With the onslaught of cooler temperatures these past few days,
many children have begun to turn their attention toward one
thing:
With the onslaught of cooler temperatures these past few days, many children have begun to turn their attention toward one thing: Halloween. Community carnivals and events are only a sample of the activities children can look forward to. Others are excited about classroom activities. A few will be fortunate enough to receive an invitation to a friend’s Halloween party.
For families planning a children’s party, I have a wonderful idea for a grilled treat especially for children. It is sure to please – and scare up some excitement: grilled Franken-burgers.
I remember a few of my childhood Halloween activities. As a child, my classmates and I had the opportunity to select a pumpkin to decorate. We didn’t use carving knives but simple everyday classroom crafting items such as construction paper, glue, markers and buttons. Our imaginations went wild when decorating the pumpkins with our own special touches. Later that day, the pumpkins would be lined up for a contest.
The highlight of the day had to be the afternoon Halloween party. Each child brought an goodie, such as brownies or Rice Krispie treats, while other contributed fruit punch and paper products. Many generous moms would assist the teacher by serving the class. Once school had let out for the day, my classmates looked forward to trick-or-treating. The next day, we had a variety of candy that was traded during lunchtime.
I also had a chance to attend a friend’s Halloween party. We received goodie bags, ate food and played party games.
Hosting a children’s Halloween party is a chance for parents to venture a little more on the creative side when it comes to planning. Fun games such as dunking for apples and beanbag toss tic-tac-toe are favorites. A simple mixed-fruit punch with a name such as “witch’s brew” can be another special touch. For the main dish, serve a special and spooky item such as Franken-burgers.
So, what are Franken-burgers? They are a different sort of hamburger. Instead of a flat, round beef patty, the meat is formed into cylinder shape. It is then grilled over hot coals and served on a hot dog bun with all the usual hamburger condiments.
The idea for Franken-burgers came to me late last year. When I started writing this column for the newspaper, it was too late in October to feature this treat. So, that means I have been looking forward to telling you about Franken-burgers for a year. The name comes from the idea that the hamburgers are shaped like hot dogs, or frankfurters. The Halloween spin on the name borrows from one of the great monsters, Frankenstein.
To save some time on the day of the party, the hamburger may be shaped the evening before the party. The hamburger will be easier to roll and won’t stick to your hands as much if you dampen your hands with a little water. Add some salt and pepper to the outside of the meat, and refrigerate on a dish that has been tightly covered with plastic wrap. Of course, this advanced step can be performed the same day, too.
The next step is to light the fire and grill the Franken-burgers on all sides, and then toast the hot dog buns. If you choose to add cheese, lay it on top of the Franken-burgers and allow the cheese to fold over the sides.
Be creative when serving Franken-burgers. Shredded lettuce can become witch’s hair, and relish can become mashed bugs. Come up with a creative name for each condiment. The children will love this, and they’ll look forward to telling their parents what they ate – especially if they can say they ate mashed bugs!
Halloween can be filled with excitement for you and your children. Take a moment to slow down a little, and enjoy a Franken-burger. It is a different and fun way to enjoy a hamburger. The memories created will last a lifetime.
