Spooks and spectres and things that go bump in the night…
Halloween is almost here, with it’s grinning Jack O’ Lanterns and trick or treaters roaming the neighborhoods…..
What will I be this year? A ghost, a fairy princess? Dracula?
Whatever you choose, no matter your age…
Have a happy and safe Halloween boys and ghouls!!
Jack O’ Lanterns...the star of Halloween!
Picking out the family pumpkin is sometimes a pretty involved operation! Some want big and round, others like oblong and warty…whatever you choose, this orange orb holds a special place of honor on Halloween.
The internet is full of wonderful sites for you to download and print off Jack O’ Lantern stencils. Some of my favorites are:
The internet is full of wonderful sites for you to download and print off Jack O’ Lantern stencils. Some of my favorites are:
http://www.bhg.com/ (the Better Homes and Garden site) just click on the 100 days of Holidays and type in pumpkin stencils.
Also, if you type in Halloween central in your search engine, it is a great site for all things Halloween!! Happy surfing!
*****CARVING TIP******
for preserving your carved pumpkin a little longer is to rub Vaseline or spray WD-40 around the cut edges. You can also rinse the inside of the cleaned out pumpkin with with weak bleach water to keep mold and bacteria from forming.
PAINTED PUMPKINS, A SAFE AND FUN ALTERNATIVE TO CARVING:
Pumpkin Painting Ideas:
*By tipping the pumpkin on it’s side you can use the stem as a nose.
*Old wigs, glasses, witches hats, masks…so much can be used to make your pumpkin become a Halloween show stopper!
*As with any holiday decorations, they can be as elaborate or as simple as you wish it to be.
*Whatever you do, I know it will be Spooktacular!!!!
GETTING YOUR HOME INTO THE SPIRIT OF HALLOWEEN!!!
*Cobwebs are always a fun and eerie way to create a haunting look.
*Very inexpensive, bags of “spider webs” come in white, green and black. I found great deals at the local *Cheesecloth is another inexpensive way to create a creepy draped effect. Hang some off of mirrors, pictures, even furniture. Attach little plastic spiders or skeletons and add a little extra BOO!
Every year I make a Halloween tree. Mother Nature helps me out on this one…in our side yard I can usually be assured of finding some downed branches. I take 3 or 4, put them in a container filled with stones for stability. A large coffee can spray painted black, works very well too. I use a small strand of my Christmas twinkle lights, add some green spider webbing, little black plastic bats and I have a Halloween tree worthy of a visit by the Great Pumpkin!
HALLOWEEN TABLESCAPES
Table Cover:
Our first step setting our table is the table cover. The stores are full of plastic Halloween tablecloths this time of year…they come in all sizes. Buy crepe paper in the color of your choice, cut it to fit your table. Use pinking shears to cut the bottom edge, or cut strips an inch apart with regular scissors to create a decorative look. You can do the same with fabric if you would rather use cloth. There is a wide assortment of Halloween fabrics out there.
Centerpiece:
I like to use a different centerpiece every year. One of my favorites is to take a witches hat, stuff the inside with newspaper or batting, place it in the middle of the table, drape some black net around it, sprinkled with some silver glitter. Cut an artificial pumpkin in half and fill with Halloween candies, or fill with reindeer moss that can be purchased at any craft store and put in a few “Halloweenie Eggs” colored orange and green and purple? Simple food color is used and the instructions on how to get the colors you want are printed on the back of the box. Twist some gauzy material down the center of the table and place little battery operated votive candles in and out of the curves. This way you do not run the risk of the fabric catching on fire or little ones burning themselves.
TEMPTING TREATS
Howling All Hallows Eve Punch
You will need:
1 Ice cube tray
1 dozen gummy spiders or other type of creepy gummy bug..
Fill tray with water or fruit punch, add gummy bug to each compartment and freeze about 6 hours.
In large punch bowl mix together 1 large can of tropical fruit punch
2 liter bottle of Sprite
1 Qt. of raspberry sherbert slightly thawed in refridgerator for a couple of hours before event (you can use rainbow sherbert if you like)
Directions:
Mix the fruit punch and Sprite together. Add thawed sherbert to the punch mixture. Stir thoroughly.
Take frozen “bugs” from the freezer and drop on top of the punch…
Drink it if you dare!!
Quick Halloween snack mix:
Ingredients:
6 cups of bagged caramel corn or Chicago style popcorn.
2 cups of salted mixed nuts
1 ½ cups candy corn
½ cup of raisins
2 cups of salted mixed nuts
1 ½ cups candy corn
½ cup of raisins
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and serve.
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and serve.
Popcorn balls:
What is Halloween without popcorn balls?
This is my favorite recipe to use, it has never failed yet!
This is my favorite recipe to use, it has never failed yet!
5 Qts. Popped popcorn
2 cups sugar
1 ½ cups water
½ t. salt
½ cup light corn syrup
1 t. vinegar
1 t. vanilla
2 cups sugar
1 ½ cups water
½ t. salt
½ cup light corn syrup
1 t. vinegar
1 t. vanilla
Keep popped corn hot and crisp in oven at 300 degrees. Butter sides of a heavy saucepan. In this combine sugar, water, salt, corn syrup, and vinegar.
Cook to hard ball stage (250 F)
Add vanilla. Pour slowly over popped corn, mixing well to coat every kernel,
Press into balls, butter hands if necessary. Be careful not to burn your hands.
I like to use latex free gloves to form the balls, much easier and cleaner to use.
Cook to hard ball stage (250 F)
Add vanilla. Pour slowly over popped corn, mixing well to coat every kernel,
Press into balls, butter hands if necessary. Be careful not to burn your hands.
I like to use latex free gloves to form the balls, much easier and cleaner to use.
Rocky road Halloween squares:
1 12oz. Package of chocolate chips
1 14oz. Can of sweetened condensed milk
1 T. butter
2 cups dry roasted peanuts
1 package (10 ½ oz.) of white mini marshmallows.
Assorted Halloween candy such as candy corn or candy coated chocolate pieces.
1 14oz. Can of sweetened condensed milk
1 T. butter
2 cups dry roasted peanuts
1 package (10 ½ oz.) of white mini marshmallows.
Assorted Halloween candy such as candy corn or candy coated chocolate pieces.
Line a 13x9 baking pan with waxed or parchment paper. In top of double boiler or in microwave, melt chocolate with milk and butter, remove from heat. In large bowl combine peanuts and marshmallows. Fold in melted chocolate and press into paper lined pan. Top with candy pieces. Chill until firm and cut into squares. Store at room temperature.
Wishing you all a Haunted, Happy and Safe Halloween from the ghouls at Blondie's ;)
