Boo Bites (Halloween Shortbread Cookies)

readerskitchen
Oct 31, 2014
2 min read

StartFragment"Each year, the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch that he thinks the most sincere. He's gotta pick this one. He's got to. I don't see how a pumpkin patch can be more sincere than this one. You can look around and there's not a sign of hypocrisy. Nothing but sincerity as far as the eye can see." - It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie BrownEndFragment

As evidenced by my past post, I'm not by any stretch of the imagination a "health nut." You need to know this as I embark on a public health rant.

I am currently a student-teacher in a 2nd grade class in Maryland. The "healthy schools" initiative dictates that the only approved treats at the Halloween party are: rice krispie treats, pirate's booty, fruit snacks, and veggies. At this school every student receives a free breakfast every single day. This is wonderful, right? Maybe it would be if there was any nutritional value to these meals. In stead, the breakfasts are individually packaged (think of the waste) sugar bombs.

Some options: (1) cereal (trix, frosted flakes, or lucky charms), a capri sun, cookies and some craisings (2) yogurt (15 grams sugar), cookies, craisins, granola (3) applesauce, cheese stick, graham cookies and a juice. Added up, these breakfasts can contain up to 60 grams of sugar, assuming that the kids aren't squirreling away multiple bags of cookies or cereal.

Is it any wonder that the kids are bouncing off the walls in the morning and half asleep all afternoon?

More than anything, elementary school is about teaching children the skills they'll be using for the rest of their lives. Among these is the knowledge to make safe and healthy food choices. That's my problem with the "healthy schools" decision. We should be teaching students to make healthy everyday choices and allowing them a fun indulgence one day a year (Halloween!) instead of sucking the fun out of a holiday based on sugary treats.

Halloween Boo Bites (mini shortbread cookies)

adapted from Seeded at the Table

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons halloween colored nonpareils

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Directions:

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Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Spray an 8-inch pan then line with parchment paper (this helps the paper stay in place). Press parchment paper into the sides and corners.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter, sugar and extract at medium speed until creamy, about 1-2 minutes.
Add the flour and salt. Mix on low speed until a dough forms. It will be crumbly at first, but keep beating. (this takes a few minutes)
Stir in the nonpareils until evenly distributed.
Transfer the dough to the lined pan and press evenly into the bottom. Use the parchment paper to lift the dough from the pan and transfer to a cutting board. Cut the dough into 1/2-inch square pieces.
Place the squares 1/2-inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet; discard parchment paper. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes, or until bottoms just begin to brown.