What to Do With Your Leftover Pumpkins

BAY CITY, Mich. – Halloween is over, and all around the country, families are taking down their decorations and tossing their Jack-o-Lanterns and decorative pumpkins into the trash. Instead of wastefully throwing them away, if you know what to do with your leftover pumpkins, you can make delicious desserts, creative centerpieces, and much more! Read on to discover the amazing things your leftover Jack-o-Lantern can do for you and your home.

Make Pumpkin Puree

Pumpkin puree can be used to make pumpkin pie, cakes, smoothies, and tons of other fall goodies! Plus, making your own pumpkin puree can save you the trouble of having to buy all of those extra cans of puree when you're preparing to make pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving. Just make sure there is no mold growing in your Jack-o-Lantern before you start cooking!

How to Do It: 

1. Cut your pumpkin down the middle, removing the extra seeds and setting them aside (we'll use them later!)
2. Next, place your pumpkin slices cut-side down on a cooking sheet.
3. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, then bake for 45 minutes. 
4. Remove your pumpkin pieces from the oven and peel off the pumpkin "skin".
5. Place the leftover pumpkin chunks into a food processor or blender, then blend until thoroughly smooth. Voila! You've made pumpkin puree!

Use Your Pumpkin Puree to Make Pumpkin Butter

Want to put your pumpkin puree to good use right away? With just a few ingredients, you can make a delicious batch of pumpkin butter that packs a festive punch of flavor! You can spread it on toast, add it to ice cream, french toast, and much more!

How to Do It:

1. Combine 29 oz. pumpkin puree, 3/4 cup apple juice, 2 teaspoons of ground ginger, and 1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves in a large saucepan, stirring well. Bring the mixture to a boil.
2. Reduce its heat, stir occasionally and simmer for 30 minutes.
3. Transfer to containers and chill in the refrigerator until serving.

Cook Your Leftover Pumpkin Seeds

Remember those pumpkin seeds we set aside earlier? Well, now we're going to turn them into a delicious fall snack! You can cook this tasty treat with cinnamon, salt, butter, or even sugar to add a dash of flavor to this easy-to-make side dish.

How to Do It:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Throw your pumpkin seeds into a bowl with 2 teaspoons of melted butter and your 1 1/2 cups of cinnamon, salt, or sugar.
3. Spread pumpkin seeds on a baking sheet and cook for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally

Donate Leftover Pumpkins to a Farmer

If you aren't a fan of pumpkin-flavored foods, you can always donate your leftover Jack-o-Lanterns to your local farmers! Animals love the sweet taste of pumpkins and the cows, pigs, and other farm friends will be very thankful for the tasty treat. 

How to Do It: Use MLive's Animal Farm Finder to discover local farms in Bay County that would be more than happy to take your leftover pumpkins off your hands!

Turn Your Pumpkin into a Flower Pot

Want to repurpose your Jack-o-Lantern into a festive fall decoration? With just a few quick steps, you can transform your carved pumpkin into a live flower planter! If you plan on displaying your planters outside, however, recommend that you turn them so that your Jack-o-Lantern's spooky face isn't greeting your guests as they enter your home.

How to Do It: After removing the lid of your pumpkin and cleaning out its insides, add a shovel full of dirt into its base. Slide your flower into the pumpkin and fill the remaining empty areas with dirt till it fills your Jack-o-Lantern to the top. Wipe it down and give your plant some water, and voila!

Now that you know what to do with your leftover pumpkins, you can breathe new life into your Jack-o-Lantern with by cooking recipes, making decorations, and charitable donations! Looking for more DIY projects and recipes? Make sure to follow our Pinterest page for all things autumn! Additionally, if you're searching for more fall fun, you can make the most of your time before winter with our Fall Seasonal Guide! Browse through our guide to find recommendations on local cider mills, apple orchards, fall recipes, and so much more. Before you head out to your next great fall adventure, though, make sure your vehicle is able to take on the changing temperatures with our Fall Car Care guide. You won't regret it once the snow starts to fall!

Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we are here to help our community grow to become an even better place to call home! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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15 Halloween Safety Tips for Trick-or-Treaters

BAY CITY, Mich. – Halloween is one of the most exciting and fun times of the year, but it can also be very dangerous for trick-or-treaters. The National Safety Council estimates that children are twice as likely to be involved in vehicle accidents on Halloween than any other day of the year. However, with proper planning and precautionary measures, you and your little monsters can enjoy a worry-free holiday. Follow these 15 Halloween safety tips for trick-or-treaters to maximize your candy count while keeping you and your family safe while you take to the streets.

