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Some tricks for your treats

As a child, I was always baffled at just how awesome Halloween was. The entire concept behind it seemed a little too good to be true, at least according to my sugar-starved, pre-adolescent brain.
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TRICKY TREATS Carving a jack-'o-lantern face into your favourite fruits and veggies is a simple way to spook up your Halloween party this year. Photo by Stockcreations / Shutterstock

As a child, I was always baffled at just how awesome Halloween was.

The entire concept behind it seemed a little too good to be true, at least according to my sugar-starved, pre-adolescent brain. I just couldn't understand why complete strangers would simply give away piles of delicious candy just because I was dressed like a ninja turtle, something I would have gladly done for free any other day of the year had my parents allowed it.

So when it became socially unacceptable as a teen for me to continue trick-or-treating, I was convinced my pubescent peach fuzz had ruined my favourite holiday for me. Little did I know then that there was still plenty of wicked Halloween fun to be had as an adult, it just involved a little more creativity, and perhaps a few drinks...

So whether you're hosting the town's tiny terrors, or moseying over to a monster mash for the older crowd, here are a few tasty tricks and treats that will have you howling this Halloween.

Guess that body part

This is an easy, cost-effective way to get your Halloween bash off on the right...err, foot. In a darkened room, pass around a cup containing a few simple ingredients made to feel like different body parts. Then have each of your ghoulish guests write down what they think it is. Disgusting AND (occasionally) delicious!

Pickles can be used as severed, wart-covered fingers; lasagna noodles soaked in milk double as wet, clammy skin; a rotting tomato turns into squishy brains or a dried apricot a gnarled, mummified ear. There are countless options here, so be creative.

No pumpkins? No problem

As Whistler's bear population gears up for another cold winter, we should be all the more vigilant about managing our attractants this Halloween. The last thing we need is a scourge of zombie bears reanimating and taking their vengeance out on us. That means no pumpkins out on the porch, but it doesn't mean you can't have a little fun indoors carving up your favourite fruits and veggies.

Etch out a simple jack-'o-lantern face in an apple, pepper or whatever produce you prefer, and sprinkle a little lemon juice on the carved areas to prevent browning.

Bloody tomato soup with ghosty toasties

Halloween can be a tough time of year if you weren't blessed with a sweet tooth. But it's not all bad news for the savoury lovers out there, just try this bloody good tomato soup garnished with some cheesy ghost toasties.

Use your preferred tomato soup recipe, and layer a thin piece of cheese over sliced bread, using a cookie cutter to shape out a ghost. Toast the bread in the oven until your cheese is melted, and use peppercorns for the eyes.

Glass Potato Chips

I won't write out the whole recipe here, which is courtesy of lifestyle guru Laurin Sydney, but let's just say if you want to convince people they're eating pointy shards of glass this Halloween, then you've come to the right place.

This one's a little different than your average potato chip recipe in that it requires a baked potato stock and gel, but with a little patience and delicate knife skills, you'll be freaking out your party guests in no time.

The full recipe can be viewed here: www.tinyurl.com/chipsglass.