Have you cleaned your fridge

The holidays are among us and the housework to me at least seems even more important but harder to get done. One area in particular is the kitchen. I often think the secret here is organization. If the fridge is kept organized then that somehow helps the rest run well. A few things to keep in mind when attempting to keep fridge organized and clean:

The first tip is hard to do with everything that needs to be stored. It is however very important to not over stuff your fridge. In order for the refrigerator to work properly air has to be able to circulate. Over - stuffing may result in a variance in temperature and harmful bacteria may have an opportunity to grow

Fruit and veggies should never be mixed with fruit and veggies. It is best to keep meat and seafood in its own compartment so that those juices that may leak will not be able to contaminate other foods.

While those door shelves seems the perfect place to store the milk and eggs perhaps that is not the best idea. The door which is also the opening of the fridge allows the temp of the refrigerator to not stay steady. The best location for milk is the bottom shelf which is the coldest place (this may vary from fridge to fridge) What should be kept on the door shelves are those bottles of condiments.

Mom always used to say make sure that everything placed in the fridge had a covering and never to leave spoons in the bowls in serving dishes if it is to be stored in the fridge now this may often be the easies way to clean up it is not the best. Uncovered foods can dry out or absorb odors from other foods. Hot food should be allowed to cool down before covering and storing in fridge. TIP: don't slice food until ready to use as chopped meat, fruit and veggies spoil faster than whole items

If you have ever had an opportunity where you have lost an item in the fridge or had no idea what was in it you may have had the large items in the front. The better idea is to keep the larger items in the back.

Once you have taken time to get your fridge clean and organized you will want to keep it that way. Clean spills and messes when they occur and keep check on fresh and remove expired foods.



 

  shared at one or more of these parties
Anything Goes (3a)- Bacon Time with the Hungry Hypo
Best of the Weekend (p.m.)- Cooking With Curls, A Little Claireification, Little Miss Celebration,  The Mandatory Mooch
Craft Frenzy Friday (Th7)- Craft Dictator
Eat. Create. Party! (Th7p)- Endlessly Inspired, I Want Crazy, A Dash of Sanity, Living Better Together
Fabric Frenzy Friday (F)- Fort Worth Fabric Studio
Fabulous Friday- Simple Nature Decor
Feature Friday Link Palooza (Th pm)- Blissful and Domestic
Five Friday Finds- Morsels of Life
Foodie Friday (Th8)- Simple Living and Eating and Home Maid Simple
Foodie Friends Friday (Th8)- Foodie Friends Friday, Walking on Sunshine, From Calculus to Cupcakes, Cindy’s Recipes and Writings, Busy Vegetarian Mom, This and That, Winelady Cooks, In the Kitchen with Jenny, The Chef Next Door, Robyn’s View
Freedom Fridays with All My Bloggy Friends (TR 7:30)- My Turn for Us, Love Bakes Good Cakes
Friday Favorites (Thpm)- The Diary of a Real Housewife
*Friday Features- Oh My Heartsie Girl
Friday Link Party (Th8)- The Pin Junkie
From the Farm (7aF)- The Homesteading Hippy, My Healthy Green Family, 
Inspiration Spotlight Party (F5a)- Dear Creatives
Inspire Me Please (Th after8)- Love of Family and Home, House of Rose, Liz Marie Blog, Blissfully After
Let's Get Real Friday (Th5p)- Our Little Family Adventure, Juggling Real Food and Real Life, 365 (ish) Days of Pinterest, Calm, Healthy, Sexy, A Dish of Daily Life
Life of the Party (Th7)- The Grant Life
Link Party Palooza (F6p or earlier)- Tater Tots and Jello, Lil Luna, I Heart Nap Time, Somewhat Simple, Today's Creative Blog
Our Favorite Things Pinterest Party (Th)- My Turn for Us, Gina's Crafty Corner, View from the Fridge, Carissa Miss, Gingerly Made, Our Rosey Life, Crafty Allie, Denise Designed, Table for 7, 3 Little Greenwoods
Pin Me (8a)- Diana Rambles
Pinworthy Projects (7a)- Domestic Superhero, Just Us Four, Atkinson Drive
Post Comment Love (1:30a)- Verily, Victoria Vocalises
Pretty Pintastic (2:01 a.m.F)- Coffee With Us 3, Gloriously Made,  An Alli Event, Captain America and His English Rose
Pure Blog Love (Th7p)- PicNic
Say G'Day Saturday (F6)- Natasha in Oz, What's On The List?
That's Fresh Friday(biweekly Thurs7)- Prototype Mama
(*New) The Handmade Hangout (Th5)- Too Much Time, From Gardners 2 Bergers, Christina's Adventures, Redoux Interiors, A Glimpse Inside
Weekend Potluck (F6A)- The Better Baker, The Country Cook, 4 Little Fergusons, Sunflower Supper Club, Frugal Family Favorites
Weekend Recipe Link Up (F afternoon? before 4)- Gator Mommy Reviews
Weekend re-Treat (Th6p)- The Best Blog Recipes
Weekend Social (Th8)- Kitchen Dreaming , The McCallum's Shamrock Patch
Weekend Wind-down (F5p)- This SimpleHome
What To Do Weekends (Th9:00)- Crafts a la Mode