1. Accompany Your Trick-or-Treaters: Going along with your kids as they trick-or-treat will allow you to monitor them. Responsible adults should always accompany their younger children.
2. Plan Your Route in Advance: Walking from street to street can take a lot out of you. Mapping out your path before you go will help you avoid sore legs or getting lost.
3. Agree on a Return Time: Usually, neighborhoods will have a curfew or time to let you know when it is time to head home, but you should still plan on a time to return home. You don't want to be out all night!
4. Avoid Wearing Masks: Masks can obstruct your child's vision and, in some instances, can make it difficult to breathe. If you can, use non-toxic makeup to complete their costume!
5. Wear Comfy Shoes: Since you'll probably be walking from street to street, you'll want to make sure that you and your children are in comfortable shoes. Double knot your laces to avoid tripping!
6. Use Reflective Tape: Reflective tape will allow drivers on the road to better see your child as they navigate the streets at night. Use it on their costume or candy bag to help make them more visible. If possible, bring along a flashlight as well! 
7. Put the Phone Down: Keep electronic usage to a minimum while you're out and about, if possible. You never know when your child might dart out into the road, and it's better to be paying attention if it occurs!
8. Walk on the Sidewalk: Teach your kids to walk on the sidewalk or as far away from driving vehicles as possible. If there aren't any sidewalks for you and your children to stay on, walk facing traffic as far to the left as you can.
9. Use Crosswalks and Traffic Signals: Paying attention and remaining responsible with street rules will maximize your safety while you're trick-or-treating. You should only cross the street when you're given the signal to go.
10. Stay in a Group: If you're trick-or-treating with friends or family, you'll be more noticeable to vehicles on the road. Traveling in groups increases your safety while you're out and about.
11. Charge Your Phone: This might seem like a no-brainer, but in the event of an emergency, a charged phone can make all the difference.
12. Watch Out for Parked Cars: You never know when a car might try to back out of their parking spot. Make sure your child knows to double check before they walk by a parked car!
13. Don't Buy Oversized Costumes: Costumes that are too long on your child can drag and can be extremely dangerous at night. If it's too long, hem it to avoid tripping!
14. Keep Your Lights On: After you leave your home, lock your doors and keep your lights and TV on so that it appears that there's someone in your home on Halloween night. That way, nobody will try breaking in while you're gone.
15. If You See Something, Say Something: If you notice anything suspicious occurring, contact the authorities right away. It's better to be safe than sorry!

On a busy holiday like Halloween, keeping your children safe should be your number one priority. Use these 15 Halloween safety tips for trick-or-treaters to teach your little ghouls and goblins important habits to prevent any Halloween nightmares from occurring. At Graff Bay City, we know that safety behind the wheel is just as important as it is on foot. If you're planning on trick-or-treating out of town this year, you can make the road a much safer place with Chevrolet's advanced safety features. Another way to increase your safety on the road is by keeping up with your Fall Car Care. Important components in your vehicle can be affected by the changing weather, and our Fall Car Care can teach you how to spot damage to your vehicle's components and what you can do to prevent damage from occurring. If you discover that your vehicle may need attention, schedule a service appointment with us online today!

Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we are here to help our community grow to become an even better place to call home! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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12 Spooky Halloween Dessert Recipes

BAY CITY, Mich. – Candy, desserts, and other sweets are the highlights of the Halloween season. If you're on the hunt for treats, not tricks, you've come to the right place! Give these 12 spooky Halloween dessert recipes a try this October to taste the most delicious desserts the season has to offer.

1. Rice Krispie Treat Pumpkins

Skip the trip to the pumpkin patch and make a batch of these Rice Krispie Treat pumpkins instead! These little guys are the sweetest, delicious, and are extremely easy to make, too!

Ingredients: Rice Krispies, liquid food coloring (red and yellow), cooking oil, butter, green M&Ms, large marshmallows, mini Rolos

Prep/Cook Time: 20 minutes

Recipe Yields: 12 pumpkins

2. Mummy Oreo Pops

How do you make something as good as Oreos taste even better? The answer is more chocolate, of course! Mummify your Oreos in white chocolate for hauntingly delicious flavor this Halloween!

