Baking: Halloween Treats

We are preparing our special baskets to deliver. Most of you know we deliver sweet treats to the older sweet people in our neighborhood and those from the church.

The dogs do the delivering and the older people love seeing their special "trick or treaters"


Treats ready to go:


Put into their special bags:



All the bags ready to deliver.

We are ready for tomorrow!!!

Sewing: Halloween Costumes

I am in charge of making the dog costumes and the kids' costumes. The dogs and I will be delivering our goodie baskets on Friday. So it has been busy.

Well I am working to make this:



Into this:



That's right these two




Are going to be Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf.... I will let you decide which one is which. And yes, my boy is going to dress as a girl. And guess who is the grandma!!! Your right if you guessed me... but on the up side, I get to wear my pj's in public.

Check back on Saturday to get pictures of the hilarity!!!!!

Decorating: Fall and Halloween Decorating

I thought I would share some of the decorations we have set up this holiday!!!

Several months ago, I took the entry table outside to give myself a cute place to put flowers and accessories.


An apple gourd, how cute is this?






Look at the cute boots on this pot.





The foyer entry table.




We are having a little luncheon later this week. Here is the tablescape.



A closer look:




My ceramic Old English Sheepdog... the only dog that listens.



The fireplace mantle




The other side of the fireplace.




My favorite Halloween decoration, a Fitz and Floyd cookie jar.



With little bottle brush trees



I love Halloween, fall decorations and pumpkins. I wish it would last longer but from my previous posts... Christmas is coming. So get a pumpkin latte, sit, and enjoy the fall!!! It will be winter soon.

Cooking: A Halloween Menu

Our big Halloween open house is Saturday from 5 to the witching hour. I am excited to see the little kids and love the costumes. I have stocked up on candy!!!

Here is our menu:

Chili


Source: McCormicks

2 lbs of ground beef
3 cloves garlic
1 medium sized onion.
2 cans of dark kidney beans,
2 large cans of stewed tomatoes
1 can of Rotele tomatoes with peppers
4 T. Chili powder
1 can of blacked beans
6 oz. frozen corn

Saute onions, 4 to 5 minutes until translucent, add ground beef and cook thoroughly. Drain thoroughly. Place in large pot and reduce to simmer. Add garlic, kidney beans, tomatoes and chili powder. Cook uncovered for about 2 hours. Then I add, black beans and corn. Continue cooking for 30 minutes.

Add your favorite toppings: cheddar cheese, chives, sour cream, and/or fritos.

Delicious!!!

Spooky Mummy Dogs

Source: Pillsbury


Spooky Dip with tortilla chips

1 pound of Velveeta Cheese
1 can of Rotelle tomatoes

Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip with Veggies

1 c. mayonnaise
1 c. sour cream
1 pkg of ranch dressing
1 1/2 c. Cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 c. bacon, cooked and crumbled.

Whisk first three ingredients and gently fold in cheese and bacon. Chill for at least two hours.

And for dessert:

Sugar Cookies



Caramel Apples


Source: eHow.com

Cupcakes



Source: Cupcakes Take the Cake


Should be lots of fun... Remember all my blogging friends are invited!

Paper Crafting: Halloween Invitations

As you know, we are having a big Halloween party this weekend. I wanted to make special invitations.


1. Design the invitation. I really wanted my invite to look sweet, not scary. Get out the supplies and the trusty Cricut.


I used the Stretch your Imagination cartridge.


2. Using the cricut, I cut out the pumpkins, leaves and two liners for the cards



3. Gathered all my supplies:




4. Glued the liners:



Added the pumpkin




And the leaves:


5. Added the header and wrote the invite.



6. Punctured some holes.



7. Added some cute ribbon.



Here you go. I think they turned out sweet.

Menu Planning: Week Ending 10.31.09

This week is prepping for Halloween; baking, sewing, caramel apple making.... spider web designing. Fun! Fun!!

Sunday: Lobster Bisque and Salad
Monday: Seven Layered Salad
Tuesday: Meatloaf, Mashed potatoes and Broccoli
Wednesday: Church
Thursday: Club Sandwiches
Friday: Five Cheese Pizza
Saturday: Halloween Party

Need:

2 Lobster tails
Leeks
Onions
Celery
Carrots
Tomato Paste
Asparagus
Lobster Stock
Peas
Heavy Cream
Iceberg lettuce
Frozen Peas
Cheddar Cheese
Hamburger – 3 lbs
Deli turkey
Tomatoes
American cheese
Pizza Crust
Kidney beans

Have:

Fresh Thyme
Dry Sherry
Mayonnaise
Potatoes
Frozen Broccoli
Bread
Bacon
Using leftover cheeses
Mozzarella
Stewed Tomatoes
Frozen Corn

