Frightful Food

Well I am finally ready to post the actual food portion of my Halloween dinner.  I get so wrapped up in the planning and desserts that the food just took a back seat.  I can't help it...my brain just works that way. 

When I was planning the menu I knew that it would not be complete without Mummified Dogs dipped in blood.  I mean they are a necessity right?  Maybe not but they are super simple and give the desired affect.  I just took a package of hot dogs and a can of Pillsbury pizza dough.  I cut the dough in long strips using a pizza cutter and started wrapping.

I (my mom & official helper) wrapped them right before I put them in the oven but you could definitely make them a few hours ahead of time and pop them in the refrigerator.  Once the oven was preheated to 400° I baked them for about 8-10 minutes or until the dogs are heated through and the bread is golden brown.  Serve with a side of blood (aka ketchup) and those bad boys are ready to eat.

I then made Spider Eggs.  They are deviled eggs with olives cut to look like spiders.  I boil my eggs for 10 minutes and then remove from heat for another 5 minutes with a lid on.  Note:  When making deviled eggs I always try to use eggs that I have had for a little while, the more fresh the eggs are the harder they are to peel once boiled.  I then made my deviled eggs...

To assemble them I put one half of the olive in the middle of the egg yolk mixture and four strips on each side to make a spider like this.

Scary huh??

The wormy apples were super duper easy.  I had planned on putting a whole through each apple slice and threading a gummy worm through the hole but I ran out of time. (see picture above)

The witches fingers were way too fun. String Cheese, green pepper and cream cheese are all you will need.  First I took each piece of string cheese and carved knuckle marks for the fingers and then I carved an area for the fingernail to go, it should look like this.

Then I cut in half and seeded my green pepper.  From there I cut strips and then cut the strips into triangles, like this.

To stick the fingernail to the finger I use a small amount of cream cheese and then the witches finger is finished.  I made these the night before the party so that they were all ready. 

It was a great time, with great parents and even greater kids.  They were so cute all dressed up and ready to get on the trick or treat trail.  Sweet times-J

Halloween Sweeties

My pre-trick or treating party to help with my ailing Halloween Empty Nest Syndrome was a huge success and the best part about it...I didn't have to walk from house to house in the freezing cold.  When dinner was done I put on my P.J.'s and enjoyed a little Monday Night Football!  I guess there are a few perks to having children who think they are to old to dress up!

To get ready for the party I prepped most of the menu on the day before because that makes things so much easier (especially when you are working all day).  I made the Carmel Corn and Oreo Mummy Pops on Sunday afternoon and then packaged them in the evening.  I will post the Carmel Corn recipe soon but here is a peak at the crunchy and carmely corn all cozy in the cute candy corn cellophane bags that I found last year after Halloween on clearance at Michael's (score). 

Speaking of candy corn...since we are such good friends now I am going to admit something that I have only told a chosen few... I have an obsession with candy corn!!  I don't like the taste of it but I think that candy corn is the CUTEST candy in the ENTIRE world!  I buy bags and bags of it and put it ALL over my home this time of year!  I have an entire table dedicated to candy corn decorations and even bought more this last weekend.  If there was a Candy Corn Anonymous (CCA) I would totally have be there every Wednesday night and say, "Hi, my name is June and I am addicted to candy corn".  Well now that you know that about me I will move on...

The Oreo Mummy Pops were super simple.  I found the idea on one of my favorite blogs Your Home Based Mom last year and just could not get it out of my crazy head until I made them.  All you need are Double Stuffed Oreos (trust me...I bought the regular), White Chocolate Bark (you can find it in the same section as the chocolate chips), sucker sticks and candy eyes (you can find both the sticks and eyes at Michael's).  First insert one stick into each Oreo and set aside.  Once all of the pops have their sticks you can melt the white chocolate bark.  You could use a double boiler for this process but I used the microwave.  I start at a minute and stir before I add another 30 seconds until it is melted.  I like to let it set for a minute before I start dipping.  Dip each Oreo completely in the white chocolate so that they look like this.

Once they are all dipped and the chocolate is set I put some of the melted white chocolate into a gallon Ziploc bag and cut a bottom corner off of the bag.  I then took the bag and ran the chocolate back and forth so that they look like this.  Note:  If you try to do this right after you dip the entire Oreo then the chocolate will just run together and make a big hot mess.

While the chocolate is still soft put two of the candy eyes on each Oreo and they will look like this.

                                                    Exuse my picture...my camera sucks!
Once completely cooled and dried I put each pop into a clear cellophane bag and tied with ribbon.  Now isn't that the sweetest mummy you have ever seen?

Here are a few of the cuties that came to the dinner.  I am so glad that my friends let me steal borrow them for a little while.  My suggestion if you want to steal borrow children from their parents is to offer free dinner...they are more than happy to lend their tike's.  For those of you wanting to see pictures of the other items on the menu...you must remember that dessert is always first in my book but they are coming soon.  Sweet wishes-J

Halloween Empty Nest

Sadly my children are beyond the ages of dressing up for Halloween (tear).  So instead of pouting about it more that I already have I came up with a solution...

I'm inviting some of my friend's awesome kids over to my home for a pre-trick or treating dinner.  I always remember being so rushed for time when I was getting my children all dressed up each year and dinner sometimes always took a back seat.

So it is my hope to help some good friends out in the process of helping my Halloween Empty Nest Syndrome.  It is a medical term!  I promise!  Well maybe not but it DEFINITELY should be!

Party planning has got to be one of my all-time favorite things to do and this little gathering was no exception.

Sweet kids in costume + deliciously spooky food = Halloween Happiness, for the hostess anyway.

When planning a party (big or small) I usually start with a theme (Halloween-that was easy), color scheme (Black, Orange and Green-again easy), decorations (I'm already decorated) and then food (my favorite).  Here is my menu for tonight:

-Mummified Dogs dipped in Blood-

Hot dogs wrapped in bread dough and dipped in kethcup

-Spider Eggs-OOOOOO-

Deviled eggs with olives on top cut in the shape of a shiny spider, I couldn't resist since two of the cute darlings supply me with a bountiful collection of home fresh eggs each week.

-Witches Fingers-

Carved string cheese with green pepper finger nails

-Wormy Apples-

Crisp sliced apples with a gummy worm through them

A party is NEVER complete at my house without dessert.  I love to make things from scratch but who always has the time.  Tonight I have made Oreo Mummy Pops and Quick Carmel Corn.  They are both desserts that can be made ahead and packaged easily.

I can't wait to share pictures and recipes from the party with you in the next few days.  I better get going I have costumed cuties arriving soon.  Sweet Tricks and Treats-J

What are making for dinner tonight?