One-Eyed Purple People Eater Cupcakes...

Can anyone else believe that Halloween is upon us!?!

Not me.

I've been so busy with my girls arranging and taking them to appointments and now, I'll be picking up my oldest from basketball practice and attending games.

With our weather, finally sunny and bright... I thought I'd better snap a shot of these totally easy cupcakes. I am really going to have to break down and buy one of these sets for my food photography.

Soon... very soon. From what I hear and remember when we lived in Southern Oregon many years ago, it will be dark all winter long. So, no natural light to take photos... BOO!

Anyway, with most of us having busy schedules, I thought I'd share a treat that you can whip up in no time. These are perfect for a Halloween Party, either at home or in the classroom!

I hope everyone has a safe and fantastic Halloween!


One-Eyed Purple People Eater Cupcakes

• Cupcakes, Completely Cooled
• 2-3 Batches of Frosting, Canned or Homemade
• Purple Gel Food Coloring
• Candy Eyeballs, Colored or White
• Decorating Tips #12 and #233
• 2 Decorating Couplers
• 2 Disposable Decorating Bags, 12in or 16in

Begin by thoroughly mixing the purple gel food coloring into the frosting, adding as much or as little as desired.  Add a coupler and tip to each decorating bag. Divide the frosting, fill the bags, and secure them closed. 

Beginning with the #12 tip, pipe a swirl of frosting onto the cupcakes for the base, covering as much of the cupcake as desired. Once all the cupcakes have been frosted, begin using the #233 tip. 

Starting at the outer area of the swirl base, begin piping the "fur" onto the cupcake frosting base. Apply pressure to the bag and pull away a bit then stop pressure, to get the affect of strands of fur. Continue working your way around inwardly, and toward the top of the cupcake base. Cover any areas that may be without "fur." Top the cupcake with a candy eyeball to finish. 

Enjoy!

I'm linking this post up to I'm Lovin' It.

Pumpkin Cream Pies...

 

Have you ever had a conversation about something with someone, and then a few days later what you were talking about suddenly pops up... for example... I was mentioning the movie Jaws to my husband. Then literally the next day there was a Jaws marathon on one of the movie channels!

Freaky!?!...... Right!?!

Let me tell you, when there is a Jaws marathon on TV, nobody has to tell me twice to tune into that mother.

NOBODY.

It's one of those movie series that I have got to watch... even though I am covering my eyes half the time. No joke.

Don't even get me started on the movie score.

Ok... so... I grew up with a pool. My sister and I lived in that pool all summer long. It never failed that at least once... maybe twice... ok, multiple times, I would freak myself out and convince myself that somehow a killer great white shark was in our pool. Cue the Jaws movie score in my frightened little girl head. I was out of that pool so fast...

I was a nervous child.

Anyway... sharks aside, I was totally thinking about making these cookies, and not too long after, my daughter was approaching me about when I was going to be making our pumpkin cookies that we enjoy every Fall. Another freaky mind thing... yes?

So, I wanted to change it up a little, and I decided to make them into cream pies. Who doesn't love cream sandwiched between two cookies!?!

... Or even scary shark movies, for that matter.

Ummm, nobody.......


Pumpkin Cream Pies

For The Pies:

• 1 Pumpkin Cookie Recipe

For The Filling:

• 1/2 Cup Butter, Softened
• 1 (8oz.) Block of Cream Cheese, Softened
• 1/2 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
• 3 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
• 1/4 Teaspoon Cinnamon

When the pumpkin cookies have cooled completely, match them in pairs as best as you can according to their size and shape; set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl, cream the butter and cream cheese until fluffy, about two minutes. Add the vanilla and beat to combine. Add the powdered sugar a little at a time and incorporate well into the butter and cream cheese mixture, all the while scraping down the sides of the bowl. Lastly add the cinnamon and mix in completely. 

Once the filling is made you can either spread it or pipe it. If piping, use a 16 inch piping bag. Add a #12 round tip, securing it with a coupler to the piping bag. Fill your bag about half full, pressing the filling down toward the bottom of the piping bag. Fold the corners in and twist, securing it shut. 

Take a pumpkin cookie or pie, and flip it over so the flat side is up. Placing the piping tip to the center of the pie, apply pressure to the bag to build a nice fluffy cloud of filling onto the pie. Take the matching pie and press it flat side down, gently, sandwiching the filling in between each pie. Continue until all the pies are made. Makes 16-18 pies. 

Enjoy!

I'm linking this post up to I'm Lovin' It.

Spider Cookie Pops...

Ok, so...  I DO NOT like spiders. Just puttin' that out there.

I mean, these fun edible cookie pops, I like... but real creepy, crawly ones... um, no.

To top it off, there are a ton of spiders where we live... a TON! Hawaii had its fair share of disgusting insects, but the spiders there weren't nearly as big and scary as the ones we have here.

And can I tell you?..... I am so tired of walking through spider webs. It doesn't matter that I sweep them often. The next day... guess what...  they're back. Yep. No joke.

Also... I see a spider... I squish it. Sorry nature, sorry Dalai Lama, it's a reflex. Even the Daddy Long Legs get the wrath. I know they kill the super poisonous spiders and that's something I probably need to think about, since we do get those here as well. I'm considering sparing them in the near future.

