Ginger has just announced over at Magical Holiday Home that the Halloween/fall party countdown will start September 21. For those of you who don't know how big of a geek I am...I love to count down stuff!! I mean I love it! I even create my own countdowns, things like "VBS countdown" for preparing for Vacation Bible School, kids' birthdays and of course, any special activities we have planned far enough in advance to count down!
So, visit over there and see if you want to participate! It's fun!
I'm planning on making and sending invitations for the Boo!Bash2! this year. Stay tuned for details!!
Happy Haunting!
Cathy
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Ghost Host
During the afternoon Halloween party planning chat today, we discussed the Ghost Host decoration. I want to do this in our front yard this year. We are planning a virtual project for several to make one at the same time and post our progress on the boards!
FamilyFun.com has the original directions, plus lots of other cool stuff. Click here for more haunted fun!
Ghost Host
craft materials:
*6 dowels
*small white garbage bags
*newspaper
*masking tape
*old white sheets
*string
*black permanent marker
Time needed: under 1 hour
1. First, find a good location for your gathering of ghosts. They look especially good when circling a central pole, such as a tree or lamppost. (I plan to use the sycamore tree in our front yard...)
2. Next, cut your dowels to the height you'd like your ghosts to be. We've seen them in every size, from toddler height (quite cute) to larger than life (quiet spooky). Remember, the larger the ghosts, the more sheets you need to use.
3. To make a ghost head, stuff a white garbage bag or paper bag with crumpled newspaper or leaves to the size you like. Push one of the dowels into the bag, then wrap masking tape around the neck to secure it. Repeat for the rest of the ghosts.
4. Drape a sheet (or half a sheet, if you're making small ghosts) over each head and tie a piece of string around each neck. You may need to experiment with cutting your sheets to the right size. (In the picture they used a queen sized sheet for each ghost and rounded the bottom edges to the desired length).
5. Use permanent black markers to draw a face on each ghost.
6. Gather your ghosts around the tree or pole...with a foot or two around each one...and push the dowels into the earth so that the sheets touch the ground. Angle the ghosts so that they are leaning slightly backward, then knot the corners of the sheets together as if the ghosts were holding hands.
That's it. Very cute, very easy...now to haunt..er..hunt down some queen sized sheets!
Happy Haunting!
Cathy
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Halloween Menu and a Reminder...
...not to forget the Halloween party planning chat over at My Merry Christmas, hosted by Ginger, on Sunday. Scroll down a couple of posts for details, or go to MHH and click on the forums and check it out. It'll be fun, no doubt!
Here's my menu for Halloween night. We have the party on the Saturday before Halloween to allow those little trick or treaters to still hit the neighborhoods for their waaayyy more than recommended amount of candy! For the past several years, our friends Eddie and Melissa and their son, Cameron, have joined us for dinner and trick or treating. We have pretty much the same menu every year...I've thought about changing it, but fear a mutiny if I do. So, here's the usual menu. I'm planning the same this year.
Tamale dip and tortilla chips
Salsa and chips
chili with all the fixings...Fritos ( a southern staple!), cheese, sour cream, onions, jalapenos
Cornbread muffins and crackers
Iced tea, sodas and hot cider (weather permitting..sometimes its' dang cold on Halloween, other years we trick or treat in shorts!)
Double Chocolate Ooey Gooey Cake with vanilla ice cream
Tamale Dip
2 lb. package Velveeta cheese spread, cut into little chunks
1 large can tamales, unwrapped and coarsely chopped
1 can chili, whatever flavor you prefer, either with or without beans
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 cup jarred salsa
Put Velveeta, tamales and chili in a large bowl. Microwave for 3 minutes on high power..stir. If it's too thick, add about 1/4-1/2 cup milk and stir again. Add spices and salsa, stir to combine and microwave another 2-3 minutes, stirring about half way through. Serve with tortilla or other chips.
I like to make this in the microwave and then put it in a crock pot to stay warm. I love this stuff, and it's even meaty enough to stand alone as a meal...although Lynn doesn't think so!! Not very healthy, obviously, but, hey-it's Halloween!!
Happy Haunting!
