I love anything that has to do with marshmallows (except for Peeps -- they freak me out) so Rice Krispie Treats and Corn Flake wreaths are some of my favorite sweet desserts. That is, until I was introduced to marshmallow Oreo squares. Now these are my fave. Crunchy, chewy, and sweet, the squares are just as fun to eat as they are to make. Get the kids to crush up some Oreos, heat up some marshmallows and butter and before you know it, you've down 10 of these suckers with a glass of milk.

They're so easy to whip up -- get started now!

Pigs in a blanket are the party app just about everybody loves -- kids and grown-ups. They're cute, little, savory, crunchy, and don't you love saying that silly name out loud? It's the snack that says "party!"

They're also incredibly easy to make -- remove from box and heat, if you can find them pre-made and frozen. If you can't find frozen pigs in a blanket, just cut up hot dogs (or buy cocktail wieners) and wrap them in triangles of puff pastry dough. Now that you know the basics, why not dress them up a little for the New Year? Rachael Ray's twist on the classic gives them extra crunch and three zingy dipping sauces for your guests to choose.

BEHOLD! Knives flashing over shiny vegetables! All-important taste tests! Apple-spewing! Yelling! Poofy hair and golden capes! Jason Schwartzman! It's Cast Iron Cooks -- a wacky new segment on Sesame Street.

Bored to Death star Jason is the wild-eyed judge in a fruit and veggie cooking contest that spoofs Iron Chef, the American version of the Japanese cooking show. Humans must compete against Muppets in preparing three dishes -- WHO WILL WIN THE CHALLENGE?!? Only Jason Schwartzman knows! And you -- if you watch the video below! Are you ready? Then get your red satin chef's toque on! BEGIN!

When it comes to Scary Spider Cupcakes for Halloween, you can go in one of two directions: You can make the cupcakes themselves look like creepy spiders. Or you can wow your friends with your cake decorating prowess by drawing intricate spider web designs on top. (I prefer the second just because it looks so professional and I like to brag.) The cupcakes shown here are chocolate cake with white frosting, but feel free to experiment with a variety of flavors. My favorite combo? Dark chocolate cupcakes with orange-tinted frosting and scary black spider web. Eek!

These Witch Finger Cookies are so grisly-looking, you almost wonder if they're too gruesome to serve at a party. But isn't that the whole point of Halloween -- to scare the pants off your guests?

The good news is that these cookies don't just look festive, they're tasty, too: It's flaky shortbread and blood bright berry jam to hold the silvered almond "fingernails" in place. Another idea? You could also tint the dough green to make these witch fingers even more "realistic."

Have you been to the candy aisle yet this month? Holy bat wings -- there are all sorts of fun, new Halloween candy on the shelf this year, plus some of the oldies-but-goodies that come out every October. Pretzels with chocolate seem big this season, and there's more dark chocolate than ever before. It's like they're creating new treats just for me!

But hold on there, self. Let's look at those calorie counts -- do I dare? 

I know Halloween without candy is like Easter without Jesus, but when you start adding up the numbers in your typical trick-or-treat bag, it starts to look, well, SCARY! Not that I'm the one trick-or-treating. Or that I'm stealing from my kid's stash. Because I am so not. I would never! Well, maybe I would. But what if I based my candy theft on calories? Which candies would I, ahem, borrow?

At about this time every October, stories -- like this one -- pop up all over the place suggesting "healthy Halloween treats" or, even worse, "alternatives to Halloween candy." But this year, I cannot sit here silently and let these fun-haters go unchecked. To me, it is sacrilege to propose eliminating the key element -- the reason for the season, if you will -- from everyone's favorite holiday. How is a Halloween without candy any different from Easter without Jesus or Christmas without the cookies?

The answer is: It's not! So stop talking crazy already.

Sure, you could order a pizza to munch on while everyone's watching the game. But sometimes homemade snacks are that much more tasty. This Cheesy Pepperoni Bread comes together in a snap: Just buy bread dough from the freezer section, spread with cheese and pepperoni, roll up, then pop in the oven until it's all melty and golden brown. You could even substitute more gourmet pizza toppings -- maybe some spinach and crumbled goat cheese? It all depends on what the crowd in your house is craving.