From Linda Larsen,
Your Guide to Busy Cooks.
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Tomorrow is Halloween; are you ready? We get so many children visiting our house that we usually go through 10 bags of snack candy. Since Trick or Treating starts around dinnertime, having dinner ready to eat in my crockpot is necessary.

We've already had our first snowfall. The snow didn't stick, but it was amazing, as usual, to see those beautiful white flakes swirling in the wind. Halloween always makes me think of snow anyway, since the huge blizzard in 1991 that occurred on October 31. I was working at Pillsbury then, on Bake-Off 35, and it took me two hours to get home. We were snowed in for two days, and I had such a good time baking and enjoying my cozy house. Naturally, this weather makes me plan cozy, warm dinners that cook or bake slowly, filling the house with wonderful aromas.

And if you have a lot of Halloween candy left over, what do you do with it (besides eat it, of course)? I've got a fabulous cake recipe that uses melted Milky Way bars, and an incredible pie that uses Snickers bars. Have some neighbors over for an impromptu dessert party on Sunday for a simple gathering with these wonderful recipes. Have a great weekend!

Friday Dinner

• Greek Crockpot Stew
  This delicious stew takes advantage of the root vegetables that are at their prime right now. It's easy to eat, too, while you're manning the door for Trick or Treaters!
• Cheese Crackers
  I love these crunchy and savory crackers. Their crunch is a nice contrast to the melting texture of the Greek Stew.
• beverages

Saturday Breakfast

• Blueberry French Toast Bake
  This crunchy, creamy, delicious recipe is made the night before so it melds and blends overnight in the fridge. It makes a fabulous breakfast.
• orange juice, coffee, milk

Saturday Lunch

• Boursin Soup
  This delicious soup uses five ingredients and is ready in about 15 minutes. I love the combination of sweet carrot and savory, soft melted cheese.
• Parmesan Tuna Sandwiches
  These cool and crunchy sandwiches are the perfect complement to the warm soup. And the sandwich spread will keep in your fridge for the rest of the weekend for snacking.
• beverages

Saturday Baking

Start your crockpot dinner, then get out your baking materials for these delicious recipes.

• Milky Way Cake
  When Minnesota had a blizzard on Halloween 1991, I had lots of candy left over! Luckily, I knew about this recipe that uses the sweet candy bars to make a wonderful cake.
• Snicker Pie
  I love this pie - it tastes like a Snickers bar, but better! Make sure that you unwrap and chop the candy bars just before you add them to the pie filling; they dry out quickly.

Saturday Dinner

• Spanish Crockpot Chicken
  We're being very continental this weekend; first Greek Stew, now Spanish flavored chicken. This easy one dish meal has a fabulous combination of ingredients.
• simple green salad
• Cheese Burst Biscuits
  Have your kids make these fun dinner rolls that are stuffed with melted cheese while you relax after your afternoon of baking.
• beverages

Sunday Brunch

• Oven Puffed Pancake
  This big pancake is simply a huge popover; you can make the orange sauce called for in the recipe, or just use maple syrup and powdered sugar.
• crisp bacon
• grapefruit halves
• milk and coffee

Sunday Supper

• Pizza Spaghetti Style
  This delicious casserole makes a lot so you'll have leftovers to start the week. I love the combination of spaghetti, beef, vegetables, and cheese in this great recipe.
• Coconut Fruit Salad
  Fresh fruit like strawberries and raspberries are getting harder to find; and they are expensive when you do find them. This easy, cool fruit salad uses canned fruits for best quality.
• Herb Pull-Apart Bread
  The flavors in this super easy bread complement the main dish perfectly. You'll love it!
• And for dessert - candy bars, of course! Or the cake and pie you made yesterday from leftover Halloween treats; if there's any left.