Tag: favors

“No Tricks just Treats”… by Trenda

It’s almost here … the most “spook-tacular”  evening of the year!  The days in October have slowly “peeled off the calendar” until finally, to the children’s delight, the “countdown” and last preparations for this very special night of costumes, late-night curfews, lots of candy, and fun are winding down.

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It’s Halloween Night!

Unfurl the tablecloth, set out the plates,

put out the punch bowl, if tarnished, that’s great!

Pumpkins by moonlight, a cauldron of sweets!

There’s Reese’s, and candy corn, Kit’s Kat’s galore!

If there’s not plenty, the ghosts are forlorn!

C’mon, let’s hurry … it’s Halloween night!

Giggles and doorbells, signal the start.

Small faces peering ‘neath masks, some quite scary!

Proffer bags, shouting, “Boo … trick or treat!”    

by Trenda

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Getting the “table set” for our traditional family chili dinner and desserts (before all the hay rides, dunking booths, bounce houses, and slides …at the Harvest Festival, held at our church.  It’s a “Happy Halloween” indeed when I get to see all our family and grandchildren! (:

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Pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins …

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I LOVE everything about these cupcake liners “Simply Baked – elegant entertaining everyday by Christy Designs, LLC.” … the playful design with scalloped edges and black stripes against the orange background; how sturdy they are compared to traditional cupcake liners, how easy it was to pour the batter in these little baking cups … and the easy clean up.  My cookie sheet was clean after baking my cupcakes!  I bought my Baking Cups (20 paper baking cups per container) at Home Goods for only $1.99!  Here they are setting on my cookie sheet, when I was filling them.  Directions on the clear plastic sleeve they are packaged in, says to fill each baking cup, 1/2 full.  Tip:  One of my favorite time savers and tricks is to use a baking funnel (I bought mine at a Kitchen Supply shop) to fill my baking cups and cupcake liners! 

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Here are the cupcakes after baking, frosted with vanilla frosting and topped with miniature bats and ghost sprinkles. Tip 2:  When in a hurry, use your favorite tub of frosting.  Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to the tub of frosting for a homemade flavor, stir well to combine.  To color white frosting, use food coloring (I use Wilton’s concentrated gel for coloring my frosting, to create the bold orange color I wanted, without thinning my icing.)

Halloween sweets … Chocolate cupcakes with vanilla frosting and “Cake Mix” Candy Corn CookiesPicCollage[612].png

Our Traditional Halloween Dinner Menu

Chili con Carne with toppings … Fritos, shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped onions, and diced jalapenos (recipe in subsequent post)

Tossed Salad with Iceberg Lettuce and Fresh Spinach, diced red onions, chopped celery, chopped red onions, sliced radishes and peperoncini

Desserts:  Chocolate Cupcakes w/vanilla buttercream frosting and “Cake Mix” Candy Corn Cookies (recipe in subsequent post)

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” … the moon and the stars to govern the night; His love endures forever …”  Psalms 136:9

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Hope you have a safe and fun-filled day and evening with those that make your face and heart smile!

From my cottage to yours  ~  Trenda

Thank you so much for spending some time with me today!  I’d love to hear from you and I am truly delighted, reading what you have to say.  Please leave any questions you may have or comments, below.  Don’t be dismayed if you don’t see your comment “appear” right away.  Word Press checks everything I receive for SPAM and all have to be approved, before posting.

Pumpkin Spice Latte with Candied Spoons & Decorative Autumn Chocolates … by Trenda

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I love “the tastes of autumn” … yummy pumpkin pies and apple crisps, spicy chili’s and homemade stews, creamy hot chocolate’s and pumpkin latte’s!   This weekend you may be raking leaves, carving pumpkins, going to a Harvest Festival, or enjoying a hayride.  Whatever you’re doing, wouldn’t you love knowing you have a delicious pumpkin-spice latte simmering in your slow cooker, to enjoy after you’re finished?