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Fudge

3 cups sugar

3/4 cup butter (1 1/2 sticks)

2/3 cup evaporated milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla 

1 1/2 cups marshmallow creme

10 ounces of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

(1 bag of miniature Reese's and 4 regular Reese's)

Unwrap all of the peanut butter cups before you start the cooking and set aside.

In a large pot combine sugar, butter and evaporated milk. Cook, stirring constantly, until it's at the candy soft ball stage or 238 degrees if you have a candy thermometer.

Remove from heat. Add vanilla, marshmallow creme and Reese's. Stir until everything is well combined and chocolate is melted. Pour onto buttered dish and let cool.

Hello Mr Turkey

Our grandchildren love little songs that have rhythm and easy to learn words thought I would share this with all of you

 

 

Hello Mr Turkey
How are you?
(clap, clap)

Hello Mr Turkey
How are you?
(clap, clap)

With a wobble, wobble, wobble
and a gobble, gobble, gobble
Hello Mr. Turkey
How are you?
(clap Clap)

Sloppy Joe Nachos

I simply love mexican food and one of my loves is nachos. There are so many things you can make into a nacho style of dish from easy suppers to desserts. Did you know that there is a day that observes nachos? This recipe I share with you today is not only an easy supper but sure to please as well

1 teaspoon canola oil
1 pound ground beef
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons yellow mustard
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 jar queso dip
1 (16-ounce) bag of tortilla chips

In medium sauté pan, warm canola oil over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, salt and pepper to pan, stirring every couple minutes to break up meat. Sauté meat until fully cooked, 6 to 7 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Push the cooked ground meat to one side of the pan, and use a spoon to remove and discard a majority of the fat from beef. Stir ketchup, mustard, brown sugar and cayenne powder into the ground beef, and warm the meat over medium-high heat for just a couple minutes until beef is combined with sauce. Pour queso dip into a microwave-safe dish, and heat in microwave until warm. Layer a plate with the tortilla chips, pouring warm sloppy joe mix over the chips. When queso dip is heated, drizzle over chips, and serve.

