To create eyeball decorations, use red gel to make veins, green (or blue or purple) gel for the eyes and black for the pupils.

SPIDER WEB MUNCH

Serves 12.

2 c. (12-oz. pkg.) semisweet chocolate morsels

1 c. creamy peanut butter, divided

1/3 c. powdered sugar

3 c. toasted rice cereal

Directions

Heat morsels and 3/4 cup peanut butter in a small, heavy-duty saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth; removefrom heat. Add sugar and stir vigorously until smooth.

Place cereal in a large bowl. Add 1 cup of melted chocolate mixture; stir until well-coated. Place on ungreased baking sheet.

Using a small metal spatula, shape into a 10-inch circle with slightly raised 1-inch border. Pour remaining melted chocolatemixture into center of circle and spread to border.

To make spider web, place remaining peanut butter in a heavy-duty plastic bag; knead with hands to soften. Cut tiny corner from bag; squeeze to pipe concentric circles on top of chocolate. Using a wooden pick or tip of a sharp knife, pull tip through peanut butter from center to border.

Chill for 30 minutes or until firm. Cut into wedges.

SPIDER WEB PEANUT BARS

Makes 12 bars.

1 pkg. chocolate-peanut butter dessert bar mix (or use your favorite recipe)

1/2 c. honey-roasted peanuts, chopped

3 tbsp. margarine or butter, softened

1 egg

Decorating icing (chocolate and vanilla)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 8- by 8-inch or 9- by 9-inch pan with aluminum foil, leaving the edge of the foil hanging over the side of the pan. Grease foil. Stir peanut butter bar mix, peanuts, margarine and egg in a medium bowl. Mixture will be like soft cookie dough. Spread in pan.

Bake 18 to 22 minutes for 8-inch pan, 17 to 23 minutes for 9-inch pan, or until top is light golden brown. Cool completely; lift out foil and bars. Pull foil away from sides of uncut bars for easier frosting and decorating.

Knead packet of frosting included with mix for about 10 seconds. Cut off one corner of packet. Squeeze frosting onto bars; spread evenly with the back of a teaspoon. Using white decorator icing, pipe a series of thin circles onto uncut brownies, each about 1/2 inch larger than the previous circle. Draw the tip of a knife from the center of the rings to the edge in a spoke fashion to create spider web effect. Place plastic spider near the center of the web.

GRAVEYARD BROWNIES

Serves 18.

1 pkg. walnut or chocolate chunk brownie mix (or use your favorite recipe)

3 tbsp. water

1/2 c. vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 c. granola (without dried fruit)

5 to 7 finger-shaped vanilla sandwich cookies

Candy pumpkins and other Halloween candy

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9- by 13-inch pan with aluminum foil, leaving edge of foil hanging over the rim of pan. Grease bottom of foil.

Stir brownie mix, water, oil and eggs in medium bowl, using spoon, about 50 strokes or until well blended. Spread mixture in pan. Sprinkle with granola, breaking up any large pieces. Bake 23 to 28 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from edge of pan comes out clean or almost clean.

Immediately after removing brownies from oven, randomly press sandwich cookies halfway into warm brownies to look like tombstones. Cool completely; lift out foil and transfer uncut brownies to serving tray or a piece of cardboard covered with foil. Arrange candy to complete graveyard scene.