Thanks-Giving Day 14 & Corny Cookies and Corn Cupcake Recipes

I'm thankful for having the opportunity to stay at home with my children.  It's been a struggle at times, but we have been able to manage.  My husband and I knew it was the right thing for our family and we have absolutely no regrets.  Sure, like any mother, I do get frustrated and hold my breath when money gets tight.  We couldn't have made it without God bringing us through our good and bad times.   


from Disney Family Fun

Corny Cookies

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Vanilla frosting
Green fruit leather
M&M's or Reese's Pieces candies

Using an electric beater, cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix well. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix in the flour a little at a time until the ingredients are well combined. Chill the dough for several hours or overnight.

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Divide the dough into 3 parts. Working on a floured surface with one part at a time, roll out the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Using a knife, cut out corncob shapes about 4 inches long. Place the cookies on ungreased baking sheets and bake for 9 minutes or just until the edges brown. Let the cookies set on the sheets for about 2 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Frost the cooled cookies. Next, use kitchen shears to cut husks from the fruit leather to fit the sides of each cookie. Press the husks in place atop the frosting, with the tips down a bit. Now fill in the middle with candy kernels gently pressed into place. Makes about 1 1/2 dozen cookies.



from By Stephanielynn

Happy Halloween Y'all!

I've been reading a few little Halloween weekend adventures today from other bloggers. What great stories and adventures!  It was a beautiful weekend for such long Halloween. I don't know about you, but I've been one TIRED momma. We did have a fun filled weekend, but I would love to take a long nap.

I've got lots of pictures and stories to tell, so hold on girls.

Candy Corn Tree

Katie found this stick at Peggy's house. It was perfect for a Candy Corn Tree, so Katie was all for me making her one. It turned out pretty cute. I thought the spiderwebs was a nice touch. Haha! It was Katie's surprise when she got home that afternoon.

I never heard anything from Katie's teacher or the homeroom mom about having a Halloween party for the children.  I knew it was against the rules of the school safety, to make cupcakes and other treats from home.  I ordered these cute cupcakes from Walmart and took them to Katie's class.  We just made it our party anyway.  All of the children got to wear their Halloween costumes to school.  It was cute!  Katie was eating it up, getting to dress up.  I didn't know if I was going to be able to get her hair fixed and get her to school in time.  But here she is, my beautiful little Thumbelina.

She absolutely loved being Thumbelina this year. She was all grins when I agreed to put a little blush and eye shadow on her. Of course, she had to have a little sparkly lip gloss and sparkle spray in her hair.   I wanted to take pictures outside because they just seem to look better than in the house.  Plus, I won't have piles of toys or stuff in the background.  LOL!  I can't stand clutter. 

Katie's spot 

Little goblins running all over the class

Everyone listening to Mrs. M's instructions

I think they had a nice little party and everyone got a few bags of treats from classmates.

Momma and her Charlie Brown

Halloween Eve

Our mayor declared Saturday or Halloween Eve the offical Trick or Treat night.  Which I was relieved because I wanted Katie to get the real experience of Trick or Treating.  In the past, I've always just taken her around to family for Trick or Treating and of course there's our church's Fall Festival.  This year would mark her first real Halloween and I wanted her's to be a great experience.  As a child, I never had a real great experience.  I was always so scaried and shy.  I didn't want that for Katie.

We invited a few people over, just family, for a pot of chicken and dumplings.  After supper, us ladies got the kids dressed up in their costumes and went Trick or Treating.  But first, I have to show you our Prayer Pumpkin.  Take a look!

 
Pumpkin Carving Prayer

Dear God,
As I carve my pumpkin help me say this prayer:

Open my mind so I can learn about You;
(Cut the top of the pumpkin)

Take away all my sin and forgive me for the wrong things I do.
(Clean out the inside)

Open my eyes so Your love I will see;
(Cut the eyes out in heart shapes)

I'm so sorry for turning up my nose to all you've given me.
(Cut a nose in the shape of a cross)

Open my ears so your word I will hear.
(Cut the ears shaped like the Bible)-we did rectangles

Open my mouth so I can tell others You're near
(cut the mouth in the shape of a fish)

Let Your light shine in all I say and do! Amen.
(Place a candle inside and light it)

Katie loves our pumpkin because it has heart eyes.  She's so funny.  I have to say that it did turn out pretty.  I cut out templates from pieces of paper.  Taped them on the hulled out pumpkin and began cutting them out. 