recipe source here
shared at one or more of these parties
All Things Thursday (Wpm)- All Things With Purpose
Artsy Corner Thursday- Artsy Fartsy Mama
Cook It Craft It Share It (Wp7:30)- View From the Fridge, Top Notch Mom, Juggling Act Mama, Miss Information, Clarks Condensed
Create it Thursday (Wp)- Lamberts Lately
Creative Exchange (Th)- A Vision to Remember, The Happy Scraps, Laura's Crafty Life, The Diary of Daveswife, Summer Scraps
Creative Inspirations (Th)- Embracing Change
Creative Ways (new)- (W8P)- Posed PerfectionCreativity Unleashed (6a)- Shaken Together Life
Enchanting Inspiration (W8pm)- Everyday Enchanting
Four Seasons Blog Hop (W6p)- Turnips 2 Tangerines
(Fridays Unfolded (Th11a)- Nancherrow)
Full Plate Thursday (W730)- Miz Helen's Country Cottage
Inspire Us Thursday (Th5A)- Organized 31
Inspiration2(W8p)- Live Laugh Rowe, My Fabuless Life
No Rules Weekend Blog Party (Th)- Sincerely, Paula
Pin It Party (W9p)- One Organic Mama, Our Three Peas, Creative Geekery, Mama Lew, JulieDeen.com
Pin It Thursday (Wpm)- Sweet Bella Roos
Project Pin-It- Glitter, Glue and Paint (was Throwback Thursday)
Share Your Cup Thursday (W afternoon 4)- Have A Daily Cup of Mrs. Olsen
The Project Stash (W7)- 7 Alive
Thrifty Thursday (Th8a)- Living Well, Spending Less
Thursday Favorite Things (W9pm)- Katherine's Corner, Over 50 Feeling 40
Wildly Original (W)- I Gotta Create!
- See more at: http://yesterfood.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html#sthash.4Ysfl9Pq.dpuf

Sax Day

Today is saxophone day. Never heard of it??? neither had I but I have heard of the saxophone and love the beautiful sounds that can come from one. As a kid I was in band and played the clarinet. Not quite a saxophone as I always thought the sax was super cool and superior. The thing is that the clarinet and sax are in the same family thus every week I would come with my clarinet playing friends and practice with the sax players. Oh it was definitely fun and I think that we played beautifully together.

Saxophone day is recognized on November 6 of every year. Belgium musical instrument maker Adolphe Sax is the created the sax around 1840. Adophe created the first sax the bass saxophone and then followed it up with 8 more types including the sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, contrabass and subcontrabass.


     
      There have been many famous sax players. One of my favorites is President Bill Clinton. Styling and Profiling and looking like a cool sax player is how I will end this post.  

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pumpkin Smoothie

 

So many love peanut butter and I love recipes that have pb in it and the grandkids love a delicious peanut butter sandwich. With harvest season here I thought I might share a peanut butter recipe that would fit in perfectly

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pumpkin SmoothieMakes 1 serving*

• 1 cup coconut water
• 1 cup almond milk
• 3/4 cup pumpkin purée
• 2 tsp chia seeds
• 2 tbsp peanut butter
• 1 frozen banana
• 2 heaping tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 scoop protein powder
• 2 handfuls spinch
• 8 ice cubes

1. Add ingredients to blender, in the order listed above, leaving out the ice cubes.
2. Blend, first using the ice crush setting and then switching to liquify (unless you’re using a high powered blender).
3. Add ice cubes. Blend until smooth!

recipe source here

shared at one or more of these parties
(New) And Sew We Craft Together (W)- And Sew We Craft
Creative Spark (Wam)- My Paper Craze, Weekend Craft, Please Excuse My Craftermath
Fluster's Creative Muster (T5p)- Fluffer Buster
(New)Hit Me With Your Best Shot (T6p)- Dolen Diaries, Just a Girl and Her Blog, Made to Be A Momma, One Krieger Chick
Make Bake Create- Hope in Every Season
Moonlight and Mason Jars (T10pm)- Newlywed Pilgrimage, Five Heart Home, Cherished Bliss,  Made in a Day
Party on the Porch (T7pm)- The Shady Porch
Recipe Roundup (W7a)- Gooseberry Patch
*Retro Re-pin Party (pins) (T7)- 2 Crochet Hooks, Sustaining the Powers, Nifty Thrifty Family, Meatloaf and Melodrama, xoxo Grandma, Probably Crafting, Crafty Side of Sarcasm
Show and Share Wednesday- Mostly Homemade Mom
The DIY'ers (T4 or 5pm)- Bigger Than The Three of Us, Brave New Home, Homecoming, Simply Dream and Create
Wake Up Wednesday- Sew Crafty Angel + 10
Wednesday Roundup (W)- Foody Schmoody, The Princess and Her Cowboys, Love, Pasta and A Tool Belt, Lemoine Family Kitchen
*What We Eat (W10a)- Orchard Girls
What's Cookin' Wednesday (W)- Buns in My Oven
What's It Wednesday- Ivy and Elephants
Whimsy Wednesday (T6)- Oh My! Creative, The NY Melrose Family, Smart School House, Princess Pinky Girl, Simply Designing With Ashley
Wine'd Down Wednesday (T6p)- Dizzy Busy and Hungry, Our Three Peas, My Rays of Sunshine 
Wonderful Wednesday (T6p)- Ducks 'n a Row, Spatulas on Parade, Sugar Aunts, Recipes for Our Daily Bread, A Peek Into My Paradise, Flavors by Four, Pure Grace Farms
Wonderfully Creative Wednesdays (T7)- All She Cooks Mom's Test Kitchen, Nibbles by Nic, Sew Creative
Worthwhile Wednesdays (Tpm)- Crafty Allie
Wow Us Wednesdays (Tpm)- Family Home and Life

