15 Candy Alternatives to Give Kids This Halloween


Happy Monday Reader!

Halloween is close enough to start planning the treat bowl, classroom handouts, and family festivities. These fun alternatives offer a fresh way to join the celebration without relying on the usual candy pile.

A small surprise can be the thing children remember most about the night. Browse the ideas now while there is still time to get ready.

See the Recipe Ideas

Carnival & Festival Favorites

More than 40 county fair classics including breakfasts, corn dogs, fish fry favorites, chili, fried dough, and more. Kindle and hardcover are available now.

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Leave the Leaves: The Fall Habit That Helps Pollinators Survive Winter

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Here’s to a thoughtful Halloween plan and a yard that helps small creatures through the season.

Beth Neels: Binky's Culinary Carnival

Beth Neels, aka Binky: Nurturing Connections Through Food, Adventure, and Creativity. Beth is a syndicated freelance writer and food blogger, featured in MSN, AP News, Taste of Home, Parade. Reader's Digest, and more. Join our weekly newsletter to get delicious recipes sent directly to your inbox every week.

Read more from Beth Neels: Binky's Culinary Carnival

Hi Reader, The evenings are getting colder, and dinner should feel a little easier. These recipes bring plenty of comfort without turning the kitchen upside down. There is something hearty, something creamy, and something straight from the garden. Choose the one that fits the night ahead. Chili Bar A pot of chili turns dinner into something everyone can finish their own way. The toppings keep it relaxed. It also makes feeding a mixed crowd much simpler. Set up the chili bar This 4-quart...

Happy Monday Reader! Halloween week is here, and the dessert table deserves to dress up too. These festive sweets bring playful scares and plenty of reasons to gather around. There is still time to choose a treat that makes the party feel complete. Take a look before the Halloween countdown runs out. See the Recipe Ideas Carnival & Festival Favorites More than 40 county fair classics including breakfasts, corn dogs, fish fry favorites, chili, fried dough, and more. Kindle and hardcover are...

Thanksgiving morning. Everyone else is watching the parade while you're peeling potatoes, chopping onions, making pie crust, and wondering why you agreed to host again. By lunchtime you've washed the same mixing bowl six times. By three, you're considering whether the wine goes in the gravy or directly into you. I've had those days. That's why I built a Make-Ahead Schedule into the Complete Thanksgiving Party Planner. Choose your dishes and your holiday date, and it lays out what you can...