31 Days of Halloween 2012 ~ Day 4

{Click for tutorial from PlaidOnline.com}

Grab your favoriate craft store's current coupon and get that apothecary jar! They should also have the Martha Stewart glass paint by Plaid. This is such a cute idea! I'm headed to the Hob Lob tomorrow. Don't fail me now 40% off coupon!



For more 31 Days of Halloween....

MY Not So Scary Halloween Party ~ Day 30

It's Candy the Chandy all dressed up for Halloween!

The Food

Ah Man! There's no more Mummy Dogs?!

More punch Mommy!

Evidently I didn't give him enough punch!

Photo Booth

Happy Halloween!

Witch Finger Cookies ~ Day 4

VIA

There are a million recipes for making these cookies. I personally think the one I've used for the last several years is the yummiest but I'm sharing this one with you today because I think it's quite unique. I haven't seen them dipped in neon candy coating before, have you?

Recipe Ingredients

• 1 can (8 oz) almond paste
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp almond extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• Pinch salt
• 1 cup each green, orange and violet melting wafers (Wilton Candy Melts)
• 2 tsp vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds


Recipe Preparation

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Have baking sheets ready.

2. In large bowl, with electric mixer, beat almond paste and sugar until well blended. Add butter; beat until blended. Beat in egg, vanilla and almond extracts. With mixer on low speed, beat in flour and salt just until blended.

3. Divide dough into three equal pieces. On lightly floured work surface, roll each piece into a 24-in. long rope. Cut each rope into six 4-in.-long pieces. Place about 1 in. apart on baking sheets.
4.Bake 16 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove sheets to wire rack to cool 5 minutes, then remove cookies to rack to cool completely.

5. To decorate:Line baking sheet with wax paper. Melt candy melts according to package directions. Stir in oil and transfer to narrow glasses or cups. Hold cookie by one end and dip into candy melts. Let excess drip off then place on baking sheet and attach sliced almond for fingernail. Chill in refrigerator 5 to 10 minutes, until firm.



MORE TO COME AS.....

...........CONTINUES

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday (WOYWW)

Can you call it your work "desk" if it is, indeed, on the floor? Perhaps.

Can you call it "work" if you will, in fact, never make a dime?
Possibly. I mean there is work involved even if I am not staying on task and doing my "job". You know, that stuff you get paid for doing.

Well, let's hope so at least, because I may or may not have already violated the "desk" portion of WOYWW.

Magazines get me into trouble. Not just because I spend entirely too much money on obtaining them. Also, not just because they pile up all over since I fail to read them in a timely manner. And certainly not just because they have from scratch cinnamon roll recipes on the inside and I do not need to eat cinnamon rolls. Or cakes. Or Cookies. Ever. No really. EVER.

But mostly because I do not need help coming up with project ideas. I have too many of my own and never enough time to do them all. However, that does not stop me from discovering new ones in aforementioned magazines and attempting them. All.

And then there's the whole problem of the project costing more to make than it would just to buy. But you (meaning I) still want to make it anyway. Like this cupcake stand. I am totally making that.

I used to just get your average "home" and "recipe" magazines. Then I ran into the problem of wanting things I could not afford. Unfortunately, that did not stop me from wanting them. Being the innovator that I am, I decide, well, if I can't afford to buy it, perhaps I can make it. Because, you know, I don't have enough to do already. Let's make a coffee table.

That's when I discovered these magazines. Not just the ones that made me want something that I could not have but the ones that showed me how to make that which I wanted but could not afford. And they also coerce me into making that which I did not even know I wanted. But I digress.

I distinctly remember the day I told my husband, 'Let's make a coffee table out of wooden pallets". He looked at me the way he always does when I have another of my crazy ideas (like doing my hair in dreads - which I swear, when it gets longer, I will do). Maybe if I ignore her, she will forget and move on to something less....crazy.

But then there's this. Isn't it a beaut? I really love it when I'm right.

And then this. We picked it up at a junk shop. It had that wood like veneer in a (I'm as good as wood, behold my wood-like grain) brown.

He says to me, 'J, I don't think this is going to work'. Psssh. He should know by now I consider that a challenge.

Here are the bar stools we picked up at a garage sale for $10. Ever the skeptic (what is it with the guys in my house?) he tells me they aren't going to look good. When will he learn? Sorry I don't have a before pic of these. You'll just have to believe me when I tell you they were ugly. But you wouldn't believe that now, right? Right.

But he humors me. This is my Valentine's present. A drill. And my own tool set. Yes. For Valentine's Day. Because if you live with a man you know you can never find the tools because they are not where they are suppose to be. If you have your own set you don't have to mumble curse words under your breath so your kids won't hear while you're searching for the measuring tape. Hammer. Drill. Level.

I do like the hammer that I had before more than I like the one that came with this kit. The new one is too big and heavy. Mine I hijacked from the Lowe's Build and Grow program. It is made for little hands. Maybe not my little hands, but it's perfect so I'm keeping it.

Today, we (meaning me) are making a tree out of MDF to hang on the wall in my son's nursery. So far, my husband has not questioned this project. Perhaps he has learned his lesson?

That's my "Work" "Desk" Wednesday. And then some.

**You can play, too. Click WOYWW for info.

It's That Time of the Month

When I get to cheat on my diet, of course. What did you think I was talking about?

S'mores Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

Found this recipe over at Picky Palate. I'm not going to share it with you. I'm just going to make you wish you were here. Here with a big glass of milk. You can hop over there and get if you like. I'm too lazy to type all of it out. Or copy and paste. It's probably due to the massive blood sugar spike and subsequent drop from eating one of those cookies.



Anything that starts off with two kinds of sugar is alright in my book. And the perfect way to totally ruin a diet. Which was my plan since I only get to do it twice a month.



And then you add the butta because butta makes everything betta.



While that's mixing, it's the perfect time to assemble the S'mores. Yes. Real S'mores. We are actually stuffing them inside the cookie. For real.



It's nice to have a helper for this part. In my case, it was my 7 year old. And if you're a dork like me and you break the graham crackers into halves, then your 7 year old will tell you, 'Mom, these are halves. The recipe says they are suppose to be in fourths', and you'll feel stupid and proud all at the same time.



There. Nice, eh?



Now, you and your helper can head back over to the mixer and add the rest of the ingredients. If your helper is little, make sure they are very, very careful with the mixer, especially those stand mixers.



They can, and will, take your arm off at the elbow. Or your finger. Whichever you're unlucky enough to get caught in there. So be careful. Respect the power of the mixer.



And, personally, I only allow my helper to use setting number one.



Still, tiny hands can slip or judgement can be impaired at the thought of consuming all that sugar and accidents will happen, so never them leave them unattended.



Then you do something that can only be described as ri-damn-diculous.



I had to take a picture with the box of pudding mix to give you an idea just how massive they are. The recipe is suppose to make 12. I wound up with 10. I tried borrowing from one to give to the other but then I just figured 10 is enough. If you made these often enough, and lived through the massive coronary that occured as a result, you'd probably have a good idea how much dough to use in order to make 12. But again, 10 is quite enough.



I mean look at those monsters! I've gotta tell ya, I think I checked them every 30 seconds. I was sure I'd come back to find what looked like a marshmallow bomb had gone off in my oven. But in about 17 minutes I was rewarded with this....



Yes my friends, it is another successful, diet-ruining day.



Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to sleep off this diabetic coma.