It’s almost Halloween– but don’t just load up on the sugary candy alone– mix it up with some peanut butter– packing some protein and goodferya stuff into the Halloween treats!  Don Koehler from the Georgia Peanut Commission showed me how to whip up easy, delish morsels in the Atlanta Plugged In Kitchen….my fave?  The no bake Mandarin Orange Peanut Butter Pie.  OMG.

And the prep isn’t scary at all!

Goober-ry Trail Mix

Ingredients:

1 cup roasted peanuts

1 cup peanut butter morsels

1 cup candy corn

1 cup Reese’s Pieces

5oz. bag dried cherries

5 oz. bag dried mixed berries

1 cup golden raisins

Directions:  Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl.  Put a generous serving in snack size zipper bags.

Mandarin Orange Peanut Butter Pie

Ingredients

¼ cup creamy peanut butter

8 oz. lite cream cheese

¼ cup granulated sugar

8 oz. lite whipped topping

1 graham cracker pie crust

11 oz. can mandarin oranges

2 TBSP granulated sugar

1 TBSP corn starch

Directions: Combine first 4 ingredients together and pour into pie crust.  Refrigerate while you prepare the topping.  Drain oranges saving juice in a small saucepan.  Add sugar and cornstarch and cook on high constantly stirring with a wire whisk until it comes to a boil.  Reduce heat and continue stirring for another 3 minutes as it boils.  Remove from heat and let it cool.  Meanwhile, arrange orange slices on top of pie.  Stir glaze until it thickens and cools and pour over pie.  Refrigerate pie for at least 3 hours.  Serve with additional whipped topping if desired.

Halloween Haystacks

Ingredients

½ cup peanut butter morsels

1 cup candy corn

½ cup salted, skinless peanuts

½ cup chow mein noodles

Directions: Microwave together the peanut butter morsels and candy corn for 1 minutes.  Stir.  Microwave for 30 more seconds.  Stir in the peanuts and chow mein noodles.  Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper and let set.  Store in an airtight container.