Harvest Party Time

It's Harvest (aka Halloween) Party time!  Are you tired of the same old cut-out cookie recipes and bobbing for apples?  Sometimes we ROCKSTARS like to sing a different tune.  My idle fingers hit the internet in search of some cute, ROCKIN' harvest ideas and here's what I found:

Owl sugar cookies.  Super cute and kid's can help decorate. 'Nuff said.  
Find them at http://www.cheekykitchen.com/2010/09/owl-sugar-cookies.html

Scarecrow Cookies.  Again, super cute and the kids can help decorate.  Whether you put them on a stick or not, these are anything but scarey :)  Cut time by using a bagged sugar cookie mix and pre-made icing.
http://www.skiptomylou.org/2008/10/07/more-bake-sale-goodies/

OMGosh! How great are these?  They may not go over so well for a school-function, but these will surely be on my table!  I love these.  Make them your own by pulling out your gingerbread man cookie-cutter early this year, or whip them out in a snap using pre-make gingerbread cookies and frosting.
http://rootsandwingsco.blogspot.com/2009/10/adorable-gingerbread-skeleton-cookies.html

No fall party is complete with out candy corn.  Why not make it a cookie? These are a lot easier than they look.  http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/candy-corn-cookies/2c40f5fa-fdb9-4236-b896-4097bfd1af36

Game Time

There are so many great games to play with kids during the fall.  Here are a few that caught my attention:

Needle in a Haystack.   Fill an inflatable/plastic kiddie pool with hay.  Mix in little toys (i.e. spider rings) and let the kids go crazy looking for their prizes.

Ring the Pumpkin.  Don't put away those dive rings yet.  Line up several pumpkins with long stems or miniature pumpkins.  Let the kids ring them for points or prizes!

Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin.   Switch out the donkey for Fall's favorite gourd and you have a hit!  You can customize this by using a witch and broom, skeleton and bone, turkey and feather, etc.

Gourd Race.  Using gourds and brooms (or rakes), create a starting line and finish line.  The first one to broom their gourd past the finish line wins.  Since the gourds are not perfectly round, they will not roll straight, so it will be fun to watch the kids case down their gourds!

Lunch Lady Land

We have all been super busy with back-to-school: PTO, fundraisers, supply shopping, etc.  Since my oldest had 1/2 day kindergarten last year, First grade means more than bus rides, homework, and a larger bookbag; it means school lunch. 

It took me less than a week to figure out I needed a plan when it came to lunch.  Being a new SAHM, $2.25 was not going to happen on a daily basis.  (I don't know about you, but the more money I save means the longer I get to stay home with my kids.  It's all about job security!)  This is what I learned the first week.  1) Don't ever ask the open ended question: "What do you want to pack for lunch?"  without having your cupboards stocked with every food imaginable.   And, 2)  If you ask that question be prepared to hear a string of junky, sugary snacks come out of your child's mouth.

Here's my solution.

I made 4 columns

• Main
• Fruit
• Veggie
• Dessert

I sat down with Allie and we talked about her favorite things for lunch. Under each column, we listed 5 selections.  For example, under "Main" the choices are PB&J, Meat/Cheese/Crackers, Bologna Sandwich, Boiled Eggs, or Bagel and Cream Cheese.

Each evening she selects one item from each column and we pack her lunch, so it's ready to go the next morning. 

This is really a simple concept, but it saves time, money, and energy!  ROCK on!

Chocolate Cupcake Toppers

Better late than never! My schedule as a SAHM is anything but dull.  I have been super busy with birthdays, back-to-school and just finding my groove.  Hopefully this post gives you more reasons to ROCK!

Emily recently turned 3 with a Dora birthday celebration.  If you have spent anytime at all watching Nickolodeon, you saw their idea for Dora cupcakes.  Being that I love cupcakes and Emily loves Dora, we just had to include them in her party!  You can find the directions here: http://www.nickjr.com/recipes/dora-cupcakes.jhtml

But who is Dora without Boots. So, I searched "Boots coloring pages" in Google images and found a picture with his head about the same size as Dora's.  I used black food coloring and white chocolate to make him gray and pink food coloring to fill in his ears.   Then, it hit me.  Why don't I use this technique to make custom cupcake toppers that are as delicious as they are decorative?

Here's what you need:

• Melting chocolate : I used white and chocolate almond bark from my local grocery, but you can also buy it pre-colored by Wilton.  The pre-colored is sold at many local retailers, including Wal-mart or Jo-Ann's.
• Food coloring
• Wax paper
• Heavy duty zip-lock bags or pastery bags
• Tooth picks
• Print out of the image of your choice

Begin by locating your design.  The best way to do this is type in your subject as a coloring page and search google images.  For example, I searched "ghost coloring page" and "bat coloring page".  I added the word coloring page, so it would give me nice, simple, one-diminsional images.  Since we are nearing Halloween, I am going to be making ghosts and bats.  Try to locate pictures that are approximately the size of your cupcake top.  So, if you are making mini's be sure to select a smaller size.





First, lay your wax paper over your print out.

Melt your chocolate in the microwave according to package directions.  Fill your bag.  Cut the tip off the corner of the zip-lock baggie or end of your pastery bag to create a small opening.  You don't want the opening very large at all, or the chocolate will come pouring out.  Twist the top of the bag or secure with a rubber band.

Second,  trace the outline of the image and fill it in most of the way.

Next, take a tooth pick and spread the chocolate in the center around to fill up the entire image.

Continue sliding your image underneath the wax paper until you have created enough images for your cupcakes.  Since you are working with chocolate, I would encourage you to make a few extra in case some get broken (or eaten!) 

Once the images have dried, you can add detail with another layer of chocolate (like I added pink chocolate to Boot's ears).  Or with food coloring, as I am planning on adding a mouth and eyes to the ghost.

The chocolate cupcake toppers can be made several days ahead of time and stored in an airtight containter.  I would keep them on the wax paper while storing. 

Also, be careful when removing the images from the wax paper.  Try to pull the paper away from the image and NOT the image away from the paper. 

I think these would be cute around the edges of a cake, too.