Big Halloween Bash!!!

Last night we had our annual halloween party with our cousins and it was a HUGE success!!  The food was FABULOUS, the games were a blast and the best part was at the end the kids actually said OUTLOUD "that was really fun!" Yay!! 

We had all of the recipes listed in the Halloween party post here on my blog and I have posted pictures so you can see what they look like when they are served, and then we played all of the games that are posted also and even more!!  What a great way to spend time with my kids!!  I loved it!  Hope you are all Having the best Hallween Ever!!

Simply Devine Sugar Cookies!!

I am the room mom for Elliott's (my 5 year old daughter) kindergarten classroom so I decided to decorate sugar cookies as part of her Halloween party!!!  Well I have tried probably 15 different sugar cookie recipes some with 20 different ingredients that were good but too labor intensive and some that were easy but were only drop cookies so no fun Holiday specific shapes.  So I did some searching until I found a recipe that promised to be both yummy and simple and...it TOTALLY Paid off!!  This recipe is so easy (although you do have to make it in advance so it can refrigerate) and it is sooo tasty!  The best I've made yet!  Here is the recipe and pictures of the cookies we took to our fun neighborhood party!!  My kids and I had such fun making these together:)

Sugar Cookies

3 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 egg, beaten

1 tablespoon milk

Powdered sugar, for rolling out dough

Directions

Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. Place butter and sugar in large bowl of electric stand mixer and beat until light in color. Add egg and milk and beat to combine. Put mixer on low speed, gradually add flour, and beat until mixture pulls away from the side of the bowl. Divide the dough in half, wrap in waxed paper, and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Roll out dough to 1/4-inch thick and cut into desired shape.  Place at least 1-inch apart on greased baking sheet.  Bake for 7 to 9 minutes or until cookies are just beginning to turn brown around the edges, rotating cookie sheet halfway through baking time.  For softer cookies bake for less time for crispy cookies bake longer.  Makes 3-6 dozen depending on the size of your cookies.  I would recommend doubling the recipe!

**Recipe from Foodnetwork.com Alton Brown**
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/sugar-cookies-recipe/index.html

How Food Heals...

I know some people say that using food to heal emotional wounds is akin to an eating disorder and they may be right; but, I'll take the diagnoses of disorder if I can still find comfort in foods that remind me of happy times, seasons and their memories, and foods that help make me and those I love feel better during difficult times.  And that is what this post is about tonight. 

A sweet friend of our family lost his grandfather last night quite unexpectedly and though he has his family and friends to love him and help him through this time, he called my sister and asked her to make him a banana cake (that he has had at her house before) just to make him feel better.  I know it doesn't remove the pain or even dull one's senses like an alcoholic beverage but for some reason it comforts and soothes, albeit for a short time, the tormented heart.  After cake and lots of good visits with loved ones he was still sad but I believe, on his way up the hill in the battle against grief.  So in case you are ever having a hard day and are in need of a Banana cake here is a recipe for a yummy semi-homemade one that I put together.  (Who even knew there was such a thing as Banana Cake!)

Banana Cake
Ingredients:
1 White cake mix
1 tsp Cinnamon
3 crushed very ripe bananas

Directions:
Make cake mix according to box directions, mash up bananas and add them and Cinnamon to cake mix.  Bake in a 9x13 pan according to box directions. Frost with Cream Cheese Frosting or Glaze

Frosting:

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature

1/2 cup butter (1 stick), at room temperature

1 pound confectioners' sugar, sifted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Cream cheese and butter then gradually add sugar and vanilla.  Spread on cooled cake and enjoy!

Harvest Dinner!!

Dinner in a Pumpkin
1 medium Pumpkin

3/4 lb ground beef

1 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup chopped onion 

1 can green beens 

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 cup sliced mushrooms

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 can water chestnuts

2 cups cooked rice

Cook white or brown rice according to directions on package.  While rice is simmering brown onions and beef in large sauce pan and season with salt, pepper, and garlic.  Add soy sauce, salt, mushrooms, green beans, water chestnuts, soup, and rice.  Stir and simmer on low for 10 minutes.  Season the inside of the pumpkin with salt, pepper, and garlic.  Put rice and meat mixture into the pumpkin and bake at 350 degrees for approximately one hour until the pumpkin is soft.  YUM!!!

Dinner in a Pumpkin!!!