Spider Cupcakes

Here are the cupcakes, I promised Katie I would make for her on Halloween. She had to help me out that is until she got tired of having to wash her hands everytime she'd forget and get her hands dirty. A few of them, she helped put the eyes on the spiders.

Table is ready for the party

Colton checking out the Prayer Pumpkin

What's this?

Momma's little goblins ~ ready to go Trick or Treating

Our Trick or Treating experience didn't start out too good because of some kid that wanted to have a little fun.

As we were going from house to house around the neighborhood, we spotted a kid dressed up as Michael Myers from "Halloween" and he was trying to be cute. He was walking up the middle of the street in full costume including the bloody fake knife. There were other older kids, in a group, going from house to house. I just figured he was with them and would leave us alone. You know, since we have practicely babies with us. NOPE! NADA! Katie didn't know what to think and buddy her radar works just fine. She didn't keep her eyes off him for one second. She knew something wasn't right. That kid ended up following us, from a distance, to two houses. He didn't say anything and he kept walking stiff. He stayed with the whole "Halloween" character. Really weird. By the time we got back in the car, we were ready to get out of there. I think all of us girls were a little freaked out by this kid. Unfortunately, he nearly ruined Katie's Halloween. As we stopped to the next house a block down the road, no where near the Michael Myers, Katie announced that she had enough candy and was ready to go home. I got her brave enough to get out of the car. She held Maryann's hand, while I had Colton. Next thing I know, I heard Katie crying and having a fit. She stopped in her tracks and wasn't going any further. We tried our best to explain that some dumb kid thought he was being funny. She wasn't buying it. At that point, I could have gone back over to Michael Myers and cleaned his plow for scaring her.

Me being the person I am, I didn't want this to be Katie's last Trick or Treating experience. I didn't want her to be afraid when there's nothing to be afraid of. She was really upset and I debated on if we needed to go back home and throw in the towel, but call me a hard head. I wasn't giving up. I told her that we would just drive around and see the sights. We went over to one of my favorite neighborhoods and ran into a couple of ladies we knew. Thank the dear Lord because at first, Katie wanted nothing to do with getting out and going up to some house for candy. Forget it! After some enticing, we convinced her to go. I knew the home owners and got to telling them about our terrible experience. I didn't know it, but Katie got upset again. Maryann took her back to the vehicle while I finished talking to Patty. Katie announced again, she was ready to go home. She had candy at home and didn't want anymore. She even added that Colton was ready to go home as well. I didn't say anything and we drove around. When I came across Virginia's house, it was decorated so pretty. I told Katie that I just wanted to take her picture. Hey, anything to get her out there and warmed up. After visiting with Virginia for a little bit, Katie was finally feeling good and ready to find another house to see their decorations. YES! Thank you dear God above.

I have to tell you this one house we went to was FUNNY. By this time, Katie's good. She has long forgotten about Michael Myers. We knocked on this one really pretty home and who should answer the door, but Michael Jackson. HAHA! His daddy was dressed up like Obama that had a big sign on his shirt that read "VOTE REPUBLICAN." LOL! It hit my funnybone just right. When we told MJ Happy Halloween, Katie turned to me and Maryann and with a puzzled look she asked "that was another Michael?" As to say, how many Michael's are there?

We were going to stop at another area, but as soon as I spotted another Michael Myers, I drove right on by. We were not going through that again. Katie spotted him and asked if that was Michael with the white face. I just acted like I didn't know what she was talking about.

Front porch of a former co-worker ~ her house was decorated so cute.  Katie had a fit over it.  Virginia had to show Katie how all of the decorations worked.

Katie sitting on Virginia's porch

Katie goes to her first Haunted House

O.K. me saying this I have to clarify myself. A home owner purchased one of these huge $300 haunted house inflatables and placed it in their driveway. Katie had a fit and had to go see it. She told Whitney, "now that was fun!"  So, they had to go through it a few more times.  Our little girl got braver and braver as the night grew on.  She even walked up to a house that had an adult man dressed up as Shrek.  He played the character perfectly.  He had the accent down pat.  Maryann asked him where his donkey was and he played right along, telling us that he has been looking for his donkey and can't find him.  Katie ate it up. 

