Eggnog anyone?

My family loves eggnog during the holidays with a touch of nutmeg.  What is your favorite way to drink Eggnog?

Hugs,

Cindy

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Mmmmmmmmm Shortbread, hubby’s favorite

Ingredients

Makes 8 to 10 wedges.

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1/2 cup confectioners' or granulated sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter an 8 1/2-inch round cake or spring form pan. Sift together flour and salt in a small bowl. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer on medium, cream butter until fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Add sugar, and continue to beat until very light in color and fluffy, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary, about 2 minutes more. Add flour mixture, and beat on low, scraping bowl if necessary, until flour is just incorporated and dough sticks together when squeezed.
2. Pat dough into prepared pan. Use a paring knife to score dough into wedges; prick all over in even intervals with a wooden skewer or fork.
3. Bake until firm in the center and just starting to color, about 50 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack, and let cool completely. Cut into wedges. Cookies will keep, in an airtight container, at room temperature 3 weeks.

Resource from: Martha Stewart

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Goblins Treats

What kid doesn't love Rice Krispies, here are some wonderful treats using this favorite cereal.

KELLOGG'S* RICE KRISPIES* Halloween Cats

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
* 1/4 cup margarine or butter
* 1 (10 ounce) package regular marshmallows
* 6 cups KELLOGG'S* RICE KRISPIES* cereal
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

DIRECTIONS
1. In large microwave safe bowl, melt margarine and marshmallows on HIGH for about 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute. Stir mixture until smooth.
2. Add vanilla and KELLOGG'S* RICE KRISPIES* cereal, stirring until well coated. Allow to cool.
3. Shape half cups of mixture into balls. Best if served same day.

FOOTNOTES
* Stove Top Method:
* Melt margarine in large saucepan over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Follow steps 2 and 3 above.
* In keeping with good allergy practices, we remind you to be aware of allergens and to check labels on any packaged goods used. This recipe has been tested using Kellogg's* products. Results with other products may vary.

This is from the AllRecipes.com website

KELLOGG'S* RICE KRISPIES* Witch's Hat

KELLOGG'S* RICE KRISPIES*


INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)DIRECTIONS
* 1/4 cup margarine or butter
* 1 (10 ounce) package regular marshmallows
* 6 cups KELLOGG'S* RICE KRISPIES* cereal
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
* 1 cup chocolate chips
* Orange tinted coconut
* Candy corn
* Jellied orange slices
* Prepared icing

1. In large microwave safe bowl, melt margarine, one cup of chocolate chips, and marshmallows on HIGH for about 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute.
2. Stir vanilla into mixture until smooth. Add KELLOGG'S* RICE KRISPIES* cereal, stirring until well coated.
3. To form the brim of the witch's hat, pour two cups of the mixture into a 15 cm circle and press to flatten. Place on a 12.5 cm cardboard base. Form the remaining mixture into the pointy part of the hat, 10 cm wide at the base and 15 cm tall. Place crown on brim, securing with toothpicks. Sprinkle brim with orange tinted coconut, and decorate crown with jellied oranges sliced lengthwise in two and candy corn, secured with prepared icing.

FOOTNOTES
* In keeping with good allergy practices, we remind you to be aware of allergens and to check labels on any packaged goods used. This recipe has been tested using Kellogg's* products. Results with other products may vary. Pin It

Goodies Galore

Some more ghostly recipes....



Dracula's Eyes

1/2 cup peanut butter
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
4 ounces vanilla-flavored candy coating
20 candy-coated chocolate pieces, such as M&Ms
Red and black decorator gel icing

In a mixing bowl, stir together peanut butter and butter. Gradually add confectioners' sugar, stirring until combined. Shape mixture into 1-inch balls and place on wax paper. Let stand about 20 minutes or until dry. Melt candy coating over low heat or in microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth. Dip balls, one at a time, into coating, letting excess drip off. Place on wax paper. While coating is soft, immediately press a colored candy piece into each ball. Let stand until coating is firm. (It will dry at room temperature. ) Using red gel, drizzle "veins" onto balls. Add a drop of black gel to center of colored candies to make "pupils." (If you vary the placement of the black gel, you can make the eyes "look" in different directions.)

Spooktacular Chocolate Cupcakes

Ingredients:
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 2 cups sugar
* 3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 3/4 cup shortening
* 3/4 cup buttermilk or sour milk*
* 3/4 cup water
* 2 eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* PEANUT BUTTER CREAM FILLING(recipe follows)
* Assorted candies(optional)
Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line muffin cups (2-1/2 inches in diameter) with paper bake cups.
2. Stir together dry ingredients in large bowl. Add shortening, buttermilk, water, eggs and vanilla. Beat on low speed of electric mixer 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on high speed 3 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.

