Cornucopia Thanksgiving Favors

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These are so adorable! You will need:

Instructions

  1. Soak the tip of the waffle cone in warm water for about 20 seconds. It really helps to put water on the inside too.

  2. Remove from water and microwave the wet waffle cone for about 20 seconds.

  3. Roll the softened tip of the cone around a clean pencil and hold it in place for about 20 seconds. Be very patient during this step. It’s easy to tear the cone if you go too quickly. If the cone doesn’t bend easily, try soaking it in water for another 20 seconds.

  4. After the cone has cooled, dried and hardened completely, fill with candies, cover the opening with plastic wrap to hold the candies inside, use the rubber band to secure the wrap, and tie a ribbon around the outside to hide the rubber band. Fill and wrap up. Attach this cute printable tag!

    Or order labels HERE!

20+ Halloweeen Candy Recipes

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Halloween Freebies 2021

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7-Eleven

7-Eleven has several pizza deals in store on October 30 and 31 in honor of Halloween, including BOGO $1 large pizza. 7Rewards loyalty members can pick up any large hot or ready to bake pizza at participating locations and get a second large pizza for $1. There’s also a $3 large pizza available via 7NOW delivery.

Baked by Melissa

Baked by Melissa is bringing a Halloween theme to its bite-sized cupcakes this year. From October 16 through October 31, anyone who buys a Spooky Special 50-Pack at bakedbymelissa.com will receive a free Boo Crew 6-Pack.

Baskin-Robbins

This ice cream chain is offering $5 off any Halloween cake of $35 or more ordered through the Baskin-Robbins app as well as a $0 delivery fee on the first Baskin-Robbins order of $15 or more with Uber Eats, Postmates and DoorDash from between October 8 and October 14.

Cheesecake Factory

What's better than cheesecake? Free cheesecake, of course! From October 25 through October 29, get one free slice of Reese's Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake Cheesecake or Hershey's Chocolate Bar Cheesecake with a purchase or $40 or more.

Chili's

Need a drink after decorating the house and making costumes? Chili's is offering an Instagram-friendly $5 Spider Bite 'Rita all October long.

IHOP

IHOP’s Scary Face Pancakes are available at all locations all season long, and on October 29 from 7 am to 10 pm, kids 12 and under can get one free Scary Face Pancake.

Jack in the Box

Jack in the Box has brought back its famous Monster Tacos. The tacos are a larger version of its classic crunchy tacos and will be available all month long at a price of two for $3 with a purchase.

Klondike & Breyers

Do you scream for ice cream? This season, you may want to text for it instead! Throughout the month of October, just text “Confess” to 64827 for a BOGO offer on Klondike & Breyers Reese's frozen treats.

Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme will be offering one free doughnut — no purchase necessary — to anyone who visits a shop in their Halloween costume on October 31.

Related: The popular chain is offering BOGO offers on dozens — and a free doughnut on the big day!

McAlister’s Deli

Kids love Halloween, and this spooky season, they'll have extra reason to be excited. From October 29 through October 31, kids 12 and under can eat free with a purchase online, in the app, and in-store using the promo code HALLOWEEN21. The promo code is valid for two free kids meals per adult entrée purchase.

Schlotzsky's

Craving something a bit more sweet? On Halloween, those with the Schlotzsky's app can get a free Classic Cinnabon Roll with the purchase of an entrée online and in-store.

Taco Cabana

Taco Cabana is bringing back its popular Bean and Cheese taco coupon booklets. Buy these coupon books for $2 each through Oct. 31, 2021. Each booklet will include five coupons for a free classic Bean and Cheese taco. Even better, the $2 donation from each booklet sold will directly benefit local food banks in San Antonio, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and El Paso.

Tocaya Modern Mexican

At this chain, kids 12 and under eat free from the kids’ menu all weekend long on Halloween. This deal allows one free kids’ item per adult with purchase, with menu options that include burrito, quesadilla, chicken tacos, or chicken strips.