Cathy
Here's my menu for Halloween night. We have the party on the Saturday before Halloween to allow those little trick or treaters to still hit the neighborhoods for their waaayyy more than recommended amount of candy! For the past several years, our friends Eddie and Melissa and their son, Cameron, have joined us for dinner and trick or treating. We have pretty much the same menu every year...I've thought about changing it, but fear a mutiny if I do. So, here's the usual menu. I'm planning the same this year.
Tamale dip and tortilla chips
Salsa and chips
chili with all the fixings...Fritos ( a southern staple!), cheese, sour cream, onions, jalapenos
Cornbread muffins and crackers
Iced tea, sodas and hot cider (weather permitting..sometimes its' dang cold on Halloween, other years we trick or treat in shorts!)
Double Chocolate Ooey Gooey Cake with vanilla ice cream
Tamale Dip
2 lb. package Velveeta cheese spread, cut into little chunks
1 large can tamales, unwrapped and coarsely chopped
1 can chili, whatever flavor you prefer, either with or without beans
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 cup jarred salsa
Put Velveeta, tamales and chili in a large bowl. Microwave for 3 minutes on high power..stir. If it's too thick, add about 1/4-1/2 cup milk and stir again. Add spices and salsa, stir to combine and microwave another 2-3 minutes, stirring about half way through. Serve with tortilla or other chips.
I like to make this in the microwave and then put it in a crock pot to stay warm. I love this stuff, and it's even meaty enough to stand alone as a meal...although Lynn doesn't think so!! Not very healthy, obviously, but, hey-it's Halloween!!
Happy Haunting!
Cathy
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
GPD coming up soon!
I am planning to take a short hiatus from Christmas in July planning and work on Boo!Bash2 a little more. I still haven't decided on prizes for the costume contests...any ideas?? It needs to be fairly generic because I don't know if it'll be man, woman, boy or girl that wins...or any combination of that. We had several divisions last year...Best Costume-child division (individual); Best Costume-adult division and Best Couple (doesn't have to be an actual couple, just the costume needs to be a couple...is that clear as mud?). We ended up with a group award as well..my brother and his brood came as the entire cast of Annie, remember? Their pictures are on the side bar...can't miss them!
So, if you have any thoughts about this, leave me a comment and give me some help. I also want to get those pillows done this month. Since I'm leaving for Chicago for a Jewels by Park Lane convention on July 31, I'll have to use the 13th as my Great Pumpkin Day this month! And that's next week!
I got a new Gooseberry Patch catalog yesterday and found a fabulous fall runner in it. I believe that I can make one very similar, if not just like it...take a look!
I'll keep you posted!
Happy Haunting!
Cathy
So, if you have any thoughts about this, leave me a comment and give me some help. I also want to get those pillows done this month. Since I'm leaving for Chicago for a Jewels by Park Lane convention on July 31, I'll have to use the 13th as my Great Pumpkin Day this month! And that's next week!
I got a new Gooseberry Patch catalog yesterday and found a fabulous fall runner in it. I believe that I can make one very similar, if not just like it...take a look!
I'll keep you posted!
Happy Haunting!
Cathy
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Halloween Party Planning chat
Ginger over at Magical Holiday Home is planning a chat on Sunday, July 13 to discuss Halloween party planning. If you want to participate, just click on the link above and scroll down a bit to the story on chats. She describes what steps you must take to participate. If you've never chatted before, you should give it a try!! It's lots of fun...and I know the holiday crazies that participate will have fabulous ideas and tips! Since I'm in full party-planning mode, I'm excited to see it on the schedule! I can't wait!!
The picture above is our back porch decorated and ready for last year's Boo!Bash! It was a huge hit, so we've decided every year, the Saturday before Halloween, is Boo!Bash! day at the Miller hamlet!!
Happy Haunting!!
Cathy
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Double Chocolate Gooey Cake
This is one of my favorite desserts to make for Halloween. This recipe is from Paula Deen of Food Network. Boy, is it good! And gooey!!