This week food

This week in honor of the ground beef I found on sale. Yeah!!!

Monday: hash
Tuesday: tacos
Wednesday : mostachilli
Thursday: cheese dip
Friday: eat out on the road
Saturday : festival food
Sunday : eat out on the road

National Candy Day

One great way that I try to save money is to catch great deals when I can. The day after Halloween is a great way to catch deals on candy that is left over. I found a whole cart full of candy corn that had been discounted. Check out this sweet recipe that is great for fall and a way to use up leftover or in my case candy corn that I found a great deal on.

Yield: about 20 medium cookies
 Prep Time: 10 mintues
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 3+ hours, for dough chilling
 

1/2 cup unsalted butter, soften
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons cream or half-and-half
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons corn starch
1 teaspoon baking soda
pinch salt, optional and to taste
1 1/2 cups candy corn (1o to 11 ounces)
1 cup white chocolate chips (or salted peanuts)

1. To the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or large bowl and electric hand mixer), cream together the first 5 ingredients (through vanilla) on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
2. Stop, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the next 5 ingredients (through optional salt), and mix on low speed until just incorporated, about 1 minute; don't overmix.
3. Add the candy corn, white chocolate chips (or peanuts), and mix until just incorporated.
4. Using a medium 2-inch cookie scoop, form heaping two-tablespoon mounds (I made 20). Place mounds on a large plate, flatten mounds slightly, cover with plasticwrap, and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or up to 5 days, before baking. Do not bake with warm dough because cookies will spread and bake thinner and flatter. Important note - Strategically place candy corn so that it's not baking directly on cookie sheet because it will melt, burn, or turn runny if it is. The candy corn pieces need to be in the interior of the cookies, shielded and buffered by dough.
5. Preheat oven to 350F, line a baking sheet with a Silpat or spray with cooking spray. Place mounds on baking sheet, spaced at least 2 inches apart (I bake 8 cookies per sheet) and bake for about 9 minutes, or until edges have set and tops are just beginning to set, even if slightly undercooked, pale and glossy in the center. Do not overbake because cookies will firm up as they cool. Baking longer than 10 minutes could result in cookies with overly browned undersides. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet  for about 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooking. Cookies will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 4 months. Unbaked cookie dough can be stored airtight in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or frozen for up to 4 months, so consider baking only as many cookies as desired and save the remaining dough to be baked in the future when desired.