Ingredients: Oreos, melted white chocolate, piping bag/ziplock bag for drizzling, tweezers, edible eyes, lollipop sticks

Prep/Cook Time: 20-25 minutes

Recipe Yields: 8-10 mummies

3. Coffin Cake

Bring your guests back from the dead with a slice of this sweet and spooky coffin cake! They're sure to enjoy every bite. After all, the mouth-watering flavor is simply to die for!

Ingredients: Flour, baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg, salt, sugar, butter, eggs, pumpkin, vanilla extract, buttermilk, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, heavy cream, candy eyeballs

Prep/Cook Time: 1 hour 50 minutes

Recipe Yields: 2 loaves

4. Monster Truffles

These little guys are easy to make and taste just as good as they look! If you're feeling creative, you can substitute the lavender candy melts for other colored chocolates to create monsters of all shapes, sizes, and colors!

Ingredients: Oreos, cream cheese, lavender candy melts, light purple sprinkles, candy eyeballs

Prep/Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Recipe Yields: 18-20 truffles

5. Monster Whoopie Pies

With teeth that sharp, you'd expect these monster whoopie pies to bite back. The good news is, they don't! Take a bite (or two!) of one of these for some scary good snacking at your next Halloween get-together.

Ingredients: Devil's Food cake, cooking oil, eggs, brown sugar, vanilla extract, butter, cocoa powder, milk, powdered sugar, Starbursts, white chocolate chips, large marshmallows, Junior Mints

Prep/Cook Time: 25 minutes

Recipe Yields: 10 monsters

6. Chocolate Caramel-Covered Banana Goblins

Turn your bananas into creepy chocolate and caramel-covered goblins in a mere matter of minutes! You can serve these spooky sweets right away, or you can freeze them to give your goblins a thick "skin"!

Ingredients: Bananas, popsicle sticks, caramel dip, mini chocolate chips, candy eyeballs

Prep/Cook Time: 10 minutes

Recipe Yields: 6 banana goblins

7. Spiderweb Cake

Don't get tangled up in the long list of ingredients - not only is spiderweb cake easy to make, but it's as delicious as it is simple! You don't have to have eight legs to enjoy this tasty treat.

Ingredients: Flour, sugar, black cocoa powder, Dutch-processed cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, salt, vegetable oil, buttermilk, coffee, eggs, vanilla, powdered sugar, whipping cream, orange extract

Prep/Cook Time: 2 hours 35 minutes

Recipe Yields: 1 spiderweb cake

8. Brimstone Brownies

You don't need a volcano to whip up a batch of brimstone brownies! If you want to impress your partygoers with an unbeatably tasty take on Halloween desserts, make a batch of brimstone brownies that they'll be talking about until Thanksgiving! 

Ingredients: Sugar, flour, dark cocoa powder, salt, baking powder, eggs, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, cream cheese, orange food coloring

Prep/Cook Time: 40 minutes

Recipe Yields: 9 brimstone brownies

9. Monster Cereal Treats

Get your cereal into the Halloween spirit by turning them into batches of monster cereal treats! Using candy eyeballs, sprinkles, and melted chocolate, you can make each and every treat into a uniquely creepy creature!

Ingredients: Pretzel sticks, Cheerios, Rice Krispie cereal, orange chocolate candy melts, green chocolate candy melts, purple chocolate candy melts, candy sprinkles, candy eyeballs

Prep/Cook Time: 15 minutes

Recipe Yields: 36 monster cereal treats

10. Mini Bat Treats

Let your taste buds take flight this Halloween! One bite of these easy, 4-ingredient mini bat treats will make you glide back over to the snack table to grab seconds, thirds, and maybe even fourths!

Ingredients: Reese's peanut butter cups, Oreos, edible eyeballs, frosting

Prep/Cook Time: 10 minutes

Recipe Yields: 25 mini bats

11. Peanut Butter and Chocolate Eyeballs

Want to make a truly eye-popping treat this Halloween? With a few simple steps, these peanut butter and chocolate eyeballs are sure to get everyone's attention. You'll see what we mean after just one bite!

