Mummy Pops

So this year I have been in a funk.  I just haven't been able to make any treats or even tricks for that matter on my own (so not like me, I never would have guessed that being PTA President took so much out of you.)  I have however, ooo'd and ahhh'd over all the fun holiday things people have been doing this year.  Now I know there are tons of cake pop recipes out there, but my cute bosses wife brought these in, and they are Spooky good!  My waist line will attest to the spookiness of this particular cake pop.

1 box  cake mix (cook as directed on box for 13 X 9 cake)
1 block of softened cream cheese
1 package white chocolate bark wax paper
M & M's

1. Make the cake according to the package directions.  After cake is cooked and cooled completely, crumble into large bowl.
2. Mix thoroughly with cream cheese.  When I made these at Easter, I liked mixing it with my fingers.
3. Roll mixture into a log shape.
4. Put in the fridge and cool for a couple of hours
5. Melt chocolate in microwave per directions on package.
6. Stick a sucker stick in each cake log, dip in chocolate, be sure to tap off the extra chocolate, and lay on wax paper, place M&M's on to form eyes.  When firm, go back and drizzle more chocolate the cake logs to give the mummy his wrap effect.  Set until firm.

Look at this cake pop holder how clever!  I love fall and all the beautiful gourds and paired with this delicious treat...LOVE it!

Homemade Fondant

My new Tween had high aspirations for her Birthday cake this year, especially as she has become a fan of such TV programs as Cake Boss and the likes. My skills at cake decorating are novice to say the least. Having gone to the school of learning by doing, but having a tradition for homemade Birthday cakes, I thought I would give it a try (and have Sams club on speed dial just in case.) Not being a fan of the taste of traditional fondant my first order of business was to find a recipe for some better tasting fondant. I think I did okay. We used buttercream icing for the body of the cake and the fondant for decorating. This recipe was not too difficult, and tasted good enough that we ended up making two different cakes using the fondant. Even Mike got in on the fun, making the bow for one cake and helping to run the fondant through the pasta machine.



INGREDIENTS:
1 cup light corn syrup 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
1 cup shortening 2 lbs powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large bowl, stir together the shortening and corn syrup. Mix in the salt and vanilla flavoring, then gradually mix in the powdered sugar until it is a stiff dough. If you are using a stand mixer, use the dough hook attachment. Otherwise, knead by hand. If the dough is sticky, knead in more powdered sugar until smooth. Store in airtight container at room temp. or in the refrigerator.
2. To use, roll out on a clean surface that has bee dusted with powdered sugar until it is 1/5 inch thick or thinner if you can. Drape over frosted and chilled cakes and smooth the sides down, or cut into strips to make bows and other decorations.

From All Recipes.com Submitted by Kelley

"Dippy" St. Patty's Day Treats

I joined a linky party (my first one) I am so excited. A party right from my own home and I didn't have to clean a thing! Speaking of parties, last night was our monthly BUNCO ladies night out. My sister and I were on the same page and brought dipped St. Patty's Day treats. I made the shamrocks. My inspiration piece came from http://sunscholars.blogspot.com/2011/02/st-pattys-day-fun.html. They were super simple and fun to make with the kids so I thought I would share them here.

You will need:
CANDY MELTS
Green food coloring
Small pretzels
Wood skewers
Wax paper


I took some white candy melts (If you are fortunate enough to have a Winco close by, purchase these from the bulk section this way you can buy only what you need, and they are a little cheaper than from a Craft store) I put the candy melts into a microwaveable bowl and put them in for 1 minute on 50%. Take out melts and stir. Place back in microwave at 50% power and for 30 secs. Remove and stir. Continue to repeat this step until candy melt are melted. When candy has melted add 8 drops of liquid food coloring and stir until incorporated. This is where the fun begins.

Spread wax paper on working surface. Place 3 pretzels in the melt, flip them over so that you are coating both sides. Use the wood skewer to remove the pretzel by sticking the skewer in the little hole of the pretzel. Shake off excess. Now place the three pretzels so that the are touching. I also broke off a piece of a pretzel to form the stem of the shamrock. I dipped it in the melt and placed it at the bottom of the three full pretzels. Let the candy melt harden. Once hardened you can trim off any excess chocolate. This project is very forgiving. The kids loved dipping and I loved that I could trim off the blobs of chocolate.

*My sister used the same process for dipping the oreos pictured. My sister and I were discussing how we might kick it up a notch next time, and think it would be fun to use mint chocolate chips instead of the candy melts next time.

Parties I am linked up with:

I will eat them in a box, I will eat them with a fox!

I love the Dr. Seuss Book Green Eggs and Ham. It is as close as it gets to real life at our house for trying new foods. I love how there is so much drama in trying a new food and then 99.9% of the time the kids when they finally try it, rave about how great the food was. Just like Sam in Green Eggs and Ham.

In honor of Dr. Seuss and his Birthday, we celebrated with a Dr. Seuss themed dinner. Green Eggs and Ham served as our main dish, accompanied by a side of Hoo Hash, and Pink Ink Drink. I was so excited to serve this dinner, that I failed to take pictures. I did however, find a cute lady with a blog that had a similar idea so I used her picture (I have heard the best blogs have pictures, well then I certainly can't post without a picture.) Here is the link for her site.
www.itsybitsyfoodies.com/green-eggs-and-ham-2

I made our eggs pretty much the same way she did. Instead of spinach juice, I took a handful of spinach leaves, placed them in a bowl covered in plastic wrap with a little bit of water and steamed them in the microwave. I then took the leaves and pulsed them with 2 T. of water in the food processor, and added them to the eggs as she did.

Hoo Hash was country style cubed potatoes with diced onions and peppers (to my surprise this was a hit with the kids.) To round out the meal we had Pink Ink Drink. I took 6 oz of vanilla yogurt, juice from one orange, 1 T sugar, a pinch of salt, 1c. of frozen strawberries and milk enough to make it drinkable and pulsed it in the blender.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Slime

What is that saying...you can't teach an old dog new tricks? Yeah well, just call me old dog. Last night there I was running to WINCO for Borax so we could make SLIME for Parks barter days today at school. Why do her projects always fall to me just as she is told it is bedtime?

Since my DVR was bidding me to come watch AI, I went simple (for me) and just slapped a directional label on a ziploc baggie and called it good. No fancy packaging. With the bright colors, they are still fun, and what kid doesn't like green slime that resembles boogers?

This project really is easy and fun for kids, so here is the link I used to make our "SLIME"

http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/00000039

Calzone

I am so proud of myself, with dough from my husbands pizza shop, I made this beautiful calzone. I even recieved compliments from the pizza man himself.













CALZONE
1 package of refridgerated pizza dough (or All American Pizza Grill Pizza Dough if you are really lucky)
1 container ricotta cheese
mozarella cheese
your favorite pizza toppings
1 egg
1 T. water
1 jar of pizza sauce (or get some from AAPG)


Preheat oven to 400.
Take dough and roll out into an 8 inch circle. On one half of the dough begin to build your calzone by first placing a small amount of ricotta cheese spreading to 1/8" of the edge. Then add cheese to your liking, and an assortment of your other favorite toppings. Fold the half of your empty dough over the portion that has your toppings. Doing this you should now have a half circle. Take the prongs of a fork and gently press around the calzone, sealing it shut. Place on cookie sheet. Take egg and water and place in small bowl. Whisk together to create an egg wash. Brush egg wash over the calzone. Bake in oven for 20 minutes. Spoon pizza sauce over top of calzone and serve.

A yummy holiday cookie recipe I created and shared at Bunco

Make a Smilebox recipe