Wendy’s

As part of Wendy’s Season of Giving, Wendy’s is selling $1 Boo! Books that include 5 coupons for free Jr. Frosty treats as well as a bonus app-exclusive offer for a free any size fry with any purchase. Proceeds from all Boo! Books sales support the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, an organization that works to find permanent homes for children waiting in foster care.

10+ Premade Thanksgiving Dinner Options

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1.Harry & David

The company known for their wine and cheese baskets will also express ship a whole or sliced turkey (fully cooked!) right to your doorstep, plus plenty of sides like Gruyère and Garlic Red Mashed Potatoes and Sun-Dried Tomato Truffle Mac and Cheese.

Photo credit: Harry & David
Photo credit: Harry & David

2. Omaha Steaks

That's right — this iconic mail-order steak company sends far for than just steak. They run a special promotion every year where they'll mail a juicy whole basted turkey to you for the big day.

3. Nueske’s

If you love a nice, smoky turkey, this store specializes in smoked meats. They'll send you some mouthwatering Honey Glazed Turkey Breast or Applewood Smoked Boneless Turkey Breast starting at 39.99.

4. Bob Evans

Each holiday, Bob Evans offers different to-go meal options for you to choose from, which can include turkey, ham, sides and even dessert. Meals start at $54.99 and can serve up to eight guests.

5. Boston Market

The restaurant is always open on Thanksgiving, and you can order their Individual Thanksgiving Meal to bring home. It includes the choice of Boneless Roasted Turkey Breast or a Half Rotisserie Chicken with two regular sides, a dinner roll, and a slice of Apple or Pumpkin Pie.

6. Cracker Barrel

If you're craving some classic American comfort food, Cracker Barrel offers Heat N' Serve family meals to-go that can serve up to 10 people. The meal kit includes two oven-roasted turkey breasts, turkey gravy, cranberry relish, three country sides and pie for dessert. And the best part? It comes to you chilled and ready to heat.

7. Denny's

The diner prides itself in being open 24/7, all year round, so it works out if you want to dine in too! Select regions offer online ordering and delivery on Thanksgiving, just check with your local Denny's to make sure they're participating.

8. Fresh Direct

Customers can enjoy a full Thanksgiving dinner at just $8.99 a plate. Dinner includes turkey breast with cornbread stuffing, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy. And, meals are guaranteed fresh.

9. Maggiano's

Every year, the Italian-American restaurant lets customers enjoy a four-course family style meal right at their own homes. Pricing may vary by location.

10. Marie Callender's

In past years, select locations allowed customers to pre-order their holiday meal. Just make sure to allow three hours for reheating.

11. Popeyes

Sure they might be famous for their fried chicken (which you can still order Thanksgiving Day), but on Thanksgiving you can pick up one of their Cajun Style Turkeys. It's pre-cooked and rubbed with all the right seasonings so you can enjoy your dinner quicker.

12. ShopRite

You can order a complete Thanksgiving Dinner from ShopRite — all you have to do is heat and eat! The meal comes with a fully-cooked Butterball turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, holiday stuffing, green bean casserole and turkey gravy. Make sure to give your local store a heads up at least three days in advance.

13. Williams Sonoma

That's right: the home decor store sells complete dinners, with turkey and all the fixings online. If you already have the sides and just want the turkey, you can pick from various wild birds or even choose from an assortment of desserts.

Photo credit: Williams-Sonoma

14. Costco

You can expect Costco, the wholesale supermarket, to bring back some version of their prepared Thanksgiving meals this year. Last year, loyal customers were delighted to see mini turkey dinners as Costco due the pandemic, which included turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, gravy and cranberry sauce. And of course, you can always rely on Costco for all your pie and dinner roll needs!

15. Whole Foods

While Whole Foods’ Thanksgiving menu isn’t ready yet, they will most likely be having an option for pickup in store if you reserve your dinner online. Last year, you could order a Turkey dinner for up to eight people or for a small group of four. They also have vegan and vegetarian options available!