recipe source here

shared at one or more of these parties

Be Inspired (T8a)- Elizabeth and Co.
Brag About It (M late)- VMG206
Create, Link, Inspire (M8:30p)- The Crafty Blog Stalker, Nap-time Creations, Kleinworth and Co., Marvelous Mommy
Craft and Recipe Link Up (T)- The SITS Girls
Empty Your Archive- Mums Make Lists
Fluster's Creative Muster (T5p)- Fluffer Buster
Handmade Tuesdays (M7p)- Ladybug Blessings
Hearth and Soul Blog Hop (M5p)- The 21st Century Housewife, Premeditated Leftovers, Zesty South Indian Kitchen
Inspire Us Tuesday (T)- Two Little Cavaliers
Party In Your PJs- The Cookie Puzzle, Simply Sweets by Honeybee
Project Inspired (M7p)- Yesterday on Tuesday, The Silly Pearl, Cupcakes and Crinoline,  An Extraordinary Day,
Share it Link Party (T)- The Winthrop Chronicles
Simple Supper Tuesday (M7pm)- Hun What's For Dinner?, Cooking From a Stay At Home Mom, Moore or Less Cooking Blog
Tasty Tuesdays (T3a) (pinterest links)-  Anyonita Nibbles
Teach Me Tuesday (M8p)- 3GLOL
The Gathering Spot (M6p)- Mamal Diane
The Lou Lou Girls Linky Party (M8p)- The Lou Lou Girls
The Southern Special (T8a)- Spatulas on Parade, Random Crafty Georgia Girl, The Household Hero
Tickle My Tastebuds (T6a)- Detours in Life, I'm Not a Trophy Wife, 
Time for Mom (T7a)- Can't Google Everything
Time to Sparkle (M8p)- Inside Brucrew Life, The Gunny Sack, The Recipe Critic, Love Grows Wild
Tips and Tricks (Mpm)-Fearlessly Creative Mammas
Totally Talented Tuesdays (M8p)- Mandy's Recipe Box
Treasure Box Tuesday (Monday 7 p.m.)- Yesterfood, Memories by the Mile
Tuesdays with a Twist (T6a)- Stone Cottage Adventures, Back to the Basics, God's Growing Garden, Ms Smoozy's, Kneaded Creations
Turn It Up Tuesday (M7)- This Momma's Ramblings, The Mom Maven +16
You're Gonna Love It (M7)- Kathe with an E

National Sandwich Day

Today, November 3rd is national sandwich day. I grew up with a grandmother who kept a special Tupperware container full of yummy things to make a sandwich out of. My grandkids would be happy not to eat anything but peanut butter sandwiches. I have a son who makes a sandwich out of everything that he eats. How do you feel about sandwiches?

A few of my favorites include:

I love the Italian sandwiches you will often find at delis and this recipe measures up nicely

Easy Italian Sub Sandwich

16 slices hard salami
Italian dressing
4 slices ham
24 slices sandwich size pepperoni
4-8 slices provolone cheese
4 slices turkey (optional)
4 hoagie rolls

Toast the opened sub rolls under the broiler until they are lightly browned. Top each roll (covering both sides) with 1 slice of ham, 1 slice turkey (optional), 4 slices of hard salami, 6 slices of pepperoni and 1-2 slices provolone cheese. Place them back under the broiler and heat until the cheese is brown and bubbly. Remove from the oven and top with Italian Dressing or mayo. Serve with chips and carrot sticks.

recipe source here

Pinwheel sandwiches are my teens choice of favorite sandwich. Check out this recipe perfect for a party

3.5 ounce bag sun-dried tomatoes

extra virgin olive oil

salt & pepper

12 ounces cream cheese

3-4 scallions (green onions)

12-14  tortillas (10")

2 pounds lunch meat

romaine lettuce

Tomato Spread (can be done ahead)

Pulse the sun dried tomatoes in a blender with a good drizzle of olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Pulse until no large chunks of the tomato remains. It won't be smooth, but should be even in appearance with very crumbly, small tomato pieces.

Cream Cheese Spread (can be made ahead)

Be sure to let the cream cheese soften just a little so that it will be easier to mix. Dice scallions and mix in well with the cream cheese. (Pretty easy, huh?)

