Although Hallowe'en is creeping up on Tuesday, there's nothing scary about these well-loved seasonal favourites, which are guaranteed to put a smile on the faces of even the most fearsome witches and goblins.

CARAMELISED APPLES 6 medium Red Delicious apples 6 3-inch pieces sturdy cinnamon stick 1 14-oz bag vanilla caramels 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 1 tsp imitation rum extract 2 tblsps water 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1/16 tsp ground nutmeg 1/16 tsp ground allspice A dash of ground mace WASH the apples and dry them thoroughly. Push a sturdy cinnamon stick into the stem end of each apple. Set apples aside.

In the top of a double boiler over boiling water, melt caramels with remaining ingredients until smooth, stirring frequently. Keeping sauce over hot water, dip the apples into hot caramel sauce and turn until apple is completely coated. Allow excess sauce to drip off apple and place on wax paper.

Refrigerate until caramel coating is firm.

*** PUMPKIN PIE Pastry for a 9-inch one-crust pie shell 1 16-oz can or 2 cups pumpkin 1 cup brown sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground nutmeg 1 tsp ground ginger 1 tsp ground cloves 1 tsp salt 1 13-oz can evaporated milk LINE a nine-inch pie plate with the pastry. Beat the eggs until light and stir in pumpkin. Combine brown sugar with spices and salt and add to pumpkin mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk and pour into shell.

Bake the pie in a 450-degree-Fahrenheit oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for 40 minutes longer. Let the pie cool, then top it with a spiced pecan topping or decorate with spoonfuls of spiced whipped cream.

*** WHOLE WHEAT PUMPKIN MUFFINS 11 cups sugar 1 16-oz can or 2 cups pumpkin 3 eggs 1 cup salad oil 1 cup water 11 cups sifted flour 11 cups sifted whole wheat flour 11 tsps baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 3 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp cloves 11 tsps ground nutmeg 11 cups raisins 1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped PREHEAT oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Combine sugar, pumpkin, eggs, oil and water. Beat at low speed for one minute.

Sift together the flour and next six ingredients. Add mixture to the pumpkin mix, stirring until the dry ingredients are moistened. Stir in raisins and nuts.

Spoon the mixture into lightly greased muffin pans then bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 22 minutes. Recipe makes two-and-a-half dozen muffins.

HAPPY FACES -- It's fun to dress up for Hallowe'en.