16. Buca di Beppo

This family-style restaurant is planning to serve up Thanksgiving dinner once again! In the previous year, Buca di Beppo had a selection of Thanksgiving classics, including sliced turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and more!

17. HelloFresh

Ciabatta stuffing, jazz apple ginger crisp, and peppercorn-crusted beef tenderloin – leave it to HelloFresh to deliver and amazing Thanksgiving meal! Just make sure to order with plenty of time in advance before they sell out.

18. Trader Joe’s

Although Trader Joe’s doesn’t have a fully prepared Thanksgiving meal, they do a pretty good job with their 40-ounce Turkey and Stuffing en Croute. Meaning, it’s turkey tenderloin and cornbread stuffing wrapped in puff pastry dough – yum! It also comes with gravy and cranberry sauce, so you end up getting a pretty good deal for $13.

9 Trick or Treating Alternatives

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For a socially distanced alternative to trick or treat, hide goodie bags filled with candy or mini pumpkins around your house, yard, or neighborhood. Adapt this idea to your kid's ages and how much space you have. Toddler? Keep it small (and repeat). Live in an apartment? Do it indoors! If your kids are older, you can suggest they help hide mini pumpkins around the neighborhood for the littler kids. Send out an announcement to let families know you've hidden little pumpkins (one mini per hunter). 

Similarly, you can do a scavenger hunt around your house/'hood. Try an app like Goosechase for help planning an easy one yourself. 

 

Yard Decor Contest

This might be the year you finally buy one of those giant Halloween yard inflatables! Get your neighbors in on the fun, and encourage everyone to decorate their yards. Create small paper invites and put them in people's mailboxes, letting them know the date of the competition, so they have plenty of time to get ready! On the day of, hop in your car (or on your bikes) and ride around to "judge" the houses. Make sure to include window-decor for anyone who lives in an apartment or doesn't have a yard. Have a few cool prizes ready, like gift cards or pumpkins or even a handmade ribbon. If you don't want the pressure of judging, get people to vote through a google form or Surveymonkey. Categories can include: Scariest, Friendliest, Strangest, Best Window, Best Door, etc. 

Thow an (Outdoor) Pumpkin Decorating Party

If the weather is right, you can have a small pumpkin carving or decorating party in an outdoor space. Set the stations up in advance following social distance guidelines with any supplies: if carving, tools or use paints or other decorating items. If you're feeling really ambitious, you can prep the pumpkins in advance and print out templates or try one of these amazing no-carve ideas. 

If you aren't able or aren't comfortable doing this with a small group of kids, you can still do it with your own kids. Even if you do this every year, make sure this year it's a bit more festive and a bigger deal. 

 

A Very Witchy Outdoor Story Time

Host an outdoor story time! There are so many wonderful Halloween reads, get a stack going, put on your best witch hat and scare up a group of families to listen in. Families can spread out in a park, or even a yard, with lots of space in between and keep your Halloween face masks handy. Designate family spots with a pumpkin where they can put down chairs or a blanket. 

Happy Halloween Car Parade

Organize a car parade! Trick out your car in festive decor, put on your costumes (here are some of our favorite Etsy costumes) roll down your windows and hit the town. This one is best to organize in advance and plan an easy route where other kids can see. You can even have the kids stay at home to see the parade and let one of the grown ups head out in a freaked out car. Consider a monster-worthy "car show" too, where decorated cars can be parked in a lot (like a large school parking lot) several feet apart and kids can drive through or walk through to see the decor. 

Plan a Dramatic, Spooky Dinner

Dress up in your finest costumes and set your table with decor worthy of the Addams Family, then serve up one or more of these healthy, festive Halloween meals. Make sure you linger over dessert and tell a spooky story or two, and perhaps sing along with few Halloween songs while cleaning up. 

 

Stay in for a Scary Movie Night

Pop up the popcorn and whip up a few festive treats (or a big bowl of Halloween candy), don your costumes and cue up a kids Halloween movie marathon. We love this list of not-too-spooky movies from Common Sense Media. 

