How to Carve Your First Pumpkin

How to Carve Your First Pumpkin

So you’re ready to carve your first pumpkin? Congratulations in joining the ranks of many who rank pumpkin carving as one of their favorite Halloween activities. To avoid a huge mess you’ll have to clean up later, the first thing you’ll need to do is prepare your workspace.

Choosing Your Pumpkin Carving Space

Select a flat work area. Lay down several layers of newspaper being sure to overlap them.

Gather Your Supplies

Pumpkin

Pumpkin Carving Kit or Butcher Knife & Serrated Paring Knife

Semi-Permanent Marker or Pencil

Container lined with a garbage bag to deposit your waste

Lighting Source of Your Choice (Candle, glow sticks, etc.)

Preparing Your Pumpkin for Carving

Turn your pumpkin on its side. Using your permanent marker, draw a large circle on the bottom of the pumpkin. Be sure it’s large enough to fit a large spoon and your hand inside. By cutting out the bottom (instead of the top) you’ll make it easier to place your light source in it. Using your large butcher knife carefully cut out the circle. Make note of the best side for carving your chosen design or face.

Let the Fun Begin

It’s time to clean out your pumpkin. Using your hands, scoop out the seeds and put them in the garbage bag, unless you want to put them in a bowl for later roasting. Using either a wooden spatula or serving spoon, scrape out the meat. Hopefully you have already decided on which side you will be carving the face, as this will need extra removal of the flesh.

Draw Your Design

After the pumpkin has been cleaned out, it is time to draw the design of your choice. Use a semi-permanent marker or a pencil and draw your design on the pumpkin.

If you don’t have an artistic mind it’s ok. You can use a stencil available on several Internet sites or one that may have came in your tool kit. (www.hersheys.com is a good site for designs.) Take a copy of the design and place it over the pumpkin. Secure this with masking tape. With a needle, push pin or nail, start poking small holes through the paper and into the pumpkin. Make sure you do them close enough as this is the pattern from which you will carve.

It’s Finally Time to Carve

Preparation pays off. Now, let’s get carving this pumpkin. Be particular in your carving as any little slip with the knife is likely to ruin your design and may cause injury. With your paring knife or other preferred choice of carving tool, carve along the pattern lines cutting all the way through the rind. Cut away from yourself and into the pumpkin. After each feature has been cut out slowly push out the cut pieces from inside the pumpkin.

Hint: Keep your blades as sharp as possible to ensure accuracy and ease of carving.

Clean Up

 

Take your newspaper and fold it over on all sides, keeping your pumpkin “gunk” on the inside. Once folded, throw it in the trash can or garbage bag.

Congratulations! You’ve now carved your first pumpkin. Once you’ve finished and cleaned up the mess, place that baby out on the front porch and add your lighting. Show it off for the entire neighborhood to see. Don’t forget to take a picture too – after all you only have a first carved pumpkin once. Enjoy!

Easy Additions for Perfect Halloween Meals

Easy Additions for Perfect Halloween Meals

It’s Halloween! With just a few little changes or additions to things that you probably already make, you can put the spirit of Halloween on your table.

Scary Eyeballs – Add a little more mustard into the egg centers or a thin dollop under where you will lay a black olive into the creamy center.

Ghost Sandwiches – Cut your bread into ghosts, add the filling of your choice and your children will have a ghostly treat for their school or after school sandwich.

Wormy Hot Dogs – Thinly slice your hot dogs and then microwave. This will make them curl to look like worms. Put them on a hamburger bun and dress with mustard, catsup and pickles to make a slimy swamp underneath.

Ghostly Toast – Toast your bread. When it is cool enough to cut, with a gingerbread girl cutter or a plain knife, cut to make a ghost body. Top with whipped cream cheese or flavored yogurt with raisins or dates cut for eyes.

Orange Jack O Lantern – With a toothpick, gently carve a face into the orange. Careful not to injure the meat/pulp of the orange, your child will have a small version of the Jack O Lantern that is healthy and edible.

Graveyard Snack – Take a cup of plain or buttered popped popcorn; add a half cup each of mini pretzels, mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, goldfish crackers and raisins.

Spider Snack – Taking two round crackers, such as the ritz, put peanut butter in the middle. Take 8 small pretzels and stick all around, 4 on each side to make the legs. Add raisins for eyes.

