“How to Make Friends with a Ghost” by Rebecca Green
This book was one of my most anticipated releases for this year! I just adore Rebecca’s art style and the concept for this book really spoke to me. I mean, who wouldn’t want to make friends with an adorable ghost?! This book reads like a fictional guide for not only how to make friends with a ghost, but how to care for them. All the little tips it includes from not letting your ghost be mistaken for food such as marshmallows to singing your ghost spooky lullabies at night are absolutely perfect. Plus, the illustrations have a definite fall flair and are absolutely beautiful. This is a book that we will revisit every Halloween. Actually, its one we will revisit every fall because I know I will be too excited to wait all the way until Halloween. 😉
Click here to purchase “How to Make Friends with a Ghost”
“Mud” Tart Recipe
One of the page spreads in this book explains all the different foods that your ghost will like to eat. Included in the list are: cinnamon dusted insects, earwax truffles, moldy toast, pickled buggers and, my favorite, mud tarts. Once I read “mud tarts” I just knew I had to make a recipe inspired by them.
The first thing that popped to my mind was how my mom used to make us “dirt in a cup” when we were kids. Did your mom ever make you those? She would put chocolate pudding in a clear plastic cup and top it with crushed Oreo “dirt” and gummy worms. We kids thought it was pretty much the best thing ever. These mud tarts are inspired by “dirt in a cup” because it is essentially the same thing, only instead of a cup being the holder I made darling, Oreo, mini tart crusts. Hence: mud tarts!
They seriously don’t get much easier, or much cuter. The breakdown is: Oreo tart crust, chocolate pudding filling and crushed Oreo dirt, gummy worms and chocolate candy rocks to top it off. (I used THESE chocolate candy rocks and THESE gummy worms in case you are wondering.) However, if you do want easier it is possible! Simply buy a pre-made oreo crust and pre-made chocolate pudding cups and then assemble it all together. Magical right?! Your welcome! 😉 These little tarts are perfect for Halloween parties or simply for treating the “little ghosts” in your life. They are also easy and fun enough for kids to help make and decorate and I hope your kids enjoy them as mine do!
“Mud” Tarts
- Serves: 4
- Yield: 4 mini tarts
- Category: book recipe, Dessert
Ingredients
- 1 package of regular oreos (24+ cookies)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1 box chocolate instant pudding mix (and the amount of milk it asks for)
- gummy worms and chocolate rock candy
Instructions
- Using a food processor, blender, or Ziploc bag and rolling pin, smash 24 Oreos until they break up into fine pieces. Next, place the crushed Oreos in a blender or food processor then add the melted butter. Pulse the mixture together until it becomes wet and sand-like.
- Press the Oreo mixture into your tart tins (I did 4 tins that were 4.75" diameter) along the bottom and sides. Use the back of a metal spoon or pressing tool to really pack your crust in tightly. Place them in the fridge and let them cool and harden for at least two hours. (You could also freeze them to really firm them up.)
- Meanwhile, mix up the instant chocolate pudding mix per the instructions on the box and place in the fridge to cool and thicken for the allotted amount of time. Then crush up the remaining Oreos in the package to create a "dirt" topping to decorate your tarts and set aside.s
- Once your pudding is thick and your crusts are firm you are ready to asssemble your tarts. Carefully remove the Oreo crusts from your tins and fill them to the brim with chocolate pudding. Top them with some crushed Oreos for "dirt", a gummy worm and some chocolate candy rocks.
If you give this Beyond the Book activity a try I’d love to hear how it goes! Share it on Instagram using hashtag #beyondthebook (I’m on Instagram as @book.nerd.mommy) or even just comment here with your thoughts. It would make my day! Or to simply save for later pin the image below.
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