Social Distance Candy Distribution

If you and your neighborhood/neighbors feel comfortable with a version of trick-or-treating this year, you can place candy at the end of a driveway or edge of your yard/bottom stoop and let kids take turns trick-or-treating while maintain social distance. Wear a cute Halloween face mask to keep safe and in the spirit of things. And if all else fails, you can make this amazing social distance candy slide. 

 

Go Trunk-or-Treating

Trunk-or-treating has been growing in popularity the last few years, especially for younger kids. You can even buy Halloween trunk decor online.  Essentially, a group of families decorate their cars and kids can trick-or-treat from trunk to trunk. Groups typically use a larger parking lot. Here are 16 spooktacular ideas to try it yourself. 

Source: Redtri.com

20+ Awesome Halloween Movies on Netflix

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1. Scream – Rated R

In this 1996 thriller, a high school girl and her friends are stalked by a serial killer who’s obsessed with scary movies. You know the mask.

2. Casper – Rated PG

A girl befriends a ghost in this spooky comedy based on the classic cartoon character.

3. Carrie – Rated R

A social outcast with a dark gift seeks revenge on the popular kids at prom.

4. Coraline – Rated PG

This eerie and imaginative tale of a curious young girl was nominated for Best Animated Film in 2009.

5. The Conjuring – Rated R

 

Based on true events, this thriller tells the story of a New England family who experiences terrifying dark forces in their farmhouse.

6. Monster House – Rated PG

Three young friends uncover the truth about a spooky old house that’s scaring everyone in their neighborhood.

7. Gremlins – Rated PG*

An adorable Christmas gift turns out to be a nightmare for a boy and his family.

8. R.L. Stine’s Mostly Ghostly – Rated PG

A tween boy helps a pair of young ghosts solve a mystery from their murky pasts.

9. 1922 – Rated TV-MA

This Netflix original is based on a Stephen King novella in which a farmer confesses to his wife’s murder, but that’s just thebeginning of the story.

10. The Spiderwick Chronicles – Rated PG

Young twins move to a run-down mansion in the country and discover an eerie fantasy world.

11. Texas Chainsaw Massacre – Rated R

The sole survivor of a 1973 killing spree tells the story in this bloody remake of an iconic horror film.

12. Monster Family – Rated PG

A family’s Halloween costumes take a spooky turn when a witch turns them into actual monsters.

13. The Witch – Rated R

This is the chilling tale of New England pilgrims who believe that a witch cursed their family.

14. Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween – Rated PG

Three teens spend their Halloween trying to keep a magical book from bringing spooky characters to life.

15. Truth or Dare – Rated TV-MA

Eight friends rent a house on Halloween to play a game rumored to have turned deadly years ago.

16. Hotel Transylvania 3 – Rated PG

It’s love at first sight for Dracula when he meets someone special while on a monster cruise with his family.

17. Insidious – Rated PG-13

A suburban family flees their haunted house, only to realize that their problems followed them.

18. Gnome Alone – Rated PG

After moving into a new home, a teenage girl discovers that she’s sharing her new house with an army of talking garden gnomes.

19. The Sixth Sense – Rated PG-13

The chilling tale of a nine-year-old boy who sees dead people (they’re everywhere!) and the child psychologist who’s determined to help him.

20. Coco – Rated PG

On the Day of the Dead, an aspiring young musician visits the afterlife to meet his ancestors and learn about his family history.

Dunkin Donuts Fall Menu

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Dunkin pumpkin products for fall

Dunkin’ unveiled its fall menu yesterday, and this year there will be some new items alongside familiar favorites from autumns past. New items for fall 2019 will be the Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Signature Latte, the Apple Cider Donut, and the Apple Cider Munchkins.

In addition to those newcomers, Dunkin’ will also be bringing back its Pumpkin Coffees, Pumpkin K-Cup pods, Pumpkin Muffins, and Pumpkin Donuts. The Pumpkin Coffees and Lattes come in many forms: hot, iced, espresso, frozen, and cold brew.