Salty Bones – Making breadsticks for your spaghetti tonight? Here’s a Halloween twist. Unroll a tube of refrigerated breadstick roll and separate the triangle pieces. Stretch each individual piece to make a long bone like figure. Cut about a 1 and a half inch slit in each end with your kitchen scissors. Roll the remaining 4 flaps into what would make the end of a dog bone. Sprinkle with coarse salt and bake as directed.

Goblin Tongues – Using mini bagels, spread cream cheese or mayonnaise, your preference, onto bagel. Cut slices out of circular pieces of bologna lunch meat to look like tongues and put into the top center of the bagel, leaving it to hang out like a tongue.

These are just a small sampling of things you can do to impress the kids or grandkids. Nothing fancy, quite simple for you but they’ll love them. Presentation and excitement is part of children accepting new and different things. Let them help you when creating these treats and they may just be a little more receptive to the new Halloween changes in foods they already love.

Creepy Fingers Recipe: Perfect for a Child’s Halloween Get Together

Creepy Fingers Recipe: Perfect for a Child’s Halloween Get Together

These are most fun to make, most fun to eat and the kids just love them! They add a nice touch to a school treat or just to have when having friends over.

I’m going to give you the tips first. I’ve found that if the tips are before the recipe I am more apt to read them and not be at the end of my recipe and wonder why or where something went wrong.

Some people omit the egg white brush. The only reason I like it is because it seems to add an old, weathered, yellowish dead look. I don’t think it makes much difference in taste. However, it may help in solidifying the almond into the finger.

You must roll these cookies thin. Believe me; they will spread out in the oven. Also, take them from the oven a few minutes early and reshape them the way you want them and then finish cooking.

The recipe doesn’t call for it, but if you wanted to slip a few slivers of almond into the fingers at random spots you can get that exposed dead bone look. You might also want to put fine lines of red icing to resemble blood in various spots onto the cooked fingers.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons red food coloring

30 sliced almonds

2 large eggs

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup softened butter

1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar

5 T. sugar

Pinch of salt

1 2/3 cups flour

Couple drops of almond extract

Directions:

1. Heat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.

3. Put food coloring in a shallow bowl and add the slivered almonds into the bowl. Leave them set until they are as deep red as you’d like. Every so often, stir them around to make sure they are getting completely covered.

4. Separate 1 egg, sitting the white aside in a separate bowl. In a different bowl, take the entire 2nd egg with the yolk of the first egg and whisk it together; add vanilla and set aside.

5. In large bowl, combine softened butter, confectioners’ sugar, sugar, and salt. Beat on medium speed until well combined. Add egg mixture and almond extract, and beat until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the flour, and mix on low speed just until put together. Wrap the dough in plastic, and chill until firm, about 30 minutes.

6. Once firm enough divide the dough into two halves. Keep the one you’re not working with covered in the plastic wrap and chilled. Separate the dough you’re working with into fifteen pieces. Lightly flour your counter or work space. Roll each piece back and forth with palms into finger shapes about 3 and a half to 4 inches long. Pinch dough in two places to form knuckles. Score each knuckle lightly with the back of a small knife. Transfer fingers to the previously prepared baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough.

7. After you have formed all your fingers, using a pastry brush, brush lightly with the egg white from the first egg in step 4.

8. Position almonds into nails and push into dough to keep firm.

9. Bake until lightly browned, about 12 minutes, however, you will remove them at about 9 minutes and reshape them the way you want them to look. Cool completely.

Kids love these icky fingers. Even more fun than eating them is making them, so don’t be afraid to let them join in the process. You’ll all have fun and the kids will learn a few life skills at the same time.

I am made stronger through my hardships.

I am made stronger through my hardships.

I know that life can be hard and I accept that as part of the natural order of things. In fact, if I didn’t have the hard times, I couldn’t appreciate the complete joy of the good times, either!

I am reminded of the well-known statement, “What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger!” This is so true. Even when I feel as if I cannot bear any more, I persevere and I come out of the situation knowing that I am stronger than ever.

Just as my body is strengthened with tough exercises, my character is strengthened by hardships. These challenges exert pressure on me and make me feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders. But each hardship I conquer makes it easier for me to lift off the weight of the next one.

Overcoming hardships also brings me the confidence to face new challenges. If I did it once, twice, or many times, I know I can do it again!

Because of past experience, I also know with certainty that “this, too, shall pass.” It gives me the strength to continue on regardless of the circumstances.

Living through hardship also provides me a new appreciation of life. I am grateful for the good times and can find joy in even the most trivial moments.