Lobster Bisque

Picture Source: What's Cooking America


Ingredients

2 lobster tails
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 leeks, halved lengthwise
2 onions, halved
2 stalks celery, in big chunks
2 carrots, in big chunks
6 sprigs fresh thyme
2 tablespoons tomato paste
4 cups of lobster stock or water
1/2 cup dry sherry
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 cups heavy cream
1 teaspoon whole peppercorns
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Remove the cooked meat from the lobster tails. I roast them in a 400 degree oven with olive oil, butter, an onion, thyme and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium heat and melt 3 tablespoons butter in it. Add the tails, leeks, 1 onion, celery, carrots, 1/2 the thyme, and the tomato paste. I also find some lobster stock at our local market and use that instead of water. Cook until the vegetables are soft, about 10 to 15 minutes. Add the dry sherry and sprinkle in the flour, stir, and cook for another 2 minutes. Add water to cover and stir up all the browned bits on the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Add the cream and bring to a boil. Immediately decrease the heat and gently simmer until the soup is reduced and thickened, about 30 to 45 minutes. Strain this into a clean pot and season with salt and pepper if needed; keep warm. Add the cooked lobster meat to the bisque


Seven Layer Salad



Picture Source: Delicious Bits.Com

Ingredients:

1 pound bacon
1 large head iceburg lettuce- rinsed, dried and chopped
1 red onion, chopped
1 (10 ounce) package frozen green peas, thawed
10 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese
1 1/4 cups mayonnaise
2 tablespoons white sugar
2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Crumble and set aside. 2 In a large flat bowl, place the chopped lettuce and top with a layer of onion, peas, shredded cheese, cauliflower and bacon. 3 Prepare the dressing by whisking together the mayonnaise, sugar and Parmesan cheese. Drizzle over salad and refrigerate until chilled. Makes 12 servings

My tranquil back yard

My back yard is a beautiful tranquil place where I love to sit and enjoy the day.

Well that would be nice, but it isn't the truth.

My back yard is a raceway.



A fighting ring:



A gladiator match:


A middle school play ground:


A soccer field


A prison



A stick farm




And a playground.




Oh yeah, and a mine field..... brown ones.

Christmas Planning Pt 2

Now you have a working list and budget.

Next: GET OUT YOUR CALENDERS.

Take your list. And back date from Christmas. Since Christmas comes on December 25^th, everyone will be on the same page.

My list:

Christmas cards with the kids and dogs pictures

a. Take picture of kids – 10/11

b. Copies of pictures… waiting for a good sale at Kodak, Walgreen’s or Walmart

c. Fill in all the addresses for Christmas Cards – Week of November 2 through 6^th

d. Stamps at post office. November 9^th – Enough for Christmas cards, invitations and thank you cards

Christmas Eve open house from 7 to 10 p.m.

a. Menu made – October 22

b. Invitations made – November 9 – 15^th

c. Invitations sent – December 7th

d. Groceries bought for party – December 21st

e. Baking: December 22^nd

Decorate House

Southern Living

a. Pull out all decorations – November 14th

b. Christmas tree put up – November 21^st

c. Lights on tree up – November 21^st

d. Ornaments on tree up – November 22

e. Kitchen decorated – November 23

f. Living room decorated – November 30th

g. Dining room decorated – December 1^st

h. Guest bedroom decorated – December 2^nd

Christmas vacation during the holiday week with family

a. Hubby making plans

b. Check clothing for trip

 

New lighting plan for the house 

a. Game plan – October 23^rd

b. Check lighting supplies – November 7th

c. Lights out on November 28th

Presents for friends and family

a. Start list – October 15^th

b. Purchase gifts by – November 15^th

c. Package all the gifts for mailing – November 20^th

d. Wrap all the gifts- week of December 1^st to 4th

e. Put under tree – December 4^th

Gift baskets like last year for older friends

a. Make list - November 2^nd

b. Figure out what to package them - November 16

c. List of cookies and goodies- November 16

d. Delivery date set up. – December 23rd

e. Purchase baking supplies – December 21st

f. Baking dates – December 22nd

Holiday guests for the week before Christmas

a. Check on December dates

b. Meals for guests – October 22^nd and Re-check December 9^th

^{c. Check Linens}

 

Christmas day menu

a. Menu made – October 22nd

b. Groceries purchased – December 21st

Charity participation

a. Meeting on Thanksgiving

b. What do you want to do?

Events planning on attending

a. Attend the Nutcracker – November 27^th

b. Christmas parade – December 4^th 6:30

c. Fantasy of trees – November 25 to 29

d. Knoxville Jingle Bell -Run 5 K & 1 Mile Fun Walk – December 12^th 10am

Gingerbread house

a. Design house – November 16th

b. Templates made – November 17th

c. Wood base made – November 17th

d. Bake the gingerbread – November 18^th

e. Allow two days to get stale

f. Purchase candy – November 11th

g. Decorate house and put together- November 20^th

Notice, most of the things I have to do are completed in November. The goal is to have more free time in December to completely enjoy the holiday season.

Stay on track - Already completed

Gift List Complete

Lighting Game Plan – working on today.