Happy Halloween from Our Family To Your's!

Hope you have a fun Halloween!
We will see you next year!

Hope You Have A Spook-tacular Halloween!

Halloween is back again... with all the frightful fun, screeches and screams !
I love Halloween - at our house we don't do scary, but we have a great time.
The cobwebs have been strung, the carmel corn is popped, and the costumes are getting dusted off! Here are a few things we have done to help "scare" up some fun at our home!

WELCOME!

Welcome

We gathered in the gourd-ous pumpkins, squash and the corn stalks from our garden to help greet all our spooks and ghosts coming to visit....please come in. (whispering - careful of the things that are hanging in the tree.....)

You can come and sit a "spell" in our living room. You will see the witches that have gathered on the fireplace, the village and the decorations on the piano.
This is the centerpiece on the top of the piano with all kinds of ghosts and goblins hiding in the leaves and behind candles. Yes those are M&M's in the tall vases and candy corns holding the candles.
On the east wall is our "Spook-tacular" Halloween Village. It is filled with all kinds of memories with all the goodies that we have made every year as a family over the past 30 years. I love the ghosts with the ninja turtle masks painted on them and the witches with mascara and lipstick!
At night with the lights

If you turn around you can see into the entry and the door you just came in.

Let's creeep down the hall and go into the dining area....
Here is Frankie - our Halloween tradition! Isn't Halloween without him!
From here you can go left in to the terror-ific powder room......(you will be surprised when you realize the curtains here and in the kitchen are made with shredded black plastic bags)......
If you turn right you will go into the dining/ family area. Our houe isn't haunted but it is fun! We have beoo-tiful decorations (not too creepy). In the dining room is Grandma Mimi's Witches Kitchen. This is a fun place that help the little boys that call us Grandpa and Grandma scream with delight because of goodies they find here and the fun thngs they have helped us make find their home here.


Here is the Witches Kitchen
A few pictures a little closer up

The wreath over the Kitchen is a favorite - all the little things from Halloween's past are on this wreath!

Close Up

The Witch Is In!

It looks like all her shoes and broom are here!

We are ready to serve sweet treats with just enough spook to delight our Halloween party guests.

Dining Table Cetnerpiece I love "I Spy" vases with all kinds of goodies in them.

I guess it is time for you to go now.......thanks for stopping in. You need to go through the entry on your way out.

BYE! Come again!!

Spooky Menu and Sweet Treats

Our Monster Mash Menu

Jack's Specialty (Baked Pumpkin)

BAKED STUFFED PUMPKIN -1 sm. pumpkin, 1 lb. lean hamburger, 1 lg. onion, 1 c. cooked rice. Salt & pepper to taste.Prepare pumpkin. Carve out cap (as you would for a Jack `o Lantern. Remove seeds, leave pulp intact. Prepare stuffing: Saute onion in frying pan, add hamburger; brown and drain. Add rice or mashed potatoes. Stuff pumpkin and replace cap. Bake in 375 degree oven until pumpkin is tender. (Takes 20-30 mins.)

Witches Brooms and Skeleton Bones

Veggies and dip served on Halloween Tray

Witches Brew
Place a scoop of orange sherbet in a tall glass. Pour gingerale slowly over the sherbet. Serve with a curly straw and spoon.

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Here are a few “Tricks” to make Halloween “Treats” for your whole family!

Sweet Treat's

Here are a few ideas for sweet treats with just enough spook to delight your Halloween party guests.

Wormy Apples

Easy assemble caramel aples. Purchase carmel at your grocer that is ready to melt and dip.

Caramel Apples
1 cup butter
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons vanilla, 8-10 wooden sticks
8-10 medium tart apples
Wash and dry the apples, removing any stems. Insert a wooden stick into the end of each apple. Combine butter, brown sugar, corn syrup and milk in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil for 30 to 40 minutes, or until syrup reaches 248 degrees (firm ball stage) on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Dip each apple into the caramel mixture, swirling to coat. DIp apples, while warm place worms all around in caramel and let cool. Set apples on wax paper to cool completely before serving. Yummmmm!