3. Fill muffin cups 1/2 full with batter. Bake 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely.

4. Prepare PEANUT BUTTER CREAM FILLING; place into pastry bag fitted with large star tip. Insert tip into center of cupcakes; pipe filling into cake. Remove tip from cake; garnish top with swirl of filling. Decorate with candies, if desired. Cover; refrigerate leftover cupcakes. About 3 dozen cupcakes.

PEANUT BUTTER CREAM FILLING
2 packages (3 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup REESE'S Creamy Peanut Butter
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups powdered sugar

Beat cream cheese and peanut butter in large bowl until blended. Add milk and vanilla; beat well. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until smooth. Add additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, if necessary, until desired consistency. About 2-3/4 cups filling.


Graveyard Cupcakes

Tombstones:
12 oval sandwich cookies
1 (.68-ounce) tube red or black writing gel
Trees:
6 black licorice twists
Cupcakes:
12 unfrosted cupcakes, homemade or purchased
1 (16-ounce) container vanilla frosting
Green food coloring
12 candy pumpkins (similar to candy corn)
1. For tombstones: Cut 1/3 off each cookie; pipe "RIP" (Rest in Peace) on large pieces with writing gel; set aside.
2. For trees: Cut each licorice twist in half crosswise. Starting at cut end, cut 6 to 8 "branches" to about halfway down twist; set aside.
3. Tint frosting to desired shade of green. Frost cupcakes. Insert tombstone in center, tree behind and a candy pumpkin in front.
Serves 12. Pin It

Spider and Scarecrow cupcakes

I think these are simply adorable.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups Original Bisquick® mix
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk or water
2 tablespoons shortening
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 egg
1 tub Betty Crocker® Rich & Creamy vanilla or butter cream ready-to-spread frosting
8 fudge-dipped flat-bottom ice-cream cones

Betty Crocker® Fruit Roll-Ups® strawberry chewy fruit snack rolls

Shredded whole wheat cereal biscuits, crushed

Assorted candies, such as candy corn, red string licorice and small gumdrops
32 candy eyes
1 tub Betty Crocker® Rich & Creamy chocolate ready-to-spread frosting
48 large black gumdrops
Black shoestring licorice, cut into 4-inch pieces

1.Heat oven to 375ºF. Place paper baking cup in each of 16 regular-size muffin cups, or grease and flour muffin cups.

2.Beat Bisquick mix, sugar, milk, shortening, vanilla and egg in large bowl on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on medium speed 4 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Fill muffin cups about half full.

3.Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Immediantly remove from pan; cool completely. Frost and decorate cupcakes as directed below for Scarecrows and Hairy Spiders. Scarecrows: Frost 8 cupcakes with vanilla frosting. Decorate each ice-cream cone with bow made with fruit rolls. Place ice-cream cone upside down on each cupcake for hat. Arrange crushed cereal on cupcakes for hair. Use candy corn for nose, red licorice and small gumdrops for mouth and candy eyes for eyes.Hairy Spiders: Frost 8 cupcakes with chocolate frosting. Squeeze large black gumdrops, one at a time, through garlic press to form hair; arrange on cupcakes. Insert black licorice pieces into cupcakes for legs. Place candy eyes on large black gumdrops for eyes. Pin It

A sweet treat

While doing some research for some new ideas for Halloween, I came across this wonderful idea of S'mores in a jar.  The below is taken from Organized Christmas.

 

Ingredients

• 1 canning jar, quart-size with lid and ring
• 1 sleeve graham crackers (about 10 crackers or 1 1/2 cups of crushed crackers)
• 1 large package seasonal peeps ® brand marshmallow candies
• 1⁄3 c brown sugar, packed
• 1 1⁄4 c chocolate chips or seasonal m&ms brand milk chocolate candies

Instructions

1. Place graham crackers in a zipper freezer food storage bag. Use a rolling pin or meat tenderizer to crush crackers into crumbs. (You'll need about 1 1/2 cup of crushed crumbs: one "sleeve" of graham crackers, or about 10 whole crackers equals 1 1/2 cup when crushed.)

2. Place graham cracker crumbs into quart-sized canning jar. Use a meat tenderizer to pack crumbs tightly into the bottom of the jar.

3. Place Peeps candies against the glass on all sides of the canning jar. Press lightly to create a well in the center of the jar. (You'll use approximately 2/3rds of the package; our Halloween recipe used 6 of a 9-pack package of Ghost Peeps.)