Ingredients: Butter, peanut butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, white chocolate, mini chocolate chips, red food gel

Prep/Cook Time: 25 minutes

Recipe Yields: 40 eyeballs

12. Pretzel Witch Fingers

If you want a magically easy recipe that's perfect for any Halloween party, pretzel witch fingers might be just what you're looking for! Thankfully, these witch fingers are curse-free so you won't have to worry about any spells or hexes as you prepare them for your Halloween festivities.

Ingredients: Pretzel rods, almonds, black food dye, green candy melts

Prep/Cook Time: 20-25 minutes

Recipe Yields: 20 witch fingers

Skip the candy this year and give your taste buds the treatment they deserve with these 12 spooky Halloween dessert recipes. If you're looking for more trick-free treats, check out our Pinterest page for recipes, DIY decorations, and all things Halloween! Looking for more fall fun? Take on a new adventure this autumn with our Fall Seasonal Guide. You'll find information on cider mills, pumpkin decorations, fall recipes, and more.

Additionally, while you're out and about enjoying the season, make sure your vehicle is ready to take on the cold weather with our Fall Car Care guide! You'd be surprised at how many of your vehicle's components are affected by the changing weather, and it's always better to be safe than sorry, especially before the temperatures really start to drop! If you find anything that may require attention, contact us and schedule an appointment at our Service Center right away. We're more than happy to get your vehicle ready to face the fall and winter weather!

Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we are here to help our community grow to become an even better place to call home! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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7 Fun DIY Halloween Decorations

BAY CITY, Mich. – Halloween is a fun and fantastic time to decorate your home, but rising prices on holiday decorations can make it an expensive ordeal. Why spend your hard-earned money on something that's only going to be up for a month? Craft these 7 fun DIY Halloween decorations to save money, skip the lines, and give your home the unique decor it deserves! Take a look at some of the cool and creative decorations you can make for your home below.

1. Floating Witch Hats

Protect your home from evil spirits and give it a cool and creative effect with these DIY floating witch hats! To make your hats glow at night, add electric tea lights to them for an eerie look.

Supplies Needed: Witch hats, string, electric tea lights, long needle

DIY Difficulty: Easy

2. Spider Balloons

Greet your Trick-or-Treaters by hanging a few of these creepy spider balloons from your trees! You can even hang more string from other parts of your tree to create larger and creepier "webs" with it.

Supplies Needed: String, plastic spider, balloons, glue

DIY Difficulty: Easy

3. Eyeball Lights

Keep an extra eye (or two, or three, or four...) on your front porch this Halloween with a set of eyeball lights! You can create this creepy Halloween decoration with only four simple supplies!

Supplies Needed: String lights, ping pong balls, markers, exacto knife

DIY Difficulty: Easy

4. Hanging Candlelit Hallway

Give your home a mystical, Harry Potter theme by creating a truly magical look with hanging candles! Add a starry tapestry to give your hanging candles the night sky effect they deserve. 

Supplies Needed: Paper towel and toilet paper rolls, electric tea lights, wax, string, tape/glue, tapestry

DIY Difficulty: Medium

5. Candy Corn Centerpiece

Not all Halloween-themed decorations have to be creepy! Give your Halloween home a festive treatment with this vibrant and beautiful candy corn centerpiece. 

Supplies Needed: Yellow, white, and orange flowers, candy corn, marshmallow ghosts

DIY Difficulty: Easy

6. Plastic Pumpkin Totem Pole

Making a plastic pumpkin totem pole is cheap, easy, and fun way to get in the Halloween spirit! Not only does this DIY project only take a few minutes, but you can reuse this decoration for years to come, too!

Supplies Needed: Plastic pumpkins, black ink, damp paper towels, weight, hot glue gun, foam brush

DIY Difficulty: Easy

7. Potion Bottles

Show off your potions, poisons, antidotes, and ingredients with these creepy containers! You can repurpose old containers for added effect, but be careful to not mix the wrong ingredients! You don't want to curse any of your guests this Halloween.

Supplies Needed: Bottles of different shapes and sizes, corks, spices, glitter, dust, vinegar, potion labels, a touch of creativity

DIY Difficulty: Hard

Make your house the creepiest home of the season with these 7 fun DIY decorations! Need some more DIY inspiration? Follow our Pinterest page for recipes, projects, and everything Halloween! If fall fun is what you're looking for, we've got you covered! Check out our Fall Seasonal Guide to discover cider mills, pumpkin patches, fall recipes, and more! By now, you've probably changed into warmer clothes to prepare for the colder weather, but did you know that your vehicle also needs preparation to take on the changing temperatures? Check out our Fall Car Care guide for information on important components in your vehicle that can be affected by the changing weather and what you can do to ensure their safety this season.

Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we are here to help our community grow to become an even better place to call home! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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9 Adorable Costumes for Your Pets

BAY CITY, Mich. – According to a study conducted by the National Retail Federation, almost 20% of Americans celebrating Halloween will be dressing their pets up this year. Are you planning on taking your furry friends trick-or-treating? If so, you should give these 9 adorable costumes for your pets a try! You'll hear plenty of "aww"s no matter where you trick-or-treat with these cute and creative costumes.

1. Pumpkin

Get your furry friend in the Halloween spirit this October with a pumpkin costume! This crowd-pleaser is perfect for family get-togethers, trick-or-treating, and everything Halloween!

Best Worn By: Smaller dogs

Where to Find It: Check on Amazon or any local pet store!

2. Hairy Potter

One of the most adorable costumes of the Halloween season, discover the magic of trick-or-treating by dressing up your pet as Harry Potter!

Best Worn By: Large dogs

Where to Find It: Whether you're a Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw, you can find a Harry Potter-themed scarf easily online!

3. Hot Dog

The cutest pun of the Halloween season will make your neighbors and friends exclaim, "hot dog!" Since the straps are adjustable, you can turn any dog into a hot dog this October!

Best Worn By: Any dog of any size!

Where to Find It: Check around Pet Supplies Plus in Bay City or anywhere online to get your hands on this hot commodity!

4. Beanie Baby

Pay tribute to the 90's trend that swept the nation with this quick and easy DIY costume for your pet! For a truly authentic look, write a little bio for your dog in the name tag. In no time, they'll look just like a classic Beanie Baby!

Best Worn By: Any pet!

Where to Find It: Follow this DIY guide to make your unique name tag for your pet!

5. Pup of Joe

Satisfy your love for coffee (and Halloween) by transforming your dog into an adorable pup of joe! If you can't draw the Starbucks logo, print it off and glue it to your cardboard. It'll look just as good!

Best Worn By: Small, medium, and "Venti" sized dogs!

Where to Find It: Repurpose an old cardboard box with the Starbucks logo on it and carefully tape it together to make the "sleeve". Don't forget the coffee lid cap!

6. Unicorn

Is your furry friend magical? One-of-a-kind? Prove how truly remarkable your pet is with a unicorn costume! Show off the majesty of your little buddy with a truly legendary look.

Best Worn By: Smaller dogs

Where to Find It: Thankfully, finding a unicorn costume is a lot easier than finding a real unicorn! Check Soldan's Pet Supplies in Bay City, or shop online to get your hands on this mythical costume.

7. Banana

Want your friends and family to go bananas for your pet this year? Give your dog the fruity look it deserves with a Chiquita banana costume! If you own several dogs, turn your bananas into a bunch with this adorable look.

Best Worn By: Dogs of any size!

Where to Find It: Spirit Halloween will normally have them in stock. If you can't find them in person, check their online store to get it right away!

8. Bumblebee

This cute costume might "bee" the best one we've seen yet! With snap button enclosures, you can easily slip this costume on your cat without much trouble. 

Best Worn By: Cats of all sizes

Where to Find It: You can purchase it online at Meowington, or you can stop by Halloween City in Saginaw to get it in person!

9. Shark Attack

There is definitely 'some-fin' extra adorable about this costume! This land shark costume is perfect for aquatic themed Halloween festivities, trick-or-treating, or even trips to the waterside!

Best Worn By: Medium sized dogs

Where to Find It: Amazon has several shark attack costumes in stock, but you can also head out to Party City to get a look at this cool costume in person!

Give your fuzzy companions the fashionable and stylish look they deserve this Halloween with one of these 9 adorable costumes for your pets! If you're planning on taking your pet for an adventure this fall, take a look at our Fall Seasonal Guide to discover fun pet-friendly locations in the Bay City area this October! While you're at it, make sure your vehicle is ready to take on the changing temperatures with our Fall Car Care guide. You'll be thankful when the snow starts to fall, as your vehicle's important components will be able to take on the cold weather this upcoming winter!

Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we are here to help our community grow to become an even better place to call home! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.


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