Our first ghoulish book for October is Ghost Eats It All! by Janee Trasler. Since it’s not a scary story, but rather a silly one, it’s a perfect Halloween tale for toddlers.

First, Ghost eats an apple. Then he eats an egg. But Monster’s hungry, too. Finally, Ghost eats a whole cake. Monster takes his “revenge,” and gets to have a few leftovers, too. The story is colorfully illustrated, and kids love it. In fact, Lucie’s been stealing off my review pile for months.

Along with the story, you may want to prepare some snacks of your own. How about trying this recipe for Pumpkin Cupcakes from Relish magazine? If you need some Halloween cupcake ideas, try Wilton’s recipes for Yummy Mummy, Fang Club Member, Open Wide, or Spider Snack cupcakes.

Pumpkin Cupcakes
Yield: 24 cupcakes.

Cupcake Ingredients:

1. 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2. 1 tablespoon baking powder
3. 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
4. 1/2 teaspoon salt
5. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6. 1/2 cup softened butter
7. 1 1/3 cups brown sugar
8. 2 eggs
9. 1 cup mashed cooked or canned pumpkin
10. 3/4 cup 2 percent low-fat milk
11. 3/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Maple Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients:

1. 1/4 cup butter 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature
2. 3 cups confectioners’ sugar
3. 1/2 cup maple syrup
4. 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375F. Insert paper liners into 24 muffin cups.
2. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs. Blend in mashed pumpkin. Stir in flour mixture alternately with milk, blending after each addition. Stir in nuts.
3. Spoon batter into muffin cups, filling cups about two-thirds full. Bake 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Frost with cream cheese frosting.
4. To make the frosting, combine all ingredients in large mixing bowl and beat until smooth.

Nutritional Information Per serving: 280 calories, 12g fat, 3g prot., 41g carbs., 1g fiber, 220mg sodium.

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