Pinwheel Sandwiches 

To build sandwich, cover a tortilla with a thin later of cream cheese mixture. Then place slices of lunch meat (turkey is always a favorite) in a thin layer, leaving about 1" of cream cheese exposed at the far edge. (This cream cheese kind of glues the tortilla closed when rolled.) Place leaf lettuce across the center of the tortilla (from left to right, or right to left), and spread some of the tomato mixture along the lettuce. You are now ready to roll! Starting at the edge closest to you, roll away from yourself. Press firmly as you roll the far edge, making sure that the cream cheese seals the edge. Before you slice the actual sandwiches you'll have to cut away either end to prevent from getting two misshapen and half-empty sandwiches. I always put these scraps in a bowl to munch on: waste not, want not! Now cut the log into approximately 1" slices. You should get 6-7 pinwheels out of each tortilla.

recipe source here

Take time and share your favorite sandwich recipe with me

shared at one or more of these parties

A Round Tuit (Sun3)- Creating My Way to Success
Bloggers Brag (M7a)- Creative Kids

Busy Monday (Sun2p)- A Pinch of Joy

Craftastic Monday (Sun5p)- Sew Can Do

*Frugal Crafty Home Blog Hop (Sun)- Carrie This Home, LilyWhite Designs, A Blossoming Life, Sneaky Spoons, The Casual Craftlete

Gingham and Roses Link Up and Social Media Hop (Sun pm)- New Mama Diaries, A New York Foodie

Grand Social- Grandma's Briefs

In and Out of the Kitchen- Feeding Big
Inspire Us Mondays (8a)- Cookin' Mimi, Simple Life of a Fire Wife , Morsels of Life, Just Another Mom, Diamonds in the Rough
Mad Skills (tutorials) (Sun pm)- Mad in Crafts
Made By You Monday (M7a)- Skip to My Lou
Marvelous Monday (Mam)- Smart Party Planning
Meet Up Monday- Jenny Marie
Melt in Your Mouth Monday (Sun 6:30pm)- Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms
Merry Monday- Happy House and Home, The Kolb Corner, My Pinterventures
Metamorphosis Monday (M am)- Between Naps on the Porch
Mix it Up Monday (Sun7pm)- Flour Me With Love
Monday Funday (Sun6p)- Uncommon Designs, C.R.A.F.T., Lines Across, That’s What Che Said, Creatively Living, A Night Owl Blog, Club Chica Circle, Setting for Four
Monday's Musings- What Joy is Mine
More the Merrier Monday (Sunpm)- DIY Home Sweet Home
Mostly Homemade Mondays- The Sustainable Couple
Motivation Monday (Sun6p) healthy recipes and crafts- A Life in Balance
Much Ado About Monday(S8p)- Huckleberry Love
Munching Mondays (Sun8pm)- Nibbles by Nic
Table It Link Party (Mon 7a?)- Rustic and Refined
Weekend Recap LinkUp- Grapefruitprincess Reloaded
What'd You Do This Weekend? Tumbleweed Contessa, Pioneer Mama -

Have A Safe Halloween Party

While Halloween is meant to be a scary night we don't want it to be a horrific night of food poisoning. It is meant to be a fun night of goodies to eat, haunts to play and friends to be with . To prevent any frightening moments we don't want to happen and can be prevented.

Juice and Cider are often to served to children at Halloween parties. Be sure that they are pasteurized or treated to destroy harmful bacteria check label to ensure this.

While we love raw cookie dough it is better found in products like cookie dough ice cream etc... Be sure not to treat yourself to raw cookie dough or cake batter.

When preparing apples to bob make sure to wash them with cool running water and prepare the surface of each is washed off.

All perishable foods should be kept chilled til serving time. This will help scare away the deadly bacteria. Food such as finger sandwiches, cheese platters, fruit or tossed salads that contain pasta, meat, poultry or a dressing that is perishable. In addition don't forget those tasty treat of desserts such as cream pies, cakes with whip cream or cream cheese frosting should also be kept at cold temperatures to help keep most harmful bacteria from multiplying. The food should not be left our for more than 2 hours.

Marshmallow halloween Suckers

I have seen cute suckers like this on the shelves at the local stores for a bit. I love to make my own and know what I put inside of each and everyone and since they are so super cute I know that they should be a favorite during the Halloween season.

