[caption id="attachment_2787" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Sugar Mice, from The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook (Adams Media, 2011)"] [/caption] I'm a big fan of making fun things with kids. When my normally reserved great aunt Lucy would turn cookies into happy faces I would squeal with delight, and developed a lifelong affinity for oatmeal raisin. I'm also a big fan of Halloween treats made from all-natural ingredients - chemicals and dyes really aren't good for anyone. So I'm delighted to share this easy, cute and all-natural Spice Mice recipe from The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook (Adams Media, 2011), a New York Times best seller!

Sugar Mice excerpted with permission from The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook by Dinah Bucholz Ingredients: 3/4 stick (6 tbsp) butter, at room temperature 1/4 cup light corn syrup 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract 3 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted Directions: 1.    Combine the butter, corn syrup, and vanilla and beat until thoroughly combined. Add the confectioners’ sugar slowly on the slowest speed until it forms a dough-like consistency. Add more confectioners’ sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, if the mixture is sticky. Wrap the fondant in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use. It will keep for several months in the refrigerator. 2.    To make the sugar mice, pinch off a small piece of fondant and roll into a 1/2-inch ball. Roll the ball into an oval and pinch one end for the nose and two ends to make pointed ears. You can make two indentations for eyes with a toothpick. Pinch off another piece of dough to form a 1 1/2-inch ball and shape into an oval for the body. Attach the body to the head. You can stick a piece of licorice into the back for the tail. If the fondant gets too soft to work with, put it back in the refrigerator to firm up again. 3.    Repeat until all the fondant is used up. Line up the mice on parchment paper and leave out overnight to dry. Makes about 20 Sugar Mice Note about British culture: Making little animals such as mice or pigs out of an easy-to-make fondant is a popular activity for British kids. (Real fondant is a much bigger deal to make.)

I'm also giving away my copy of the book! This cookbook is full of easy, British-style recipes pulled out of the pages of the Harry Potter series: Treacle Tart (Harry's favourite dessert), Molly's Meat Pies (Mrs. Weasley's classic dish) and these Spice Mice, part of a the Honeydukes collection. How to enter: Tell me your fondest childhood Halloween memory in the Comments section below. The most fun (gross/scary/funny) story will 1 (one) copy of the book. Winner will be notified on Wednesday, October 19, 2011 via email. And don't miss Canadian Living's Complete Guide to Ultimate Halloween Fun for party menus, homemade costumes, decorations, scary cakes, and spooky cocktails for adults. So what's your fondest childhood Halloween memory? October 19th update: Winner of the cookbook has been notified. Check your inboxes!