Magic Wands and Broomsticks

WANDS: If using white chocolate, melt with 1 teaspoon of vegetable shortening in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. If using semisweet chocolate, melt with 2 teaspoons vegetable shortening. With a clean paintbrush, lightly brush a thin coating of melted chocolate onto pretzels. Sprinkle the colored sugar or glitter onto the chocolate then set pretzel rods aside on a wax-paper-covered tray to dry. When dry, transfer into an airtight container. Makes 12 magic wands.

BROOMSTICK: you'll need three of the 2-inch pieces and one of the halved pieces of fruit leather. Stack the three pieces and fringe them four times, stopping 1/2-inch from the top. Overlap the top edges around the pretzel, sticky side out. Wrap the remaining piece of fruit leather around the top edges, sticky side to sticky side. Repeat for remaining brooms. Makes 12 broomsticks.