 1/4 cup green melting wafers
1 cup orange melting wafers
1 cup purple melting wafers
Lollipop sticks
24 large marshmallows
Sprinkles, candy corn, and candy icing decorations
1/4 cup chocolate chips, melted

Place melting wafers in separate small bowls. Microwave for 15-second intervals, stirring in between, until melted. Insert one end of lollipop sticks into melted green wafers. Push green-colored end of each stick into a marshmallow. Let set 3 minutes. Dunk marshmallows into orange or purple melted wafers, shaking off any excess coating. Place on a sheet of wax paper, and top with assorted sprinkles or decorations.
To make faces, place melted chocolate in a resealable plastic bag, and snip off one tiny corner. Pipe face designs onto marshmallows.

5 little pumpkins

I love to do little activities with my grandbabies and this finger play is perfect for halloween
Five Jolly Pumpkins
Five jolly pumpkins, growing on a vine.
The first one said, “I’m round and fat and fine.”
The second one said, “I’ll make delicious pies” and
The third one said, “Soon I’ll have scary eyes.”
The fourth one said, “I’ll have a candle light.”
The fifth one said, “On Halloween night…”
Five Jack-o-lanterns looking at YOU!
You’d better be careful, ‘cause they might say BOO!
Repeat


shared at
share your cup Thursday
Moonlight and Mason Jars

Flag Football

Bowl of Edible Worms

Create tasty, edible worms. This recipe is simple and great for Halloween, April Fool's, or anytime you feel like snacking on wormy goodness! If you can make jello, then you can make these cool looking worms.

2 packs (3 oz) Raspberry jello
1 pkg unflavored gelatin (for extra firmness)
3/4 cup whipping cream
3 cups boiling water
15 drops green food coloring
100 flexible straws (or enough to fill your container)
Tall container (1 quart or 1 liter carton of milk)

Combine gelatin in bowl and add boiling water. Let it cool to lukewarm and then add the whipping cream and 15 drops green food coloring. Gather your straws (don't forget to flex them out) and put them in the container. It's important that the straws have a tight fit so the jello stays in the straws. For this reason, a 1 liter carton may be better; you will probably get longer worms since there is a tighter fit. If you have a bigger container, a rubber band around the straws is helpful. Or you could just add more straws to fill the container. Add the gelatin mixture to the straw-filled container and let it set until firm. There are multiple ways you can remove the worms from the straws. You can roll a rolling pin over the straws and squeeze them out or you can hold the straws over warm water. The worms will slip right out.

And voila! Jello worms are served

recipe source here

shared at one or more of these parties
(New) And Sew We Craft Together (W)- And Sew We Craft
Creative Spark (Wam)- My Paper Craze, Weekend Craft, Please Excuse My Craftermath
Fluster's Creative Muster (T5p)- Fluffer Buster
(New)Hit Me With Your Best Shot (T6p)- Dolen Diaries, Just a Girl and Her Blog, Made to Be A Momma, One Krieger Chick
Make Bake Create- Hope in Every Season
Moonlight and Mason Jars (T10pm)- Newlywed Pilgrimage, Five Heart Home, Cherished Bliss,  Made in a Day
Party on the Porch (T7pm)- The Shady Porch
Recipe Roundup (W7a)- Gooseberry Patch
*Retro Re-pin Party (pins) (T7)- 2 Crochet Hooks, Sustaining the Powers, Nifty Thrifty Family, Meatloaf and Melodrama, xoxo Grandma, Probably Crafting, Crafty Side of Sarcasm
Show and Share Wednesday- Mostly Homemade Mom
The DIY'ers (T4 or 5pm)- Bigger Than The Three of Us, Brave New Home, Homecoming, Simply Dream and Create
Wake Up Wednesday- Sew Crafty Angel + 10
Wednesday Roundup (W)- Foody Schmoody, The Princess and Her Cowboys, Love, Pasta and A Tool Belt, Lemoine Family Kitchen
*What We Eat (W10a)- Orchard Girls
What's Cookin' Wednesday (W)- Buns in My Oven
What's It Wednesday- Ivy and Elephants
Whimsy Wednesday (T6)- Oh My! Creative, The NY Melrose Family, Smart School House, Princess Pinky Girl, Simply Designing With Ashley
Wine'd Down Wednesday (T6p)- Dizzy Busy and Hungry, Our Three Peas, My Rays of Sunshine 
Wonderful Wednesday (T6p)- Ducks 'n a Row, Spatulas on Parade, Sugar Aunts, Recipes for Our Daily Bread, A Peek Into My Paradise, Flavors by Four, Pure Grace Farms
Wonderfully Creative Wednesdays (T7)- All She Cooks Mom's Test Kitchen, Nibbles by Nic, Sew Creative
Worthwhile Wednesdays (Tpm)- Crafty Allie
Wow Us Wednesdays (Tpm)- Family Home and Life