Today, I plan to persevere through any hardship that may befall me, knowing that I can come out on the other side of the situation stronger than before.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. How has one my recent hardships made me stronger?

2. Did it allow me to appreciate the good things in my life more fully?

3. Now that I’ve been through it, do I feel more confident about future hardships?

Bubbling Cauldron Recipes: Dip and Witch Brew Fit for Halloween Parties

Bubbling Cauldron Recipes: Dip and Witch Brew Fit for Halloween Parties

Throwing or attending a Halloween party this year and wondering what to make? Bubbling cauldrons are the dish of choice for the ghosts and witches of the night. Here are two recipes everyone in attendance is sure to enjoy.

Goblin Dip

Ingredients:

1 pkg (16 oz.) Velveeta processed cheese, cubed

16 oz shredded Swiss cheese

1 can(10 ½ oz.) cheddar cheese soup

2 cans (15 oz.) black beans (drain well)

1 jar medium or hot salsa

1 can (4 oz) diced jalapeno peppers, (drain well)

1 round loaf of pumpernickel or round marble rye bread, unsliced

2 loaves (18 ounces each) round marble rye bread, unsliced

Pretzel rods

Preparation:

Put canned soup into saucepan. Add the processed and swiss cheese into the pan. Melt cheeses over low heat, stirring often. Remove from heat. Stir in beans, salsa and jalapeño peppers, if desired. Carefully cut center out of bread, leaving 1-1/2-inch shell. Cut or tear bread center into pieces for dipping.

Fill your emptied bread bowl (cauldron) with the cheese. Take your cut or tore bread pieces that you took from your bowl and place on a serving plate. For an added extra touch, you could “assemble a campfire” of pretzel rods around the bowl. Put 1 full pretzel rod into the cheese dip and serve immediately.

Alternate Ideas for Goblin Dip

If you want more of a Mexican taste to your cheesy dip, add a package of taco seasoning into the saucepan when cooking and a can of Ro-tel tomatoes with green chilis.

Using Halloween cookie cutters (you can purchase them) and cocktail bread, cut out some decorative pieces of bread for dipping.

Witch’s Brew Recipe

Ingredients:

2 packages lime Jell-O

Ice (if needed)

Lime Kool-Aid

1 Gallon Green Punch Kool-Aid or Green Punch (any brand)

Cauldron or Punch Bowl

Ladle

Directions:

The night before, using the lime Kool-Aid prepare ice cubes. You’ll need to use the flavored ice cubes as this particular witch’s brew does not do well watered down with plain water ice cubes. It will water it down too much.

In enough time for the Jell-O to set before serving, prepare both packages of lime Jell-O. Place in fridge to set. Make one gallon of Green Punch Kool-Aid or you can purchase a gallon of any brand green punch. Chill.

When ready to serve, using a fork, mash up the set Jell-O into globs. Pour the punch into punch bowl or cauldron. Add Jell-O globs and Kool-Aid ice cubes.

Tips for serving: Because this is a Jell-O punch, do not use a pitcher to serve. The Jell-O will try and sit on the bottom. Make certain you stir the punch well and ladle it into your guests’ cups.

Alternatives to Halloween Candy

Alternatives to Halloween Candy

If you’re a parent you may be worrying about how much candy your child will be bringing home this Halloween. Candy not only has very little nutritional value, it is bad for your teeth and can cause nasty tummy aches when eaten in excess. If you’re looking for something different to hand out to trick-or-treaters this year, here are some alternative ideas.

Nabisco has 100 calorie pack individual packages that trick-or-treaters will find enjoyable to their palates. Teddy Grahams and chocolate covered pretzels are my two favorites, but they have a whole line to choose from.

Individual packages of nuts or trail mixes are nutritionally beneficial to your ghosts and goblins. They not only taste good are good for you.

Microwave popcorn packages are a great option. You can buy them in many different flavors, but if you’re looking for healthier alternatives skip the extra or movie butter kind.

Nabisco Handi-Snack offers a variety of healthy choices. A few examples that I particularly like are:

Breadsticks and cheese

Cheese dunk ‘ems

Ritz cheese and crackers

These individual packages are a tasty choice. Fairly inexpensive, they are a great fit for children.

While not quite as healthy as some of the other options above, many restaurants, such as McDonald’s & Wendy’s, sell coupon certificates or books you can substitute with. You can purchase gift certificates for your trick-or-treaters and by using your Arch card and following some simple guidelines at the McDonald’s website you can not only give a non candy gift, you can also earn college rewards.