My family and I traveled this weekend from Lehi Utah to Porterville California to visit my Mom and Dad and siblings (5 sisters and 2 brothers!!) and my nieces and nephews!!  I haven't been back here since February!!  It's been almost 9 months!!  That's nearly a year!!!  Way too long to go without seeing loved ones!!  So we have tons of plans to enjoy one another's company and the Halloween season!!  Tomorrow for Family Night I'm going to make everyone dinner in a pumpkin and a spooky dessert!  Be sure to come back for the recipes and pictures!!  It will be such fun and you'll have to surprise your loved ones with a fabulous Holiday Themed dinner!! 

Fall Weather Breads and Fall Food Cravings!!

The weather around here has been so cool and even wet!  We had a ton of rain yesterday, it was fabulous!!  But because of all the cold I've really felt like eating nothing but soups and bread.  Well I can't make soup (since I'm leaving for a visit to CA and don't want to shop for the ingredients I would need to make a delicious homemade one and I'm not really into canned soups) so I guess I'll settle for Chili.  My chili is a semi-homemade recipe it's incredibly easy and was passed down to me by my Delightful and ever so talented in the Kitchen Mother!!  And since I'm totally overwhelmed by all of the other tasks I've got on my to do list today, (clean the house, pack for CA, do laundry, do crossing guard- yes 5 times a day I visit the local cross walk!!- send out emails as room mom for Kindergarten, organize a fall carnival, make a slide show for the Miss Porterville Pageant, oh and love and nurture 4 darling children!!!) then easy is what I'm looking for!  Does anyone else ever feel like they are drowning slowly as more and more waves of to dos are crashing over them?  Okay sorry for the pitty party, (I told you I love parties...of all kinds) now back to the food.  Along with this fabulous Chili Recipe one must make the "Special Cornbread" passed down from my Aunt Marilynn who like me is a foodie and an avid cook book collector!  So I have provided here both recipes please if you try them let me know what you think!!  No one has left any comments and I'm beginning to feel like I'm talking to myself!!  LOL!!!

Semi-Homemade Chili
1/2 Lb. Ground Beef (or diced chicken) browned and seasoned (with salt, pepper, garlic, and a pinch of Cayenne)
2 Cans Ranch Style Pinto Beans (be careful not to get jalapeno ranch style beans unless you like your chili hot!!)
1 Can diced seasoned Stewed Tomatoes

Dump in the pot heat and let simmer for 30-45 mins. on low to marry flavors

Special Cornbread
2 Cups Buttermilk Baking Mix (Bisquick)
6 Tbs. Cornmeal
1 Cup Sugar
2 Eggs
1 Cup Milk
1/2 cup butter melted

Combine baking mix, cornmeal and sugar in mixing bowl.  Add eggs and milk and stir until well blended.  Next mix in melted butter.  Then place in a greased 9x13 pan.  Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until cake tester comes out dry. 

I know your family will love it as much as mine does!!!

Fall Punch Review!!!

Oh My Gosh! This punch was perfect for tonight!! The cauldron and dry ice made the food part of the night for me!!! I personally would cut the sugar a bit it was a tiny bit too sweet for me but I will definitely use this recipe again!! Pictures will be posted as soon as I get them from the Memory card of Kelly the book club lady:)

Todays Food Adventure!!

I absolutely love the FALL!!  Because of this any food or beverage that I do during the months of October and November must embody the season!!!  So tonight I am going to book club (we've just finished the third book in the Hunger Games Trilogy) and I volunteered to bring the drink!  So I searched the web (forever before I found a non-alcoholic beverage!!!)  until I found a fabulous spice filled punch on the website http://www.drinksmixer.com/drinkl16m121.html that I can't wait to serve in a cauldron with dry ice to my fabulous book club girls!!  I even bought fun little Halloween cups to serve it in:)  The only problem I may have is figuring out when-between being the mother of 4, the local crossing guard, and a Room mom for my kindergartner- I am going to make it!!  I will find the time though I'm sure of it!!! So here's the recipe and I'll post pictures and reviews for the punch at the end of the evening!! 

Spicy Cider Punch
Recipe Serves 10

1 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp all spice
1 tsp nutmeg
4 cups Apple Cider
1 12 oz Frozen orange juice from concentrate
4 cups Ginger Ale

Mix spices and sugar together in sauce pan, then add cider and heat until sugar is disolved.  Add orange juice and stir until melted.  Chill until ready to serve then add Ginger Ale and serve over ice.  Serve with Orange slices as a garnish or with cloves in orange slices in a punch bowl.  Or for halloween put punch in a small punch bowl then put bowl in a large cauldron.  Then place dry ice around the punchbowl and occasionally add water to creat fog effect!  Perfect for the Halloween season!!!