4. Add brown sugar to the space in the center of the Peeps, pressing gently to pack.

5. Gently add chocolate chips or M&Ms to the top of the canning jar. Seal jar with lid and sealer ring.

6. Embellish jar with fabric circle, ribbon or raffia.

7. Print a free printable gift tag, or create your own tag with the recipe below:

Notes

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Print free printable gift tags for S'Mores In A Jar:

Halloween S'Mores In A Jar Gift Tag

Harvest S'Mores In A Jar Gift Tags

---

S'Mores In A Jar Recipe

Empty jar into large bowl. Remove marshmallows and combine remaining ingredients, mixing well.

Snip marshmallows into small pieces with scissors. Return to bowl; stir into dry mix.

Melt 1/2 cup butter, and add melted butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1/3rd cup buttermilk to bowl. Mix well.

Press lightly into greased 9-by-9 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

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Halloween Goodies

 Old Fashion Popcorn Balls

10 cups popped popcorn
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup water
2/3 cup molasses
1 teaspoon white vinager
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter

Combine sugar, water, molasses, vinager and salt in a saucepan and
bring to a slow boil without stiring until mixture reaches 270F or
until "hard ball" stage. (forms hard balls when dropped into cold water)

Remove from heat and melt in butter. Pour over popcorn in a large bowl
and mix together. "butter" hands and form into balls and place on wax
paper to cool. Caution mixture will be VERY hot and butter on your
hands will help with the heat and the stickiness.

Wrap popcorn balls into clear plastic wrap or cool Halloween bags
topped with ribbons.

For more Halloween ideas, recipes or goodies:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Halloween-Express/

Caterpillar Cocoons

INGREDIENTS:

1 8-oz. tube refrigerated crescent rolls

8 breakfast sausages

1 squeeze bottle yellow mustard

PREPARATION:

Preheat oven according to directions on the crescent-roll package. Prepare the sausages according to the directions on the package. Remove from frying pan and allow to cool ten to fifteen minutes. Separate the crescent-roll dough into its pre-cut triangle pieces, and lay them flat on an ungreased cookie sheet. Place one sausage on each, squeeze a thin line of mustard on each. Roll and close all ends. Bake according to package instructions.

Creepy Crawly Spider Cookies

2 cups (12-ounces) semisweet chocolate chips, divided use
1/2 cup crispy-rice cereal
1/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1 1/2 cups chow mein noodles
1 small tube decorator frosting (optional)

Place 1 cup of chocolate chips in a 2 to 4 cup glass measure. Heat on HIGH in the microwave for 1 minute. Remove, stir, and heat on HIGH for 1 minute. Let set for 1 minute and stir until chips are melted. Or melt chocolate chips in a heavy saucepan over low heat until melted.
Mix in the cereal and the coconut. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper for the spider bodies.
Melt the second cup of chocolate chips. Gently stir in chow mein noodles (being careful not to break noodles up). Pick noodles out one by one and attach them to the spider bodies for legs (8 to a spider).
Add dots of frosting for eyes, if desired. Leftover chocolate noodles can be spooned onto waxed paper for additional treat.

 

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More Halloween Goodies

I just wanted to share a few more Halloween goodies.  Enjoy!

Vampire's Blood Shake

This blood-red shake is healthy and fun for your kids at Halloween.

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups plain yogurt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 package frozen strawberries or raspberries, thawed
ice cubes
1 pint strawberry ice cream

PREPARATION:
Mix yogurt, vanilla, and berries in the blender. Pour into tall glasses over ice cubes and top with a large spoonful of strawberry ice cream.

Chocolate Party Cake

1 pkg. (18 oz) devil's food cake mix
1 (3 oz) pkg.cook and serve chocolate pudding mix
1 envelope whipped topping mix
1 C. water
1/4 C. vegetable oil
4 eggs
Mocha Rum Icing:
2 T. butter softened
2 C. confectioners sugar
1/3 C. baking cocoa
2 T. refrigerated nondairy creamer
1/2 t. rum extract
2-3 T. brewed coffee
chopped pecans, optional
In a large mixing bowl, combine the first 6 ingredients; beat on low speed for 30 seconds.  Beat on medium for 4 minutes.  Pour into a greased and floured 10" fluted tube pan.
Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
For icing, in a small mixing bowl, beat the butter, confectioners sugar cocoa, creamer, extract, and enough coffee to achieve desired consistency.  Drizzle over cake.  Garnish with pecans if desired.
Makes 12 servings.