Non-Edible Gifts

If you visit a dollar store or a store that sells children’s books inexpensively, you can find non-edible gifts too. Items such as coloring books, crayons or audio books and more are great alternatives to sugar laden candy. Not only is this a healthier choice, it is educational as well. Some people even shop throughout the year to help spread the cost out.

A visit to your local dentist may be just what the doctor orders this Halloween. He may be able and willing to give you toothbrushes and toothpaste samples at a reduced rate to hand out to children. If you wanted you could even hand out sugarless gum.

Small games like jacks and jump rope fit well into a trick-or-treater’s bag and will last for longer than one night. While various different flash cards or games such as old maid and crazy eights are not what trick-or-treaters are used to getting at Halloween it is something they can use and re-use. Again, they are inexpensive and can be purchased throughout the year at dollar or general stores.

The choice is yours. Use some of these ideas to begin to change the suggestion that candy is the only choice for Halloween. Be creative and give your visitors something healthier this year!

Healthy Breakfast When You Absolutely Don’t Have Time to Cook

Healthy Breakfast When You Absolutely Don’t Have Time to Cook

Even when you’re in a hurry to get out the door in the morning, feeding your family a healthy breakfast is still important to you. I know because I am a mom and as mom’s it’s our job to make sure our families eat healthy. Instead of going through the drive through though, here are some suggestions you can use that are quick and healthy, on the go breakfast ideas.

The first thing to do is plan ahead. Planning makes any meal time so much easier, especially when you’re in a hurry. Healthy items to have on hand and that are easy to grab and go are:

• Healthy cereal bars

• Granola bars

• Baggies of whole grain cereal

• Graham crackers

• Bagels

• Sliced Cheese

• Sliced ham

• Nuts

• Sliced Fruit

• Flour tortillas

• Sliced whole grain bread

• Seedless Grapes

• Peanut butter

• Crackers

• Raw veggies such as celery stalks and baby carrots

• Raisins

When you have the above items on hand, you can either eat them alone or you can combine them quickly for a fast, healthy breakfast.

• Spread some cream cheese on graham crackers or bagels.

• Make a cheese sandwich

• Toast some bread and top with cream cheese and sliced fruit

• Spread some peanut butter over saltines

• Cream cheese on saltines is also good

• Celery stalks with peanut butter or cream cheese and raisins

• A slice of cheese and ham rolled together

The point is you don’t have to skip breakfast when you don’t have time to cook. And you don’t have to skimp on health by running through a drive through. Save time and money simply by using your imagination and with a little planning. Your kids will like the new ideas and may even begin to eat breakfast better.

Remember; don’t ask your kids what they want. Simply make it and hand it to them. They may think it’s weird at first, especially if it’s not a typical breakfast food. However, they will most likely think its fun to eat something a bit out of the ordinary. Make a game out of it and they’re sure to “bite.” Pretend you are on a deserted island or on a ship lost at sea. It’s the only food left on earth and you have to eat it or you won’t survive.

More than Just Toast

More than Just Toast

Toast is one of the most popular of breakfast foods because it is easy to make and eat on the go. You can pop some bread down in the toaster while you’re applying your makeup or blow drying your hair. Your kids can even learn to make toast when they are old enough to remove it without getting burned. But, having boring old toast every day with butter can get old, so here are some suggestions to spice up an old standby.

Pizza Toast

Prepared in a toaster oven is the best way to make pizza toast. Before placing bread in toaster oven, top with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese and pepperoni. Of course you can top with whatever pizza toppings you have on hand. Broil pizza for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Not very breakfast-y, I know, but my kids love it and eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Plus it’s easy to eat on the go. Just make sure you don’t put too much pizza sauce, and take napkins.

Toasty Fruit Pizza

A twist to traditional fruit pizza is to use toasted bread for the crust and it makes for a healthy breakfast. Spread with cream cheese and your favorite slices of fruit for a healthy meal on the go. It helps save time preparing to have the fruit already sliced.

Easy Breakfast Sandwiches

When you have leftover bacon or sausage, make quick and easy breakfast sandwiches by placing a piece of cheese and meat between two pieces of toast.

Some other toast-topping suggestions that aren’t so traditional include:

• Cream cheese instead of butter

• Apple butter

• Peanut butter and bananas

• Peanut butter and apples

• Peanut butter and honey

• Cheese and mayonnaise

• Applesauce

• Lunchmeat and cheese

To make toast the healthiest possible, choose breads that are whole grain. Also, choose spreads that are low in sugar and fat.