Invisible Suckers

I made these last year and again this year for our farmers market - they are fun!
Makes 1 dozen.
2 cups sugar
2/3 cup light corn syrup
Assorted candies and seeds, such as red and black licorice whips, candy corn, and pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds)
Line three baking sheets with Silpat nonstick baking mats or parchment paper. Bring sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Don't stir, but occasionally wash down sides of pan with a pastry brush dipped in cold water to prevent crystals from forming; boil until mixture turns golden and registers 300 degrees to 310 degrees (hard-crack stage) on a candy thermometer, 5 to 7 minutes. Working quickly, pour syrup onto baking sheets, forming circles (3 to 31/2 inches in diameter) and spacing pours about 4 inches apart .http://e.marthastewart.com/a/hBI8KNdB7SaHaB7WcB7$UzRuI4Z/recipe.

Carmel Corn

....served in cellophane bags are guaranteed to delight all your little spooks!

Melt 1/2 cube butter in saucepan. Add 1/4 cup canned milk and stir. Add 1/2 package of marshmallows and melt. Pour over 12 cups popcorn and stir. Either let sit for carmel corn or form into popcorn balls.

Marhsmallow Pops are a delight for any "spook-tacular Halloween party.

Put a stick in the flat end of a large marshmallow. Dip the other end in melted chocolate. roll immediatly in small candy or some kind of Hallween sprinkles. Let dry then package in cellophane bags.

Scare up some dipped Rice Krispie Treats.....
Make treats following insturctions on box and let dry well. Cut into squares, spear one end with a popscicle stick. Dip into chocolate that has been melted. Sprinkle with Halloween sprinkles. Let dry and wrap in cellophane bags with Halloween colored ribbon

Stir up some dipped pretzels.....

Make or buy pretzels. Dip in melted white or chocolate chips. Sprinkle with Halloween sprinkles or mini candies.

Square Popcorn Balls
I had never heard of these, but we made them and they are a kick! Sure to please all your little ghosts and goblins.

Cupcakes are a great classic!

Make them and frost in your favorite Halloween colors, such as orange, purple and green. Use fun candy such as wax lips and fangs, licorice laces, red hots, gumballs, jimmies & sprinkles, candy corn, gummy worms, and chocolate coins.
Lots of Halloween Cupcake Decorating Ideas Here!

Scroll down for some more yummy treats!

No matter what you do, your family will love all the tricks you do to make them Halloween treats!

Today is a Beautiful day …hope you can enjoy every minute!!!

Our Ghostly Family Party

You are invited to spend a frightfully fun evening with us!

Spread a magic spell in these t-eerie-fic activities planned for the evening

Monster Mash (Dinner)
Pumpkin Carving
Decorating Cookies
Making a Haunted Gingerbread House
Painting Faces

Spooky Games Include:
Apple Bob
Doughnuts hung from a string
Annual Relay
Marshmallow Race

Late Night Entertainment
Blackbeards Ghost
We will have a terror-iffic time.
We've scared up all the tricks and treats needed for a spook-tacular Halloween Bash!

Halloween Bucket

When I was a teen-ager I made a mod podge popcorn bucket for my parents for Christmas. I was thinking about how I could present popcorn balls at Halloween for our guests that come in and out during the month and I remembered the bucket!
I am almost finished with it and will post a picture as soon as I am done.

Cookie Sheet Calendar

Instructions posted soon!

WItches Hat

I saw this at an online craft fair and thought it would be a perfect hat to go with my "Witches Kitchen" - it is so cute with everything!

I tried to take a few pictures as I was making it so if any of you want to make one, it might be easier for you.

Step One - Supplies - I wanted to use what I had so it was a little tricky.

• I used one sheet of 12 inch square paper, it would have been easier with 2, but I did it with one. I cute the strip into 3 inch by 12 inch strips.
• I cut the brim out of another sheet of paper and used a dinner plate for the pattern.
• I had a styro cone so I used it - it is about 15 inches tall. I think it might work better with one of those chip board cones, but either will work.
• I used 3 other paper scraps that were Halloween.
• I used 1 inch ribbon for the bow, a plastic spider, some florist balls, and some spider glitter stickers. You could use anything you have to cutsey it up and embellish it.

Step 2 - The Cone

• After gathering my supplies, I sewed the edge of the strips and the brim with a zig zag on my sewing machine. The paper is purple and the stitch is orange.
• Then I hot glued the paper on the cone, starting at the top and working down.
• Then I glued the cone to the brim.

Step 3 Shaping

• This is a Mod Podge Project - I didn't know that until this step. I realized I needed help to get this to shape and look finished, so I mod podged it everywhere. The one I saw wasn't mod podged and it looks so much better with that on it.
• Then I broke the cone at the top and the paper tore. I cut a little strip of the paper and mod podged over the tear and it is so cute! I curled up the edges of the brim and with the mod podge they stayed up.