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, melted, plus 8 more tablespoons (1 stick) butter, melted, plus additional butter, for greasing pan
1 (18.25-ounce) package chocolate cake mix
1 egg, plus 2 eggs
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
3 to 4 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 (16-ounce) box powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped nuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Lightly grease a 13 by 9-inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, 1 egg, and 1 stick melted butter, and stir until well blended. Pat mixture into prepared pan and set aside.
In a stand mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the remaining 2 eggs, and the cocoa powder. Lower the speed of the mixer, and add the powdered sugar. Continue beating until ingredients are well mixed. Slowly add the remaining 1 stick of melted butter, and the vanilla, continuing to beat the mixture until smooth. Stir in nuts with a rubber spatula. Spread filling over cake mixture in pan. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Be careful not to overcook the cake; the center should still be a little gooey when finished baking. Let cake partially cool on a wire rack before cutting into pieces.
This is really good, but be careful not to overcook it...then it's still good, just not gooey. And, trust me, it's better gooey!! This is yummy served with a little whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Oh, yes!!
Happy Haunting!
Cathy
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, melted, plus 8 more tablespoons (1 stick) butter, melted, plus additional butter, for greasing pan
1 (18.25-ounce) package chocolate cake mix
1 egg, plus 2 eggs
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
3 to 4 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 (16-ounce) box powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped nuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Lightly grease a 13 by 9-inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, 1 egg, and 1 stick melted butter, and stir until well blended. Pat mixture into prepared pan and set aside.
In a stand mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the remaining 2 eggs, and the cocoa powder. Lower the speed of the mixer, and add the powdered sugar. Continue beating until ingredients are well mixed. Slowly add the remaining 1 stick of melted butter, and the vanilla, continuing to beat the mixture until smooth. Stir in nuts with a rubber spatula. Spread filling over cake mixture in pan. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Be careful not to overcook the cake; the center should still be a little gooey when finished baking. Let cake partially cool on a wire rack before cutting into pieces.
This is really good, but be careful not to overcook it...then it's still good, just not gooey. And, trust me, it's better gooey!! This is yummy served with a little whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Oh, yes!!
Happy Haunting!
Cathy
Monday, June 2, 2008
Sigh
I didn't do anything for Great Pumpkin Day again this month. Do you realize that we only have 5 more GPDs before the big day? And it looks like we're having a wedding right in the middle of October? Do you know how critical it is for me to get busy? Do you? Do I? Evidently not, judging from my lack of activity. I'll do better soon, I promise!
In the meantime, here's a few more tips and ideas from Gooseberry Patch's Autumn in the Country cookbook. I shared a few on Scarecrow Soup also. I love these books!
#Line the front walk with canning-jar luminaries on Halloween! Paint scary or funny faces on jars using black poster paint and nestle tealights in several inches of sand.
#Show off your pumpkin carving skills...set Jack O' Lanterns on overturned large garden pots
#Place feathered faux black crows in the windows, on lampshades and all around the house for a spooky Halloween feel. (I really like this one)
#Use a linoleum craft knife to carve swirling designs on pumpkins. Since only the outer surface is carved, there's no need to hollow out the pumpkins..so easy!
#Carve or drill a pattern of round holes in hollowed-out pumpkins, then set tealights inside for a flickering glow.
And, a quote:
"I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion." Henry David Thoreau
Me, too!
Later!
Cathy
In the meantime, here's a few more tips and ideas from Gooseberry Patch's Autumn in the Country cookbook. I shared a few on Scarecrow Soup also. I love these books!
#Line the front walk with canning-jar luminaries on Halloween! Paint scary or funny faces on jars using black poster paint and nestle tealights in several inches of sand.
#Show off your pumpkin carving skills...set Jack O' Lanterns on overturned large garden pots
#Place feathered faux black crows in the windows, on lampshades and all around the house for a spooky Halloween feel. (I really like this one)
#Use a linoleum craft knife to carve swirling designs on pumpkins. Since only the outer surface is carved, there's no need to hollow out the pumpkins..so easy!
#Carve or drill a pattern of round holes in hollowed-out pumpkins, then set tealights inside for a flickering glow.
And, a quote:
"I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion." Henry David Thoreau
Me, too!
Later!
Cathy
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