Next time you get stressed out about making breakfast, just think “toast” and all these wonderful suggestions to make toast a bit more exciting!

Hot Breakfast On-the-Run

Hot Breakfast On-the-Run

Many parents wish they could give their kids a hot breakfast, but often feel like they don’t have enough time due to the quick paced lives most of us lead these days, so our kids reach for a cereal bar or a bowl of sugary cereal, or even go without. But with a little planning ahead and using ingredients you probably already have on hand, you can create these hot breakfasts that you and your children can eat on the way to school and work.

Prep. Time-10 minutes or less:

Egg Roll Ups

Scrambled eggs take only a few minutes to make, like 5 or less, making for a quick and healthy way to start the day because they are packed with protein. Roll scrambled eggs into a flour tortilla or a slice of bread. Add other ingredients on hand for flavor and nutrition, like shredded cheese, chopped onion, chopped green pepper, diced ham, crumbled sausage or sliced jalapenos while cooking.

Quick and Easy Breakfast Sandwiches

You can use either microwavable bacon, or pre-cooked bacon that you’ve saved. While the bacon is heating in the microwave, toast two halves of an English muffin. Then place two slices of bacon and a slice of cheese between the muffin halves. Wrap in a paper towel and go. This breakfast sandwich is easy to handle and delicious! You can do the same thing with a sausage patty if you so desire.

Pancake Roll Ups

Use pre-made pancakes, frozen or refrigerated. After re-heating, spread your favorite ingredients like peanut butter, your favorite jelly, honey or butter. Roll up and go. You can also use a sausage link or a slice of bacon if you have some already cooked in the fridge or freezer that will only take a few seconds to reheat.

Not So Typical Bagel

There are many ways you can turn an ordinary bagel into a hot breakfast on the go. Instead of just spreading cream cheese or butter on your bagel, top it with a slice of warm ham, pre-made sausage or bacon. You can also scramble some eggs with cheese if you prefer for a nice, warm and tasty on-the-go breakfast.

Breakfast doesn’t have to be skipped or cold incorporating the ideas above. With a little planning and imagination, you can start your family off with a hot breakfast that is faster and healthier than going through the drive through.

Healthy Cold Breakfasts that Don’t Involve Cereal

Healthy Cold Breakfasts that Don’t Involve Cereal

I often don’t have time to make even a 5 minute batch of scrambled eggs, so having some stuff on hand to grab and go is a must in our home. Since eating a bowl of cereal is impossible while driving and I don’t want my kids having an open bowl with liquid in the car, I’ve come up with some healthy, cold breakfasts that are easy to eat on the go. I’m sure you will find them useful as well.

A super easy, no brainer idea is to have sliced fruit on hand. Simply slice up your favorite fruits and place in storage baggies in the fridge for ease and convenience. This takes a little prep ahead of time, but it is worth it on those mornings when you are in a rush. Fruit suggestions are: strawberries, grapes, kiwi, blackberries, raspberries, cantaloupe and other melon, apples and bananas (sprinkled with lemon juice to keep from turning brown) and cherries. Of course you can use whatever fruits your family likes.

Tortilla roll ups

A quick and easy way to eat on the go is to use flour tortillas. You can take just about any ingredients you and your family like and roll them in a tortilla. Some suggestions are:

• Peanut butter and jelly

• Cream cheese

• Chopped raw veggies

• Ham and cheese

• Sliced fruit and cream cheese

• Peanut butter and honey

• Sliced Cheese

• Pickles and Cheese

• Applesauce

Other things you should have on hand for those rushed mornings are graham crackers, granola bars, cereal bars, nuts and bagels. You can spread some cream cheese between two graham crackers for added protein and flavor. Nuts are nutritious and full of protein and fiber and are a great way to fill you up quickly. You can find fairly healthy cereal bars in the cereal aisle these days. Be sure to read the label for the sugar and fat content. If you don’t have time to spread some cream cheese on a bagel, eating them plain is still tasty and a good way to get filled up in the morning.

Another way to use up those leftover pieces of chicken or steak is to give them to your family in the morning. They usually taste great served cold and are a good source of protein.

You don’t have to skip breakfast when you don’t have time in the morning. Planning ahead and having items easy to grab will ensure you and your family get a healthy start to the day.

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