On the Homefront: Dogs in Costumes Halloween Table

Drake the Devil Dog wishes you a very scary - I mean merry - Halloween!

Recent purchases from HomeGoods inspired the theme for this year's Halloween table.  The placemats and dog bowl used for the snack mix are printed with a fun costumed dogs theme, and the small square plates feature a Dalmatian wearing a dapper bow tie, so of course I went with a Halloween dogs table in colors of orange, black, and white.

Hallow Home Dogs in Halloween Costumes Placemat (from Homegoods recently); square white dinner plate; black cloth napkin; MAGENTA Square Dalmatian Dessert Plate (from HomeGoods recently); white-handled flatware; orange beverage glass (from The Cupboard in Fort Collins, CO, ages ago).

A ghastly ghost (vase), horrifying haunted house (cookie jar), terrifying
tree, and glowing orange mini-pumpkins are flanked by black cat
candleholders.

A Halloween treat jar (from Pier 1 last month) holds seasonal
Hershey's Kisses recycled from previous years (because I rarely eat
candy any more and now use it mainly as décor).

The THL Dogs in Halloween Costumes Dog Bowl (from HomeGoods
recently) is ready to hold the Puppy Chow snack mix for humans (see
recipe below).

This table would be great for a children's Halloween dinner, so I decided to come up with a child-friendly menu, once again with a dog theme!  Hot dogs (uncured nitrate/nitrite-free turkey for me) had to be the main dish, and the rest of the menu has some connection to dogs or puppies as well.  Make this menu easy on yourself if you like by using pre-made deli slaw and canned chili plus frozen hush puppies.  If you are more industrious, use your favorite chili and coleslaw recipes.  My favorite chili recipe can be found here, but I have to admit that I usually just use packaged slaw mix and bottled slaw dressing to make coleslaw (I stir in about 2 T. pickle relish to add a bit of "je ne sais quoi" to my slaw!).

Really dedicated cooks and/or those who are gluttons for punishment could also make their own hush puppies (a simple and straightforward recipe can be found here), but personally I like to avoid deep-frying anything, especially when a frozen alternative that can be baked is so easy to find here in Georgia.  For dessert, you could buy the Drake's Devil Dogs snack cakes that inspired the meal's finale and serve those instead.  If you do make your own cake but do not want or need a low-carb version, try the recipe that inspired my version here.  I used marshmallow creme for the frosting because I had a jar in the pantry that needed to be used up (from before I started my low-carb diet).  You could easily make your own topping (see the cake recipe link), or use whipped heavy cream or coconut cream instead.

Dogs in Costumes Halloween Menu:

Puppy Chow*

Chilling Chili Dogs and/or Scary Slaw Dogs

Hush Puppies Salad with Salty Dog Dressing**

Low-Carb Devil Dog Cake***

From Chex

*Puppy Chow

Also known as Muddy Buddies, this snack mix is always a favorite with kids!

6 C. Rice Chex cereal
1 C. semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 C. creamy peanut butter
2 T. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 C. confectioner's sugar

Place the cereal in a large bowl and set aside.  Combine the chips, peanut butter, and butter in a small bowl and microwave on HIGH for one minute or until the mixture begins to melt.  Stir and microwave on HIGH for 30 seconds.  Stir in the vanilla.  Pour the chocolate mixture over the cereal and stir gently to coat evenly.  Place the mixture into a large zip-top plastic bag.  Add the confectioner's sugar and shake until the cereal mixture is well coated.  Transfer the mixture to a rimmed baking sheet lined with waxed paper or parchment and cool completely.  Store in an airtight container for up to one week.

**Hush Puppies Salad with Salty Dog Dressing

Add and/or substitute any vegetables you like in this salad (which is what I did to the original recipe).  If you are making this menu for children who are not big fans of green salads, simply make extra coleslaw and serve the young ones just the hush puppies.

1 bag (5 oz.) salad greens
2 avocados, diced
4 small or 2 medium tomatoes, cut into chunks
1 English cucumber, cut into chunks
1/3 C. sliced scallions
1/4 C. roasted and salted pumpkin seeds
16 frozen hush puppies, cooked according to package directions
Salty Dog Dressing (see below)

Divide the salad greens evenly among four salad plates.  Top each plate with equal amounts of the avocados, tomatoes, cucumber, scallions, and pumpkin seeds.  Place four hush puppies atop each salad.  Drizzle the Salty Dog Dressing over the salads and serve.  Serves 4.

Salty Dog Dressing: Combine 2 C. pink grapefruit juice, 1/2 of a large shallot minced, 2 tsp. white wine vinegar, 2 tsp. Dijon mustard, 3/4-1 C. olive oil, and salt to taste in a large jar.  Shake until well combined.

***Low-Carb Devil Dog Cake

A slightly modified recipe for Low-Carb Dark Chocolate Layer Cake is topped with marshmallow creme from a jar to create a homemade version of Drake's Devil Dog snack cakes.

2 C. almond flour
1/2 C. cocoa powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 Tsp. baking powder
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1/4-1/2 C. sugar (see Note)
3 T. butter or coconut oil, melted and cooled slightly
1 T. vanilla
1/3 C. milk
1 jar (about 7 oz.) marshmallow creme (such as Marshmallow Fluff)

Combine the first four ingredients in a large bowl until lump free.  Lightly beat the eggs together in a small bowl.  Combine the remaining ingredients in a medium-sized glass bowl until well blended (see Note).  Beat in the eggs until smooth and quickly add to the dry ingredients until thoroughly incorporated.

Pour the batter into a greased 8-inch square or 9-inch round cake pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes for the square pan or 25-35 minutes for the round pan.  Cake is done when the top springs back to a light touch or a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  Remove from the oven and cool completely.  Top slices of the cake with the marshmallow creme and serve.  Serves 8 (round pan) or 9 (square pan).

Note: The lesser amount of sugar in this recipe makes for a very non-sweet cake, which is my preference when using a sweet topping.  If you want more sweetness, add more sugar (you can use a sugar substitute instead - Swerve is my sister's choice - but I don't like them and prefer to make a less sweet cake).  If you use coconut oil and make this cake on a cold day you may find that the oil begins to solidify.  Simply heat the wet ingredients in the microwave before adding the eggs, then temper the eggs with about 2 T. of the oil mixture before adding them to the wet ingredients.  Immediately stir the wet ingredients into the dry before the oil begins to solidify again!

🎃🐶🎃🐶🎃🐶🎃🐶🎃🐶🎃🐶🎃🐶🎃🐶🎃🐶🎃🐶🎃🐶🎃

Glinda the Good Witch of the South and One-Eyed Jack the Pirate join
Witchiepoo on the credenza to show off their Halloween style.

Glinda the Good Witch

One-Eyed Jack

Witchiepoo, who can't understand why she always gets stuck with the cat!

Deputy Dawg Tex watches the frightful festivities closely, ready to
keep the peace if necessary (and join in the fiendish feasting if not!)

Lovable little Dalmatian Ladybug comes to the spooky celebration dressed
as her favorite spotted arthropod.

And here is one more puppy that I would love to invite to my canine-themed Halloween party:

This puppy's pumpkin says it all!
(from Halloween Wizard)