Anyway, the point to this story?

Well, there really isn't one. I just wanted to vent one of my many phobias to you.....

..... and let you know that I made some cute, FUN creepy crawlies that you should totally make yourself.

Totally.


Spider Cookie Pops

• 1 Package Double Stuf Oreo Cookies
• 1 Bag Candy Melts
• Lollipop Sticks
• 2-3 Bags Rips Whips Or Any Thin Rope Licorice 
• 1-2 Packages Candy Eyeballs 

Begin by cutting the licorice into one inch pieces. You will need 8 licorice pieces per cookie pop. Twist off one side of the Oreo cookie, leaving the cream filling in tact on the other side. Place a lollipop stick, measuring about half way up the cream filling, and gently press into the filling. Take 8 licorice pieces and press them, also gently, into the cream filling, arranging them like spider legs. 

Melt about half of the candy melts in a heat proof 1-cup measuring cup or small heat proof bowl in 30 second intervals, until they can be stirred smooth. You can add more candy melts and microwave them as needed. On the Oreo half without the cream, spread a bit of melted candy melts in a circular motion onto the center of the cookie, about the size of a quarter. Place this half of the cookie back onto the cream filling half, sandwiching the the spider legs and the top of the lollipop stick in between. 

Add a small amount of the melted candy melts to the back of the candy eyeballs, using a toothpick or the tip of a lollipop stick. Place on the face of the Oreo cookie, eyeball side up, and arrange as desired. Allow the cookie pops to set, about an hour or two. 

*If you prefer cookies to cookie pops, don't add a lollipop stick. Easy peasy! 

*The Double Stuf Oreos seem to work the best.
*The Candy Eyeballs can be found in the Cake Decorating aisle of your local craft store or online.
  Check your local grocery store, too... that's where I found mine! 

Enjoy!

I'm sharing this post over on I'm Lovin' It and Whatever Friday!

Zucchini with Mozzarella and Prosciutto...

 

Well, the girls have been in school for almost a month now and we are settling into our regular routine. After moving, it takes some time to get used to our new surroundings. We've lived in Oregon before... my youngest was born in the state 8 years ago. However, we are now in northern Oregon and before we were in southern Oregon. 

I know once winter hits we will be in for a shocker! I mean, we lived in a climate that was mostly dry all year, as well as 85 and sunny. I already told my hubby that I'm going to have to invest in a couple of these babies...... no doubt.

From what I hear, it will be dark and stormy ALL... WINTER... LONG...

All of that natural light has been left behind in Hawaii...... sad, but true. 

Anyhow, the trade off is that we are back on the mainland and closer to family... yippee! We truly are happy about that.

I figure we better get started taking our vitamins and eating more veggies that are going to keep us healthy for that cold, wet winter that's a comin'. 

I love zucchini just as is, but it's even better "all dressed up". Yes, I did happen to put a nice piece of mozzarella on it, and then wrap that sucker in prosciutto... but, who cares, right!?! I'm still getting my vegetable serving, dang it!

Zucchini with Mozzarella and Prosciutto

• 1 Medium Zucchini
• 2 Tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Cracked Pepper, to Taste
• 4 Oz. Fresh Mozzarella, Cubed
• 8 Pieces of Prosciutto, Sliced in Half Lengthwise into Strips

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees (F).

Cut the ends off of the zucchini and slice into 1/2 inch pieces. One zucchini will yield about 15 pieces. Place the slices onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Brush the zucchini with the olive oil using a pastry brush and season with the pepper. Place a cube of fresh mozzarella on top of each piece. Wrap each zucchini and mozzarella piece with a strip of prosciutto. 

Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the mozzarella is melted. Serve immediately. Makes around 15 pieces.

Enjoy!  

My Summer...

After organizing our house and posting a few recipes on this here blog, my girls and I visited my in-laws in southern Oregon, then flew down to southern California to visit my family. It was a great way to end the summer and get some last minute fun in before my girlies started their new school last week.

Hence, my lack of posting. I'm finding it a little difficult getting back into developing recipes. I promise that I will get back into the swing of things... soon!

While visiting my in-laws we went blackberry picking. It was so much fun! All we had to do was walk down the street from their house and start plucking away. Very Little House on The Prairie.....

..... so loved that show growing up.

Don't those blackberries look luscious!?!

The best part was watching my youngest picking berries with her grandparents, aunt, and cousins. She had such a blast!

This wasn't the only bowl of berries we picked.... we had another one full to the brim.

Look at the delicious result... this Blackberry Cobbler was fab! You can find recipe here. Try it!

Once home in California, my dad, sister, and nieces went to our city fair with us. I hadn't attended in years, with all the moving around and what not.

What a great way to say goodbye to summer and our fun filled day... a ride on the Ferris wheel. 

I couldn't go home without seeing a Dodger game! Once again, it had been years since I'd been to one.

We stayed for the fireworks and watched them standing on the grass in left field. It was totally worth battling the traffic out of the parking lot! I've been to many games in my childhood, but never stood on the field.

I hope the end to your summer was as fantastic as mine. Now, on to Fall!....

.... and some tasty and savory treats!