Tower of Treats Giveaway

Would it not be cool to win a tower of treats? This Skulls Night Treat Delight is a special treat from the popcorn factory. How sweet this would be to get and share. I entered for a chance to win these delicious goodies on the Networking Witches blog. Giveaway ends 10/30/14

Will You Be Treating

Expecting trick-or-treaters or party guests?

Follow these tips to help make the festivities fun and safe for everyone:

• Provide healthier treats for trick-or-treaters such as low-calorie treats and drinks. For party guests, offer a variety of fruits, vegetables, and cheeses.
• Use party games and trick-or-treat time as an opportunity for kids to get their daily dose of 60 minutes of physical activity.
• Be sure walking areas and stairs are well-lit and free of obstacles that could result in falls.
• Keep candle-lit jack o'lanterns and luminaries away from doorsteps, walkways, landings, and curtains. Place them on sturdy tables, keep them out of the reach of pets and small children, and never leave
•  them unattended.
• Remind drivers to watch out for trick-or-treaters and to drive safely.

source CDC

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Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween Safety Tips

 Costumes: choose facepaint rather than a mask as it will be better for the child to breathe and see. I also know from experience that the mask never stays on long and come off often and just adds something else for the parent to carry

 

 

 

homemade face paint recipe

Baby lotion

Baby powder or corn starch

Tempera powder, various colors

Cups or bowls

Paintbrushes

A spoon

Optional:

• Cotton swabs
• Mirror
• Paper towels or tissue

Squeeze some baby lotion into a cup. We used about 1 Tablespoon per cup. Add tempera powder to the baby lotion. We used about 1/2 teaspoon per cup. Mix together until blended. Add baby powder or corn starch to thicken paint and help it dry faster. We used about 1-2 teaspoons per cup. Mix well.
source here

 

 Carry a flashlight and if possible some glow in dark jewelry, bracelet or a glow stick will help others to see child better as well as offer a bit of light so child can see path better

 

 

 

 Check to see what preset hours are for trick or treating and try to abide by them. Having a pre-planned route helps as well

 

 Do not eat candy along the route wait til get home to inspect. Toss any treats that are unwrapped or damaged. If homemade treats are from some where that you do not know they should be tossed as well

 

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Witch Treat

1/2 cup vanilla frosting, divided
36 miniature semisweet chocolate chips
 12 large marshmallows
 1 drop each green, red and yellow food coloring, optional
 1/4 cup flaked coconut
 12 chocolate wafers
 12 miniature peanut butter cups
 12 milk chocolate kisses
 For the face of each witch, place a dab of frosting on the bottom of three chocolate chips; press two for eyes and one for nose onto each marshmallow.
For hair, combine green food coloring and a drop of water in a small resealable plastic bag; add coconut and shake well. Spread a small amount of frosting on sides of marshmallows; press coconut hair into frosting. Place 3 tablespoons of frosting in a small heavy-duty resealable plastic bag; tint orange with red and yellow food coloring. Set aside.
For hats, spread some of the remaining frosting in the center of chocolate wafers; press peanut butter cups upside down into frosting. Lightly spread bottoms of chocolate kisses with frosting; place on peanut butter cups. Cut a small hole in the corner of pastry or plastic bag; insert a small star tip. Fill the bag with frosting and pipe stars around the base of each peanut butter cup. Secure a hat to each witch with a dab of frosting. Yield: 1 dozen.

recipe source Taste of Home

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