Looking for a  quick Halloween treat to make with your kids for a class party or treat bags?  Something cute to surprise nieces, nephews, grandchildren or neighborhood kids?  These are it! 

Your kids can make these by themselves – mine did…these were made by a 9 year old boy and 6 year old girl…they had a blast and can tell their friends proudly  ”I made these for you”!  If you want to make your own marshmallows click here for a recipe.

Just walk them through the steps and watch over them  as they create and have fun!

These are just as easy as the Edible Eyeballs – Which you and your kids can whip up in a snap!

Marshmallow Treats

1 bag of marshmallows

1 cup of chocolate chips

Decorations of your choice

Lollipop sticks (optional)

Place a piece  of parchment or wax paper on a baking sheet.  Set the number of marshmallows you wish to dip on the sheet.  If you choose to use lollipop sticks (which you do not have to, these are just as cute on a plate) insert them now..push down and “screw” them in…to about the center of each marshmallow, while gently holding them in your hand.  Replace on baking sheet.  Have small bowls ready partially filled with the decorations of your choosing.   Melt the chocolate chips in your microwave for 45 seconds to a minute, give them a stir.  If they melt and become smooth you are good to go.  If not microwave for an additional 15 seconds , stir until smooth.

Holding the sides of your marshmallow, one at a time dip them into the chocolate, coating  just the top, then “tap..tap” into your decorations.  Place on baking sheet. 

Once finished,  place baking sheet in your cold garage or refrigerator for 15 minutes or until firm.  You can bag them individually with ribbon and a tag to give out.

Happy Halloween!   Have fun and be safe!

Posted October 27th, 2010 by Colleen in Colleen, Desserts, Halloween, Kid Fun | 2 Comments »

Share/Bookmark

What do you think of when you think of Fall?

The temperature begins to dip, the daylight gets shorter, we begin getting excited for upcoming holidays and hockey and football are in full swing!

Do you think of the beautiful falling leaves and the colorful pumpkins of every size popping up everywhere?

I do!  Come Fall each year my kids and I go crazy roasting pumpkins and turning them into fall favorites like, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin risotto and these adorable Pumpkin Cupcakes!

These cupcakes are not just tasty they have the perk of vitamins too from the all mighty vitamin packed pumpkin!  Ages 2-6 would be great helpers making these.  Ages 7-16 can do it on their own if they are comfortable in the kitchen!

Pumpkins are an amazing source of vitamins and minerals too.
The amount of Vitamin A in a pumpkin is staggering…the vitamin A will help keep your eyes healthy! Pumpkins are also a source of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, potassium, manganese, copper, riboflavin (a B vitamin), iron, folate, B6, niacin and more!  Whew!

Pumpkin Cupcakes

1/2 c butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups cooked pumpkin *(1 small/med pumpkin) or canned pumpkin (not pumpkin filling)
2 TBS brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla

*You can use pumpkin puree in place of roasting a pumpkin.  To learn how to roast a pumpkin, click on the link above for pumpkin muffins.

Beat butter and sugar until creamy.  Add in pumpkin mixture or puree and eggs and beat until incorporated.  In a medium bowl add flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, whisk until combined. Add dry ingredients to your batter and blend until combined.

Fill your cupcake pan – either using cupcake liners or greasing your pan well.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until tester inserted comes out clean

Cream Cheese Icing

4 oz cream cheese, room temperature

1 TBS butter, room temperature

dash of vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Your favorite fall sprinkles

Use a hand or stand mixer and beat cream cheese and butter until smooth, add in the vanilla (more if you love vanilla) and the powdered sugar, mix until smooth.

Once cupcakes are completely cool , spread or pipe onto each cupcake and decorate as you wish!

Happy Cooking!

Posted October 22nd, 2010 by Colleen in Colleen, Desserts, Halloween, Snacks, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

Share/Bookmark

                              Have you ever been “BOOED”? 

My kids are 8 and 6 and we first got “Booed” 4 years ago and let me tell you, it has been such fun ever since!  

When Iwas a kid it was all about Soap Night and Mischief Night (an no I did not participate thank you).  

These days it’s about planning your list of “victims” to BOO, then creating something fun to leave behind and giggling as a family as you do it.  Seriously folks…THIS is FUN!!

First you type the note: 

                                     BOO!

                    Today we left you a treat

  The tradition is fun and we hope you will repeat

               Tape this ghost to your front door

  To let the others know you need be ghosted no more

           Now it’s your duty to pass on the surprise

            To three more families we must advise

          Gather some treats and deliver them soon

                Within two nights under the moon

          Include a ghost with each package you give

          Along with this poem for the tradition to live!

                                Happy Halloween!

Along with the note have your kids draw and cut out 3 separate ghosts to include in the package you leave behind.

My kids LOVE coming up with what to put in our packages…Halloween Stickers, candy, home made cookies, our signature

Edible Eyeballs and any other small trinket we come across.  This year we painted some canning jars orange, painted black features to mimic a jack o lantern and put tea lights inside for a cool glow…that is what we are leaving behind along with a sweet treat! 

When the big night comes, usually a few nights before Halloween, we dress in black…my husband pulls his big black truck slowly near (but not to close) to the target home, he turns off the headlights then slowly rolls into a hiding spot.  Next the kids and I spring into action!  My daughter and I hide in the bushes, my son (the oldest) runs up to the front door, rings the doorbell and runs like a crazy man to a hiding spot…we watch as the porch light comes on, the door is opens, folks look around (and sometimes don’t look down and close the door lol) then if it was a parent…they call for their kids when they realize what has happened…the kids come…ecstatic…and peek all around trying to guess “who did it”, then claim their “prize” and head inside…when it is “safe” the kids and I run back to the truck, laugh and tell Dad the story of how it all went down!  Then we prepare for our next stop.

Oh…and I have to admit…we do more than 3…it’s just to fun!

Hope you enjoy trying this fun family activity with your neighbors, friends and family!

Do you have any Halloween traditions?

Posted October 17th, 2010 by Colleen in Colleen, Halloween, Kid Fun, Uncategorized | 5 Comments »

Share/Bookmark

I love bringing kids imaginations to life!
Years ago for my son’s Halloween birthday party I was looking for a way to make edible “eyeballs” on the table a way that kids would actually eat and enjoy, I knew those little people were NOT touching an olive lol! So, I added a twist on those pretzel snacks that were showing up at holidays, turning them into “eyeballs” and the kids have loved it ever since…I mean all the kids…My sons class is always asking him to make them and bring them in! My children both have severe nut allergies to both tree and peanuts – so we make most of our treats at home.
Your kids will have a blast making, eating and sharing these!

Eyeballs
round or square pretzels
white chocolate disks
chocolate chips
red jimmies

On a baking sheet, place pretzels in a single layer. Put one white chocolate disk in the center of each pretzel. Place in a 350 degree oven for approx 3-4 minutes or until chocolate is shiny but not melted or falling through the pretzel.
Remove from the oven and sprinkle with red jimmies. Invert one chocolate chip in the center of each disk. Cool in your fridge or cold garage for 20 minutes and they will remain hard until ready to eat. They keep well for a week in a sealed container.

Happy Cooking!

Posted October 13th, 2010 by Colleen in Colleen, Halloween, Snacks | 16 Comments »

Share/Bookmark