Halloween Snack Mix

1/2 c. blood drops (red hots)
1/2 c. cats eyes (blanched almonds) or (gum drops)
1/2 c. cats claws (sunflower seeds)
1 c. chicken toenails (candy corn)
1 c. colored flies (M & M's)
1 c. butterfly wings (corn chips)
1 c. ants (raisins)
1 c. earthworms (cheese curls)
1 c. cobwebs (Triscuits) or (Golden Grahams)
1 c. snakes eyes (peanuts)
1 c. bats bones (shoestring potatoes)

Mix together in a large bowl. Serve with several pints of blood (cherry punch)

Halloween Caramel Apples

From Taste of Home

A chocolate drizzle sprinkled with crushed candy makes ordinary
caramel apples especially yummy-like the fancy ones in some candy
shops. Be sure to start with the apples at room temperature so the
caramel won't slip off like it tends to on chilled apples.

SERVINGS 8

METHOD Microwave
PREP 15 min.
TOTAL 15 min.

INGREDIENTS
1 package (11-1/2 ounces) milk chocolate chips
2 tablespoons shortening
2 packages (14 ounces each) caramels
1/4 cup water
8 large tart apples, room temperature
8 Popsicle sticks
3 to 4 Butterfinger candy bars (2.1 ounces each), coarsely crushed

DIRECTIONS
In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir
until smooth and set aside. In another microwave-safe bowl, microwave
the caramels and water, uncovered, on high for 1 minute; stir. Heat
30-45 seconds longer or until caramels are melted; stir until smooth.
Line a baking sheet with waxed paper and grease the paper; set
aside. Wash and thoroughly dry apples. Insert a Popsicle stick into
each; dip into caramel mixture, turning to coat. Place on prepared
pan. Drizzle with melted chocolate. Sprinkle with crushed candy bars.
Refrigerate until set. Remove from the refrigerator 5 minutes before
serving; cut into wedges. Yield: 8 servings.

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Boo-licous recipes

As a child we all love Halloween and a way that mom can make it more special for them it to make some yummy halloween treats. Over the next several days I will post some fun recipes to make your night fun and festive. (Recipes gathered from a wonderful online group that I belong too)

Ghoul-Ade

This Halloween punch recipe is made with Kool-Aide and ginger ale.

INGREDIENTS:
1 Envelope Kool-Aid grape flavor unsweetened mix
1 Envelope Kool-Aid orange flavor unsweetened mix
2 Cups sugar
3 Quarts cold water
1 Bottle(quart) ginger ale -- chilled

PREPARATION:
Mix Kool Aid's together with sugar in large pitcher. Add water and mix. Just before serving, add ginger ale.

Bug Juice

If you are looking for a special beverage to serve at a teen Halloween party, try this recipe.

INGREDIENTS:
1 Can HiC Ecto Cooler(the green kind)
2-2 liter Sprite
1 container green sherbert

PREPARATION:
Mix first two ingredients in large punch bowl, add sherbert to keep the mix cool. This recipe can be doubled, tripled, etc. Pin It

Patriotic Celebration

I know that Mothers Day is just around the corner, but saw a wonderful idea for decorating and celebrating Memorial Day/4th of July/Veteran's Day.

A Fabulous Picnic

A picnic decked out in America’s favorite colors makes the Fourth of July fun. Set a grand old table with red, white and blue paper plates, paired with rolled-up napkins in red and blue picnic plaids. Use plastic knives, forks and spoons, and you can ditch the dishwashing!

Summer’s all about simplicity, so keep the decorating low-key. Tape small paper flags around the edges of a white paper tablecloth with hook-and-loop tape. If someone spills, no worries – it’ll all be pitched after the party, anyway.  Make the punchbowl your centerpiece. Fill it with sea blue party punch, crowned with a silver-blue waterfall “sparkler,” a sure way to start the day off with a bang. Attach mini “sparklers” to drink straws to reinforce the theme. Ice soft drinks in red metal tubs, heat up the grill and let the fireworks begin.

Three cheers for the red, white and blue – and a quick cleanup, too! Making a tablescape pop is a snap with these timesaving tips:

• Keep it casual with paper plates in mix and match colors. To dress things up, serve drinks in plastic goblets. It feels festive, but they’re all throwaway.
• If the party's outside - or even inside - try plastic silverware. It comes in all colors and makes cleanup a breeze.
• Mix your punch to match your colors. (It's easy with food coloring.) Here, the blue hue is refreshingly patriotic.
• Place a glass punchbowl in the middle of your table for a showy centerpiece. If you don't have a punchbowl, borrow one, or buy an inexpensive acrylic one from a party warehouse.
• Show off your creativity. Add silver and blue "sparklers" to the punchbowl and glasses to give your table extra sizzle. Spray paint small terra cotta pots white and fill with red candies for an outdoorsy treat.

Contents of this post taken from Semi-Homemade

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