Canning 101

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Canning is an awesome way to save money and have nutritious food on hand.  

Here are the supplies you need! 
--Canning Jars and Seals – use mason-style jars with sealed lids and rings, which can be found at most grocery stores 
--Wide-Mouth Funnel – makes filling jars with sauces or jams easier and less messy
--Lid Wand – for easy removal of lids and rings from boiling water 
--Ladle – for filling jars 
--Large Pot – for boiling canned preserves and jams, fruits, tomatoes and pickled vegetables 
--Pressure Canner – used for canning vegetables and meats because it has the ability to reach a higher temperature 
--Tongs of Jar Lifters – rubberized lifters make removing cans from their water bath less slippery, but a good pair of tongs can work just as well 
--Clean Cloths – used to wipe down jars, lids and rims of jars

The Process of Preserving 
1. START BY STERILIZING YOUR JARS. 

Wash your lids and jars in hot soapy water. Then move them to a boiling water bath for ten minutes to sterilize. Remove jars from the water bath, but leave the lids in the hot water until you’re ready to use them to ensure they don’t come in contact with anything before you seal your jars. 

2. SLICE, DICE, PICKLE AND POUR. 

It is best to can your fruits and vegetables immediately after you harvest them for the highest vitamin and nutrient concentration.The longer a fresh piece of produce sits, the more vitamins it loses. Prepare fruits and vegetables by slicing and dicing, prepare your jams and preserves using your favorite recipes (or ours, as we’ll have several of our top recipes coming up this week), and pickle vegetables before placing in the jars. 

Tomatoes should have lemon juice or another citric acid added to them prior to canning to ensure their pH level is above 4.6, and ascorbic acid solutions can be added to fruits to prevent browning prior to placing in jars. 

Iron, aluminum and copper should not be used when preparing your fruits and vegetables to can. These metals can cause discoloration of the produce. 



3. FILL YOUR JARS. 

There are a few things to remember when filling your jars. First, be sure not to fill them completely. Produce expands during the boiling process, so leaving adequate space at the top prevents the jar from leaking and making a mess. 

After filling your jar with produce, unless canning jams, jellies and preserves, you’ll be pouring liquid to submerge the fruit or vegetables. Pour the boiling water, pickling solution or juice to cover up to the top of your produce. 

Make sure there are no air bubbles along the sides of the jar and that the produce is submerged in the liquid. Wipe the rims of the jars down with a clean cloth and cap with the flat sealing lids and rims. 

4. PROCESS YOUR JARS. 

Preheat water in your pot or pressure cooker. For hot produce, water should be preheated to 180º F, and for cold produce, it should be around 140º F. This will help prevent the jars from cracking when they are placed in the pot. 

Water should be an inch or two above the top of the canning jar when they are placed in the pot for a water boiling process. Use a pressure canner according to the manufacturer’s directions to determine the amount of water needed in the bottom prior to adding the jars. 

Add the jars using your tongs or jar lifter, and place them in the vessel so they are not touching. Place the lid on your pot or pressure canner. With water bath canning, bring the water to a slow boil and then start your timer to process for the length of time dictated by which vegetable you’re canning and the altitude at which you live. For pressure cooking, you’ll want to check for the length and temperature needed for your region as well. 

5. REMOVE YOUR JARS AND LET THEM COOL. 

Place your jars on a flat wood or cloth-covered solid surface to let them cool. Let them sit for a day to completely cool. While cooling, your jars will start to pop, creating the vacuum seal. 

After they have cooled, press down on the center of your jars to ensure they have sealed completely. Any lids that spring back have not sealed and can be placed in the refrigerator and eaten first. 

6. LABEL AND STORE YOUR PRESERVED FOOD. 

Label your jars with the contents and the date. You can write directly on the lid with a Sharpie or download and print or purchase specialty labels for your jars. 

Once you have them labeled and have wiped off any food pieces or water from the outside of the jar, store your food in a dark, dry place until you’re ready to enjoy.