Wednesday, October 31, 2007

halloween menu ideas

Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana in bread bowls shaped and colored like pumpkins. Or maybe Papa Murphy's jack-o-lantern pizza. I've tried a lot of different zuppa toscana recipes and this one was the best.

Double Layer Pumpkin Pie

Maybe churros with hot chocolate after trick or treating?

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

creepy things

I've never really been into Halloween decorating or celebrating, but Daisy LOVES all things creepy and scary and has talked about Halloween for the last year. Seriously nonstop, so it's been a blast finding things that we can make or do. The images are mostly from Woman's Day special interest magazine, "Halloween Celebrations" or from assorted Martha Stewart Halloween magazines I have. If you have any fun Halloween ideas or traditions, I'd love to hear about them. I thought these were the funniest werewolf cupcakes. I've seen some really scary ones, but these just looks so goofy and hairy and adorable. Who could resiste a werewolf cupcake like this? Have you seen Martha Stewart's amazing creepcakes? I think they first debuted in 2004 or 2005. They are amazing. She does all kinds. Aliens, spiders, brains, mummies, skeletons. Maybe next year. . .

hag bags from woman's day

Daisy calls these "gross" bags, but she loves them anyway. All you do is buy those cheapish stretchy gloves in whatever colors you want and decorate them with painted press-on nails. With strong fabric glue, attach some wide black grosgrain ribbon for the handle, and a strip of marabou or feather boa for the cuff. The fingers and hands are lumpy from being filled with candy. Fun little craft for little people.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

food finds

snackie cakes at Chow. Their link to Pimp that Snack is kind of funny.

Chicken Chile Verde also found at Chow.

Make your own grape juice at Simply Recipes. I've always wanted to do this!

Mom's (Not my mom's) Peanut Butter Cookies from Culinary Concoctions by Peabody. I made these. They stay soft. They are really good!

Peanut Butter Filled Chocolate Cupcakes also at Culinary Concoctions. Have I mentioned that I LOVE peanut butter? I think Ganache looks fun to frost with.

Eggs Benedict at Pioneer Woman Cooks. I've never had eggs benedict, but I know Jake would love me more if I made this. I can't do raw egg. And I didn't know that Holondaise sauce had raw egg. I think I could change it to more of an egg mcmuffin with cooked white sauce on it for the rest of us? I don't know.

Also at the Pioneer Woman Cooks, a glorified grilled cheese on rye. Looks pretty good to me. I love the pictures she takes for her food blog and her regular blog. Farm pictures. I want a farm but I don't want to clean up the poo.