Step Four - Embellishing

• I used 3 different papers to embellish with - I had some cellophane so it was the under layer. Then I accoridan floded some yellow paper and glued on top of that. Then I had some dark purple paper and I tore it to giv eit a different edge and wadded it up, soaked it in mod podge and put it on top of the orange and on the brim. (see picture below to see what I mean)

• Then I added berry pick that I cut up, a bow, some glitter sticker spiders, a dangling spider from teh hat and a Happy Halloween Sign. After it was all dry I put a light dusting of irridescent glitter on it - PERFECT!

Doesn't it look great in my Witches Kitchen area?

www. pinkpaislee.com/

My Boo Project

I was looking through my Halloween Pictures - ready to make a few things and found a picture of a BOO I made last year. I am excited to unpack my boxes to see it again!

It is such an easy and fun project.

1 - Buy premade chpboard/cardboard B _ O _ O.

2 - Paint your letters whatever Halloween color you like

3 - Trace each letter on a different design of scrapbook paper

4 - Glue on to chipboard letter

5 - Embelish with ribbon, Halloween buttons, or little charms etc.

That is it! Fun Fast, Easy!

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Here are a few more "Boo's!"

This one was made by Kona - a friend visiting last weekend. She has outlined hers in irridescent glitter - so fun!

This one was made by Michelle - another friend visiting last weekend. YOu cant' see it but she has glitter on all the characers on her boo - so cute!

We ar making a couple more, I will post pictures ASAP.

Create Something Today!

Decor I Love - On My To Do List

I have found so many fun Halloween things this year - I am putting them on my to do list for next year. Here are a few of those projects - I will save the rest for next year.

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Star Photo Halloween Ornaments I love these! I want to take the photo's of our kids when they were little and make these stars for my Halloween Twig tree that is in the Halloween Village - if I have a minute I might try to get to them this year, have to wait and see. www.bhg.com/

Candy WreathI found this on a blog and I can't find the address - argh! I am so sorry about that. If this is your's please leave a comment so I can leave a link to your blog.

I have made Chirstmas Candy Wreaths before but never Halloween. Isnt' this so fun! As I remember she used pins and pinned this to a styro wreath.

People Feeder

This was shared with me by my friend Tamy, an online friend - isnt' it so fun! I have a Christmas Feeder, but not a Halloween one and I love this!

Ghostly Goodies to Try!

Taste of Home has all kinds of fun Halloween recpes - the index is at
http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Holiday---Celebration-Recipes/Halloween-Recipes

Here is one of them:


Get ready for an assembly line because these no-bake marshmallow witches from our Test Kitchen are easy to prepare, and kids will love helping. They're perfect for gatherings because a dozen can be put together in just 30 minutes. TIP: Whip up an extra batch, put them in plastic wrap, and tie with curly orange or black ribbon for festive party favors.
Ingredients
1/2 cup vanilla frosting, divided
36 miniature semisweet chocolate chips
12 large marshmallows
1 drop each green, red and yellow food coloring, optional
1/4 cup flaked coconut
12 chocolate wafers
12 miniature peanut butter cups
12 milk chocolate kisses
Directions
For the face of each witch, place a dab of frosting on the bottom of three chocolate chips; press two for eyes and one for nose onto each marshmallow.
For hair, combine green food coloring and a drop of water in a small resealable plastic bag; add coconut and shake well. Spread a small amount of frosting on sides of marshmallows; press coconut hair into frosting. Place 3 tablespoons of frosting in a small heavy-duty resealable plastic bag; tint orange with red and yellow food coloring. Set aside.
For hats, spread some of the remaining frosting in the center of chocolate wafers; press peanut butter cups upside down into frosting. Lightly spread bottoms of chocolate kisses with frosting; place on peanut butter cups. Cut a small hole in the corner of pastry or plastic bag; insert a small star tip. Fill the bag with frosting and pipe stars around the base of each peanut butter cup. Secure a hat to each witch with a dab of frosting. Yield: 1 dozen

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This darling recipe is from Cyndi T from one of the holiday lists I am on.

