Blog Posts by Southern Living

Maybe your kiddo picked up a lot more chocolate than usual, or your doorbell was eerily quiet last night, or you simply bought one bag too many "for the children."

We're gonna bet you have an excess of sweets on hand right about now. Well, you don't have to surrender to eating fun-size candy after candy in one ill-fated sitting. You can get crafty and unite them into a Franken-Candy Brownie. This is how:

Start by baking your favorite brownies. We're especially fond of this So Good Brownie recipe.

Once they're out of the oven, top immediately with both chopped and mini candies, such as peanut butter cups, malted milk balls, and chocolate-covered caramels. For an addicting salty-sweet touch, throw in some pretzel pieces too. Then finish by baking 5 more minutes or just until the candy melts a bit.

And don't keep these Franken-brownies to yourself! They're a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

On the other hand, if you just want to get rid of all that candy, here's a

Just finished carving your Halloween decorations and don't want to let those perfectly good pumpkin seeds go to waste? Here's how to salvage the seeds and cook them.

Pumpkin seeds, also known as pepitas, are actually covered by a fibrous shell (the large white things you find inside your pumpkins). While some people might enjoy eating the entire seed with the shell, we think the greenish, meatier inside is more flavorful and works better with these recipes. To get started, here's our simple roasting procedure:

1. Rinse the seeds in water, separate from the pulp, and pat dry with paper towels. Then, toss them with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and ground thyme or rosemary to taste.
2. Spread the seeds in a single layer on an aluminum foil-lined or parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
3. Bake at 350° 10 to 12 minutes or until crisp. Then, allow them to cool completely in the pan.

At this point, the shells will be tough enough for you to crack them open with your teeth,

No Halloween celebration is complete without fun, themed appetizers. Our easy recipes will be the haunting hit of your party!

Give a subtle nod to the Halloween classic It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and serve this sharp-cheddar cheese ball with a pepper kick.

The Great White Pumpkin Cheese Ball
Ingredients:

• 2 (10-oz.) blocks extra-sharp white Cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
• 2 (4-oz.) goat cheese logs, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• Braided pretzel, muscadine vine and leaf
• Crackers and assorted vegetables
• 
  Preparation:
  Stir together first 4 ingredients. Shape mixture into a ball to resemble a pumpkin. Smooth pumpkin's entire surface with metal spatula or table knife. Make vertical grooves in ball, if desired, using fingertips. Press pretzel into top of cheese ball to resemble a pumpkin stem; place muscadine vine and leaf beside pretzel. Serve with crackers and assorted vegetables.

Craving a little down-home comfort? Satisfy your soul with this delicious new twist on a Southern favorite - mac and cheese. This recipe's roots are classically Southern with the hearty addition of leeks and bacon.

Southern Mac and Cheese
Ingredients:

• 1/4 pound thick bacon slices, diced (about 4 slices)
  
• 2 medium leeks, cut into 1/2-inch rounds (about 1 cup)
  
• 1/3 (16-oz.) package uncooked cavatappi pasta
  
• 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  
• 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  
• 1 cup milk, warmed
  
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
  
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
  
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  
• Pinch of ground red pepper
  
• 1 cup (4 oz.) freshly grated 2-year-old aged Cheddar cheese, divided
  
• 1 egg yolk
  
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Gruyère cheese
  
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
  
• 1/4 cup toasted soft, fresh breadcrumbs
  
  Preparation:
  1. Preheat oven to 375°. Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat, stirring

Use these quick-fix tips to get dinner on the table in a flash! And find more quick-fix supper ideas (we're talking 30 minutes or less) on SouthernLiving.com.

1. Undercook Food you Plan on Freezing
While freezing food saves you time on weeknight meal prep, it still takes time to cook the meal prior to freezing. You can save time by slightly undercooking the items intended for the freezer. Pasta, rice, and vegetables are ones you want to be particularly careful to slightly undercook. This will improve their quality when you reheat them.

2. Restore Life to Limp Salad Greens
Save a trip to the grocery store by restore crispness to limp salad greens. Simply place them in ice water and refrigerating up to 1 hour. Drain well, wrap greens in paper towels, and refrigerate in plastic bags at least 4 hours.

Related: 11 Budget-Friendly Quick-Fix Meals

3. Chop Jalapeños the Quick & Easy Way
For the quickest way to chop jalapeños, snip them in a small cup using

Having a few pantry staples on hand can help you jump-start a spontaneous meal in no time. Head to the grocery store and make sure you have these in your shopping cart:

Beans - Great for side dishes, salads, or in pasta.
Rice - Easy and versatile side dish.
Pasta - Quick main dish with simple stir-ins such as chopped cooked chicken and pasta sauce.
Baking mix - Make quick breads, biscuits, or crusts for casseroles.
Potatoes and onions - Versatile veggies that add flavor and substance.
Cream soups - Great for casseroles.
Pasta sauce - Stir into hot cooked pasta for a super-quick meal.
Canned tomatoes - Use in everything from casseroles to pasta.
Broths - Make quick sauces and soups.
Canned tuna - Stir into pasta and salads, or make a creamy spread for a sandwich.

Related: Quick-Fix Suppers from the Pantry

Then, get to work on a top-rated dinner that's big on flavor but comes together in no time, like Baked Chicken and Rice with Black Beans. Save

Pumpkins aren't just for carving! Try one of these delicious pumpkin recipes from classic pumpkin pie to pecan-pumpkin bread.

Follow this game plan for delicious pregame grub, and watch guests huddle up near the food, whether you're at home or on campus (it's easily transportable!)

Game-Day Menu
Mini Muffulettas
Deli-Fried Chicken Tenders with Jalapeño-Mustard Dipping Sauce
Warm Gumbo Dip
Confetti Pasta Salad
Graham Nut Clusters

Tailgating Tips

• Prepare sandwiches the day before the game. Place in zip-top plastic freezer bags, and refrigerate overnight.
• You can also prepare slaw up to a day ahead, omitting apples. Chop the apples. Combine 2 cups water and 3 Tbsp. lemon juice, and pour over apples. Cover and chill apples and slaw in two separate containers overnight. Drain apples, and stir them into slaw just before serving.
• Just before parking on campus, stop by a grocer's deli counter or the drive-through window of your favorite restaurant for fresh, hot chicken tenders.
• Rinse gallon milk jugs and use as a spillproof way to transport cajun lemonade. And be sure to pack a