Make a spidery treat for Halloween

This cookbook is so charming it's scary. The new "Halloween Treats" (Chronicle, $14.95) by Donata Maggipinto is cute as a bat's ear, filled with recipes and crafts. Here's one for the cookies pictured above:

Sweetie Spiders

3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

48 thin black licorice strings, each 6 inches long

12 chocolate sandwich cookies

24 red cinnamon candies

Add 3 or 4 drops of water to the confectioners' sugar to make a thick paste. Cut the licorice strings in half. Stick 4 into the cream on each side of the cookie to form the legs. Glue two cinnamon candies to the top of each cookie with the sugar paste to form eyes. Eat - if you dare!

Java-lover alert

Coffee lovers will want to be at the Mount Washington Starbucks next Tuesday at 10 a.m. for a coffee tasting conducted by Seattle-based expert Aileen Carrell, who will also discuss growing and processing methods. The tasting is free, but reservations are required. Call 888-796-JAVA, Ext. 2354 (not the local Starbucks).

Pub Date: 10/14/98