1 Batch Peanut Butter Cookie Dough

36 chewy caramels in milk chocolate
Black or red string licorice
1/3 cup (72) miniature candy-coated chocolate baking bits
Black decorating gel (from 0.68-oz tube)

Total Time: 30 min
Directions
1. Heat oven to 375°F. In medium bowl, stir cookie mix, oil, water and egg until dough forms.
2. Shape dough into 36 (1-inch) balls. On ungreased cookie sheets, place 2 inches apart.
3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Immediately press 1 chewy caramel in center of each cookie. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks.
4. Cut licorice into 8 (2-inch) pieces for each spider. Attach legs by sticking into chewy caramel. Use baking bits for eyes and black gel to make pupils in eyes.

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CANDY APPLE RECIPES

We have 8 apple tree's with lots of apples, this is one of our favorite fall treats.

Old-Fashioned Red Candy Apples

8 medium sized apples

8 wooden sticks

3 cups white sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1 cup water

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

1/4 teaspoon red food coloring (optional).

Wash and dry the apples. Remove any stems or leaves and insert a wooden stick into the end of each apple. Set apples aside. Heat and stir sugar, corn syrup and water in a saucepan until sugar has dissolved. Boil until the syrup reaches 300 degrees on a candy thermometer, or until a little syrup dropped into cold water separates into breakable threads. Remove from heat and stir in cinnamon and food coloring, if using. Dip one apple completely in the syrup and swirl it around a little with the stick to coat. Hold the apple above the saucepan to drain off excess. Place apple, with the stick facing up, on a well greased pan. Repeat with remaining apples. If syrup thickens or cools too much, simply reheat briefly before proceeding. Let cool completely before serving.

Variations:

After coating each apple, quickly dip the end or press and swirl apples in shredded coconut, colored M&M's, chopped nuts, granola, gummy worms or colored sprinkles.

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Creepy Cupcakes

With chocolate bodies and licorice legs, these cute spiders on cobwebs will "catch" attention fast! They're easy to scare up, too—our home economists simply put a Halloween spin on cupcakes they baked from a purchased mix. Prep: 30 min. Bake: 25 min. + cooling

Ingredients:1 package (18-1/4 ounces) devil's food cake mix1/4 cup butter, softened1 (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened3 cups confectioners' sugar2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon milk, divided1/2 teaspoon vanilla extractRed and yellow liquid food coloring or orange paste food coloring1 tablespoon baking cocoaRound pastry tip #39 chocolate kisses9 semisweet chocolate chipsBlack shoestring licorice, cut into 3/4-inch pieces18 white nonpareilsDirections: Prepare cake mix according to package directions. Fill greased jumbo muffin cups with 1/2 cup batter. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Cut a thin slice off the top of each cupcake. In a mixing bowl, cream butter, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, 2 tablespoons milk and vanilla; mix well. Remove 1 cup; tint orange and frost cupcakes. To the remaining frosting, add baking cocoa and remaining milk. Cut a small hole in the corner of a pastry or plastic bag; insert round tip. Fill with chocolate frosting. Pipe a web on each cupcake; set remaining frosting aside. For spider, insert chocolate kiss, point side down, next to edge of cupcake. Insert chocolate chip, point side down, next to kiss. Place four licorice pieces on each side of kiss. For eyes, pipe two small circles of chocolate frosting on chocolate chip; insert nonpareils. cupcakes.http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Creepy-Cupcakes?pmcode=IIJDJ07T&_mid=808&_rid=808.1000.43662

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Nasty Spider Cake

The boys love this cake!

1 Cake mix

1 pk Green jello prepared

Black frosting

8 Licorice sticks

8 Gumdrops

Mix up cake mix and bake it in 2 metal bowls--1 bigger than the other. Once unmolded, cut the bigger one (the "body") in half, horizontally.CAREFULLY scoop out an adequate cavity in each half. FILL with well-whipped set green Jello, and reattach the halves. Frost black, arrange on serving platter. Use licorice stix as legs. Use 2 BIG green gumdrops and 6 little ones as eyes. When the cake is cut into, it spurts green goop, just like a real spider when stepped on. Why not add a red hourglass to the back and make it toxic?

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Halloween Gingerbread House

This darling gingerbread house has it's instructions at: Halloween Gingerbread House - Allrecipes http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Halloween-Gingerbread-House/Detail.aspx

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A few links with funstuff:

http://www.yourhomebasedmom.com/candy-corn-cupcakes/

Try this swamp Juice!

15 Healthy Spooky Treats