Whitney and Katie getting candy

Overall, I think Katie had a great time Trick or Treating for the first time. We let her stay up until 10:00, which is a big treat for her. She was bouncing off walls. I guess it was all the candy. Doug said we only had 5 Trick or Treaters come to our door.

Tonight was our Fall Festival at church, we were so tired. Katie didn't like the fact that she missed it, but I think she understands. She got some money from her grandma and grandpa for Halloween. I told her we would go shopping next weekend, if nothing came up. We could go anywhere she wants to go. It would be just her and I. She liked that idea.

I hope you enjoyed our Halloween weekend story.  It was a blast and am so glad that I've got another 365 days to prepare for next years.  LOL!  Now, we've got to get prepared for Thanksgiving.  YAY!  Katie had me read "Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving" to her and Colton as their bedtime story tonight.  She announced that Thanksgiving is her favorite holiday.  Ugh! 

More Halloween Stuff?

You are probably so sick of reading another Halloween decoration or party food blog post from me by now. But guess what? You get to read another one. HAHA!!

I blogged the other day, RIGHT HERE to be exact, listed under the subtitled "Halloween" about decorating a gingerbread Haunted House for the children.  I wanted to add my green grass around the house before I took pictures and posted on the website.  Well wait no further, here it is:

Katie kept shaking the table that's why all the windows look like a drunk person decorated this house.  LOL!

Spider Cupcakes

I first got this idea this time last year from Martha Stewart.  I fell in love with these little cuties as soon as I layed my eyes on them.  I hated that I didn't have enough time to make them last year, but I made sure to make them this year.  Here is last year's post!

Here are my cute little creepy crawlies:

I just feel in love with these and had so much making them.  Katie had a fit over them as soon as she got home from school this afternoon.  I hated to tell her that they are promised to someone else.  These little guys will be part of my "We've Been Booed" project.  I'm sure you remember THIS POST about making your Halloween be more about love and kindness, instead of doing tricks and being all about the candy.  Since that post, I've carefully debated who/whom should receive the "We've Been Booed" treat.  I wanted to make it more about showing my love, kindness and appreciation for others.  I've had a long list of people and organizations that should be awarded this award of kindness.  I would like for this to my first year of a great new tradition and I would like to challenge you to do the same thing.  It doesn't have to be a real big thing and you don't have to give a special someone a homemade treat.  It could be anything, just a show of your appreciation, love and kindness towards someone else.  I've finally selected my person/persons and will be presenting these spider cupcakes sometime tomorrow.  I plan on taking pictures, so I won't reveal the name/names until tomorrow's post.  So stay tuned . . .  (Can you tell that I'm having entirely too much fun with this?  HAHA!)

How Did I Make These Spider Cupcakes? 
Unlike Martha Stewart, I completely believe in boxed cake mixes.  I'm all for semi-homemade!  DUNCAN HINES RULES!!!

What You'll Need
Yellow Cake Mix (Moist is best)
1 container Chocolate Icing
Cupcake Papers
Chocolate Sprinkles
Large Marshmallows
M&Ms (brown, green, blue, orange & red)
Twizzlers (string-pull-a-parts)

InstructionsBlend cake mix as instructed on box.  Usually one box will make 2 dozen cupcakes.  Bake as instructed.
Once the cupcakes are cool, spread icing and begin to decorate the cupcakes to look like spiders.  Use the above picture as a guide.

Tips
Eyes - cut a large marshmallow in half with Kitchen sheers.  Make sure the inside sticky marshmallow is facing forward ~ this helps the M&Ms to stick better.  I put a little icing on the back of the marshmallow to stick to the chocolate sprinkles. 

Legs - Take one long still twisted strings and fold in half; cut.  Fold the twisted strings again and cut.  To make the legs a little shorter, you may want to cut a little more off on the ends.  This just helps the legs from easily snagging and falling off.  Before placing the legs onto the cupcake, I dipped the tip of each leg in chocolate icing and then placing it on the cupcake.  It seemed to help.  You may even want to press down the tip of the leg, to make sure it sticks down in the icing and sprinkles.  

Mommy's Little Bedbugs
Katie wanted her daddy to come visit her in her room.  Next thing I know, they were snugged in bed watching television.  Of course, Colton wanted to be a part of the pajama party.  You know me, I had to have a picture.  Precious Memories are every where. 

