Getting ready for a night of fun - and fear (From Penarth Times)

Getting ready for a night of fun - and fear

THERE'S no doubt that Hallowe'en is a very exciting time of year. And the delight of going 'Trick or Treating' is on most children's minds in the run-up to the big night.

But if you're worried about your little ones roaming the streets, here are a few alternatives to make the night go screamingly well.

You can't celebrate Hallowe'en without a party to turn your evening into a monstrous bash. So why not make it fancy dress.

As for what to do, here are some party game ideas.

Doughnut Eating Contest

String up doughnuts and have a contest to see who can eat theirs the fastest - no hands allowed! And if this seems easy for some, have two people stand at each end of the string and shake it whenever anyone attempts to eat a doughnut!

Bobbing for Apples

Float apples in a large bucket or bowl filled with water.

The object of this game is to grab one of the apples and remove it from the water without using your hands. The first person to do it wins.

You must use only your mouth. This is a very messy, very wet and very fun game. It is even more challenging if the stems are removed.

Horror-box

Get some old, large cardboard boxes and spray them black. Cut a hole in the front of each. Staple an old cloth to the inside of each box hanging over the hole.

Fill some bowls with sweets, others with something less pleasant. You can use cold spaghetti for guts, cold tinned peach halves for a monster liver, or jelly for a decaying heart.

Place a bowl in each box, dim the lights, and have the children go from box to box for a real 'Trick or Treat'.

RECIPE

Dracula's Teeth 4 medium baking potatoes 1x 200g pkt unsmoked back bacon 115g (4oz) cheddar cheese, grated 1 tub Salsa sauce

1 Wash and dry potatoes. Place directly onto the shelf of a pre-heated over 200/400/gas mark 6 for 1 hour 30 minutes. 2 Meanwhile lightly grill the bacon, cut into thin strips. 3 Cut the potatoes in half. Scoop out the potato flesh leaving a thin layer under the skin. Cut each half in 4 lengthways. Load with cheese and top with bacon. 4 Place under pre-heted grill until the cheese melts. 5 Serve hot with salsa.

Hanging Spiders

4 red apples with stalks 1 pkt Fizzy Strawberry Flavour Straws Approx. 24 cloves Cocktail sticks Ribbon

1 Polish the apples. 2 Cut the strawberry straws in half lengthways and then in half. 3 Break the cocktail sticks in half and push into end of strawberry straw. Now insert the remaining part of the cocktail stick onto the apples making 4 legs on each side. 4 Insert cloves for eyes and mouth. 5 Tie lengths of ribbon onto the stalks and hang spider where required.