It's Halloween!

Now I come from a time (oh, come on, it really wasn't that long ago... or was it?) when all of the neighborhood kids could safely walk around and fill their oversized pillow cases with everything that our parents would not let us normally get, but this night was special!

Nowadays, unfortunately these same-sized/aged candy magnets need to be taken around by their parents and older siblings. Yes, it is a sad comment on what our society has turned into... unfortunately!

But Mom and Dad, Older Sister and Brother, Neighbor parents will all come out, bundled against the elements and see that these sugar-monsters get the same excitement, and inevitable sugar-rushes and tummy-aches that are part of the Halloween experience; and we thank them all! (And, yes kids, they do get to pick some of their favorites from your goody bag! It's a tax, get used to it!)

The one thing that gets my gut is some of the costumes I am seeing. Hey, ghosts, goblins, Spiderman and the like, I get... Snooki, I don't! Yes, it is probably one of the scariest out there, but in way too many levels to expound upon here!

Planning a Halloween party, either for the kids, or come on, who are we kidding, for you and your friends? Take a little extra time and come up with some ghoulish food!

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

This week's comes from Instructables.com (http://www.instructables.com/id/Halloween-Food/). You really should check it out, both for kid and adult food, and even Creepy Bubble Halloween Cocktails. The Kitty Layer Cake is almost too much in left field, even for me!

And this week's recipe of the week are “Mummy Dogs” from their website.

THANKS ARE IN ORDER

I would be remiss if I did not give a great Shout-Out to the staff and volunteers from the United Way and the DoubleTree Hotel for the Signature Chef Auction event last Friday! They could not have put on a better event and we look forward to next year's! Thanks to all the participating chefs who put out some truly outstanding food!

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Lee is the founder and owner of Decadence Gourmet Cheesecakes and Catering. He can be reached at decadencecheesecakes@mindspring.com, through their website at www.decadencecheesecakes.com, on Facebook or by calling 256-4688!

RECIPES

Mummy Dogs

(from Instructables.com)

These quick and easy Mummy Dogs are sure to delight your crowd of hungry goblins!

Hot dogs and biscuit dough make these tasty treats a snap to whip up.

Use veggie dogs or sausages for a different twist.

Step 1: Round up the goods

Hot dogs, biscuit dough (fresh or store-bought) and mustard are all you need to turn out these ghoulish delights!

One roll of biscuit dough will cover one eight-pack of dogs.

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F

Step 2: It's a wrap!

Roll out your biscuit dough (I have a serious weakness for Pillsbury Crescent Rolls), and pinch together any seams.

Cut into strips about 1-inch wide.

Wrap your dogs!

Step 3: Bake

Twelve minutes at 375 degrees F is all you need.

Step 4: Decorate

Use mustard to add eyes, and you're done!

These treats are so easy and addictive, you may find yourself making them long before and after Halloween.

Take notice when these mummies are being devoured — people always start with the head!

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Eyeball Mash

This quick and easy dip is a tasty appetizer for an adults-only Halloween bash, or for a group of grown-ups in charge of entertaining younger trick-or-treaters. Serve Eyeball Mash dip with the accompanying “Pumpkin” Tortilla Chips recipe.

12 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese

1 can (4 1/2-ounce) chopped mild green chiles

1/3 cup light mayonnaise

1 tablespoon vinegar

1 teaspoon mustard

1/2 cup sliced ripe olives

In food processor with knife blade, blend Cheddar cheese, green chiles, mayonnaise, vinegar and mustard. Transfer to bowl; stir in olives. Makes 2 3/4 cups.

Each serving: About 40 calories, 3g total fat (2g saturated), 0mg cholesterol, 85mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate, 0g dietary fiber, 2g protein.

© 2011 Hearst Communications, Inc.

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“Pumpkin” Tortilla Chips

It takes only seconds to cut tortillas into festive pumpkin shapes, sprucing up your Halloween party spread times 10.

2 burrito-size roasted red pepper and/or jalapeno-cilantro flour tortillas

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. From tortillas, with 2 1/2-inch pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter, cut out pumpkins.

Bake on ungreased cookie sheet 5 minutes, until crisp. Cool on rack. Makes 20 chips.

Each serving: About 15 calories, 0g total fat, 0mg cholesterol, 40mg sodium, 3g total carbs, 0g dietary fiber, 0g protein.

© 2011 Hearst Communications, Inc.

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Outrageous Caramel Apples

These caramel apples are outrageously gooey and rich.

5 (4-inch) ice-cream-bar sticks

5 medium (about 1-3/4 pounds) Macintosh or Macoun apples

3/4 cup chopped peanuts

1 package (14-ounce) caramels

3 (1-ounce) squares semisweet or white chocolate, melted

Insert an ice-cream-bar stick in stem end of each apple. Place peanuts or other topping on sheet of waxed paper.

Line 15 1/2-inch by 10 1/2- inch jelly-roll pan with waxed paper; spray waxed paper with nonstick cooking spray.

In 2-quart saucepan over low heat, heat caramel candies and 2 tablespoons water, stirring constantly, until melted and smooth; remove saucepan from heat. Holding stick, dip 1 apple into caramel mixture, spooning mixture over apple to coat completely. (If caramel mixture in saucepan begins to harden, warm over low heat to soften.) Then, place caramel-coated apple on peanuts or other topping to coat bottom; place apple in jelly-roll pan. Repeat with remaining apples, caramel and peanuts.

Spoon melted chocolate into heavyweight plastic bag. With scissors, cut off corner of bag to make a small opening. Drizzle melted chocolate over apples. Refrigerate apples 15 minutes to allow chocolate to set. If not eating right away, refrigerate apples, loosely covered, up to 2 days. Let apples stand at room temperature 15 minutes to soften before eating.

Or use miniature candy-coated chocolate pieces or semisweet-chocolate pieces, flaked coconut, colored sprinkles, toffee bits or your favorite topping.

Each serving: About 610 calories, 23g total fat (6g saturated), 0mg cholesterol, 400mg sodium, 99g total carbohydrate, 9g protein.