Colton was so tired the other day. It was almost time for supper and I knew he just needed a 30 minute rest. Normally, I would put him in his bed for those 30 minutes, but I wanted to see if he would sleep on a kiddie pallet.

He looks so cozy!  He actually stayed there for a little while. 

Katie
Katie is so excited about tomorrow's pumpkin carving day at school.  I guess you could say this is a daughter/daddy day.  Doug is planning to go to school tomorrow, along with all the other daddys and help his little girl carve out a beautiful or scary pumpkin.  I've got one of her Halloween outfits layed out to wear.  Our school has been celebrating Red Ribbon Week.  Everyday, the children have been dressing different or doing different things together.  Today was red shirt day.  Tomorrow is wear a hat/cap day to "put a cap on drug abuse."  Katie's got her cap that Whitney passed down to her laying by her outfit, so she forget it.  I forgot what she's suppose to do or wear on Thursday, but Friday she gets to wear her Halloween costume.

We've got something going on every day until Monday.  When I say everyday, I mean lots of things from the time I get up to the time I go to bed (packed) full.  I hate to say this, but I'll be glad to get a break.  Shew!!!

Ballet

Today, Katie's ballet class was to dress up in either their Giselle Recital costumes or a non-scary costume. I was so hoping she could still fit into her costume 'cause I just had it dry cleaned along with her flower girl dress. Sure enough, it fit like a glove and I was surprised she actually wanted to wear it. I just knew I was headed for a fight over the costume because she REALLY loves her Ariel aka "The Little Mermaid" costume.

I wanted to experiment with the spray on glitter and make-up, to get an idea for Halloween night. Well, I took too much time because we barely made it to practice in time. Oops! We got there as everyone was headed up stairs to practice. Needless to say, I didn't get to take pictures. Darn! Fortunately, I was able to take a few photos before we left the house, which made us even more late. Oh well.

I didn't get to take pictures of Katie this evening with her Ariel costume, like I promised her. I hated it, but I was very limited in time today. Tomorrow is another day and Lord willing another chance.




Halloween Treat
Spider Cupcakes

These Spider Cupcakes are soo adorable! Katie & I will definitely have to try them out.

I found this recipe on Martha Stewart. What a great way to share time with your little begger than make these adorable little spider cupcakes together.

Prep Time: 20 min.
Bake Time: 18-21 min.
Decoration Time: 25 min.
Difficulty: Easy
Yield: Makes 24 cupcakes.

1 box (18.25 oz.) Devil’s Food cake mix
1 can (16 oz.) dark chocolate frosting
1 can (10.5 oz.) chocolate sprinkles
24 large marshmallows
¼ cup M&M’S® Brand Chocolate Candies
48 red or black licorice laces
1 toothpick

1. Prepare the cake mix according to the package instructions.
2. Line cupcake pans with paper-liners. Fill each cup with 2/3 cup of batter.
3. Bake in a preheated 350°F for 18-21 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and cool completely.
4. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the chocolate frosting in a resealable plastic bag.
5. Spread the tops of the cupcakes with the remaining frosting. Then, coat the tops with the chocolate sprinkles.
6. Cut the marshmallows in half crosswise. Using the reserved frosting, attach two marshmallow pieces to each cupcake as eyes. Dot the center of each marshmallow piece with frosting and attach M&M’S® Brand Chocolate Candies. Then, attach another marshmallow piece with frosting and attach M&M’S® Brand Chocolate Candies for the mouth.
7. Cut each licorice lace into four equal pieces. Press four holes into 2 sides of each cupcake using the toothpick. Insert a licorice piece into each hole for each spider’s legs, 8 pieces per cupcake.

Halloween Song
Katie enjoyed me singing her this song. Sing the song below to the tune of "Mary Had A Little Lamb." The part she loved was when you get to the "BOO." I would really express this word as to scare her. She'd start squealing and giggling, "do it again."

Pumpkin Time
Pumpkin time is here again,
Time to play trick or Treat.
Pumpkin time is here again,
Our Spooky friends we'll meet.

See the costumes we have on,
Monsters, ghosts, goblins too.
See the costumes we have on,
Hear us all shout "BOO!"