Cinnamon Encrusted French Toast and Curry Potatoes!!

Even though I had the best intentions today, I was going to make the best corn chowder my family has ever tasted, it didn't work out so well:(  I ended up without one of the most important ingredients...BACON!!  You just can't make a choweder without the fat from a yummy meat like bacon as a seasoning foundation!  So sadly I had to be flexible, turn my back on my original plan, and come up with a new one!!  I knew I still needed to feed my family and we even had cousins over for the weekend, so I decided to turn my already diced potatoes into friend potatoes and then the idea for fabulous french toast just followed naturally!!  Thankfully, noone was too dissapointed that they didn't get chowder and everyone was happy with the final product!  I hope you enjoy this twist on an old favorite!!

Curry Potatoes
Olive Oil
Diced Potatoes
Salt, Pepper, Curry seasoning

Heat approximately 4 tbs of extra virgin olive oil in a large pan, add diced potatoes, cook until fork tender and season throughout with salt, pepper, and curry seasoning.

Cereal Encrusted French Toast
2-4 Tbs oil
8 pieces of thick sliced white bread
6 eggs
4tbs milk
1 tbs cinnamon/sugar mixed
4 cups of crushed cereal (captian crunch, cinnamon toast crunch, froot loops etc.)

Beat together eggs, milk, cinnamon/sugar mix.  Dip bread in egg mixture then turn egg soaked bread in crushed cereal until covered and place in heated oil until golden brown!  You've never had anything like it!!!

Marshmallow Popcorn!!

Marshmallow Popcorn
2 sticks of butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
4 cups Marshmallows
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 microwave bags of popcorn popped

Combine butter, sugar, and cornsyrup in a sauce pan- boil 3 minutes and remove from heat, stir in marshmallows and vanilla.  Pour mixture over popped popcorn in large bowl and stir until covered.

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Cake
1 1/2 sticks of butter (room temp)
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs (room temp)
1 1/2 pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups sour cream
2 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Streusel
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup flour
3 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
6 Tbs cold butter cut into peices

Glaze
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 Tbs milk (or more until it reaches the desired consistency)

Cream butter and sugar for 4 minutes, add eggs one at a time, then add vanilla and sour cream.  In a separate bowl mix together dry ingredients add into wet mixture and stir just until mixed.  Continue stirring with a spatula or spoon until completely mixed.  Spoon half of the mix into a bunt or tube pan cover with one batch of streusel then spoon the rest of the batter on top and cover with another batch of streusel bake on 350 for 50-60 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean.  Cover with Glaze and serve!!!

Caramel Cake Recipe

Here's my simplified recipe for a Southern Caramel Cake!  I hope you enjoy!
Ingredients:
Yellow/White cake mix
Mrs. Richardson's Caramel Sauce

Homemade caramel Frosting
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/3 cup heavy cream, or more if needed
1 (16-ounce) box confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup chopped nuts, optional


 Make a white/yellow cake as directed on the box (9x13 or two 9 inch rounds). Let cake cool slightly and then poke with a tooth pick all over the surface of the cake.  Pour slightly warmed caramel sauce over cake (or between layers and on top of the top layer). While cake is cooling Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat and stir in brown sugar and cream. Bring to a boil, and transfer to a mixing bowl. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Beat with a handheld electric mixer until it reaches a spreading consistency. At this time it may be necessary to add a tablespoon of heavy cream, or more, if frosting gets too thick. Just be sure to add cream in small amounts because you can always "add to", but you can't take away. Frost cake and sprinkle top with chopped nuts, if desired. Yum!!

Homemade Corn Chowder!

Let me begin with my latest project.  Cooking for me is usually about a party or a tradition of some kind.  Today definitley falls along those lines.  I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints and twice a year we (the members of the church) gather together in our homes or churches all over the world to listen to the leaders of our church to receive guidance and instruction to help us throughout the following six months.  As a child this weekend marked an occasion worthy of traditions!  My mother would wake up early at least one of the conference days and make a fabulous breakfast, and then the next day would be a soup and rolls lunch!  So I have continued that tradition in my own home with my own children!  Today I made a fabulous coffee cake (also known as "breakfast" cake at our house seeing how we don't drink coffee and I don't want to confuse my little ones! LOL!!) And tomorrow I'll be making a Corn Chowder and rolls for lunch!  I am so excited!  I found a recipe that looks great but I don't have all of the listed ingredients so I'm going to have to put my own spin on it:)  After I make it I'll take pictures and post them, the recipe (if it's worthy of posting) and the results of the attempted chowder!