/ Better Living

09:32 PM EDT on Thursday, October 28, 2004

By Sherri Brennen

Don't spend a fortune on costumes. Organize a group of families and have a costume swap.

They say garlic keeps vampires away, so hang a rope of garlic on your door for the decoration. Later, you can use it in the kitchen.

Wendy Juren

Add gummy worms to ice cubes that will go in Halloween drinks.

Use chalk to draw a body outline on the sidewalk to give your house the look of a crime scene.

Things look spookier by candlelight. Hang a few lanterns on your porch or in the trees. Just make sure they're safely away from trick or treaters.

Attach broken doll body parts to an arrangement of bare twigs for a really scary centerpiece.

Freeze gummy worms in ice cubes to turn ordinary soda into creepy drinks for kids.

Give your pumpkin a unique look by using mini marshmallows to make teeth. Just attach them with toothpicks.

Serve a special Halloween dinner that's quick and simple. Heat black bean soup from a can and serve it in mini pumpkins.

Wendy Juren

Deviled eggs are an eye-catching snack.

Make devil's eyeballs by preparing deviled eggs and placing a slice of stuffed olive in the middle and thin slivers of pimento for that “bloodshot” look.

Devil’s Eyeballs (makes a dozen “eyes”)

6 hard boiled eggs

2-3 Tablespoons mayonnaise

Salsa to taste

Salt & pepper

Stuffed Olives

Pimento

Several cups cooked pasta (optional)

Cut eggs in half lengthwise and gently scoop out yolks into a separate bowl. Add mayonnaise, salt and pepper and a tablespoon or two of drained salsa to the yolks and mix until creamy. Spoon mixture into boiled whites. Slice olives and place one slice in the center of each egg. Slice thin slivers of pimento and place horizontally coming out from the olive. For a ghoulish look serve deviled eggs on a bed of cooked pasta. We used red chili flavored pasta which brings out the “red” in the eyes.

Wendy Juren

Chocolate pudding in wine glasses is a ghostly treat.

Make dessert special by serving chocolate pudding in wine glasses dipped in orange and black sugar. Top it off with a whipped cream ghost.

To prepare glasses, first dip the rim in water so that sugar will stick. Then carefully spoon in pudding and fill the glass about half way. Fill a gallon sized zip bag with prepared whipped topping and cut off one corner of the bag to create a pastry bag. Pipe the “ghost” on top of the pudding so that the peak just reaches the top of the glass. Use mini chocolate chips for eyes and you’re all set.

So, spend a little time and save a lot of money with these frugal Halloween tips.