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Here is the recipe for Betty Crocker’s Pumpkin-Spice Latte that is prepared in a slow cooker!

Pumpkin-Spice Latte

Ingredients:

5 cups strong brewed coffee
4 cups milk (2% or whole)
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Garnish: whipped cream topping, cinnamon or pumpkin spice, cinnamon stick

Directions:
1) In slow cooker, mix all ingredients except whipped cream topping. Beat with whisk until well combined.
2) Cover and cook on High heat setting 2 hours, stirring once after 1 hour.
3) Serve in mugs, top with whipped cream, add a cinnamon stick and sprinkle whipped cream with cinnamon or pumpkin spice, if desired.

Autumn Drink Station with White Chocolate stirring spoons and decorative chocolates …

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White Chocolate Dipped Stirring Spoons for Pumpkin-Spice Latte’s …

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I love adding little “touches” that make every occasion special and memorable.  These decadent treats will add a festive touch to any get-together!  The chocolate spoons and candied stirrer’s look charming “gathered” and waiting in a container where your latte is simmering!  They’re delicious stirred into a mug of pumpkin-spice latte or scatter the candied leaves and pumpkins on a autumn platter to nibble on!

Candied Leaves and Pumpkins …

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Instructions to make … Chocolate-coated Stirring Spoons

Supplies and ingredients needed … plastic spoons, wax paper, Wilton Melting Candy, and assorted sprinkles.  Optional: cellophane candy bags, ribbon in your choice of colors.  Pick colored spoons in your choice of colors.  I wanted my colors to be in autumn shades, so I used orange, yellow, and lime-green plastic spoons.  Pour your Wilton Melting Candy Discs into microwaveable containers. I bought my candy at Hobby Lobby on the candy making aisle and chose white chocolate colored in the same autumn colors as my spoons … orange, yellow, and lime-green.  Follow the melting directions on the back of each bag of candy.  After the candy has melted, stir until smooth and dip the colored spoon into the candy, coating the bowl of your spoon.  Set your candy-coated spoon on wax paper with  the candy side facing up.  You can leave your candy plain, or sprinkle the chocolate with your choice of decorations or colored sugars.  After my chocolate had hardened, I slipped a cellophane favor bag (found on the candy making aisle) over each spoon and tied a ribbon around it.

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To make white chocolate autumn leaves you will need a candy mold.  I bought mine at Hobby Lobby, on  sale for only $2.00!  The package I bought had 2 sheets of molds and made 16 leaves and 12 pumpkins.  Instructions for molding candy are on the back of the package. Melt your candies according to directions on the back of the bag and spoon your candy into your mold.  Note: This is not an exact process and any over-filling or spills can be trimmed away with a sharp knife, after the candy has hardened.  After you have filled your molds, tap your sheet of candy gently on the counter to help the candy settle and remove any air bubbles.  Place candy sheet in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes.  Release hardened chocolate by inverting mold and gently tapping it on the work surface.

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The leaves with lollipop sticks were made using another candy mold sheet. These special candy mold sheets have slots to insert your sticks in, before pouring the candy into the mold.

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I hope you enjoy this last weekend in October and that you have as much fun as I did making these special treats!  I’m looking forward to my cup of Pumpkin-Spice Latte! (:

From my cottage to yours  ~  Trenda

Thank you so much for spending some time with me today!  I’d love to hear from you and I am truly delighted, reading what you have to say.  Please leave any questions you may have or comments, below.  Don’t be dismayed if you don’t see your comment “appear” right away.  Word Press checks everything I receive for SPAM and all have to be approved, before posting.

 

Halloween DIY Treat Bags and Candy-Coated Ghost Peeps …….. by Trenda from Cottage Green on the Lake

Part 2 of “A Halloween of Memory Past” (Click on Part 1 of … A Halloween of Memory Past from previous post “Jolly Jack-o-Lantern Halloween Wreath” by Trenda)

PicCollage[439].pngHalloween of Memory Past by Trenda ~ cont’d from previous post “DIY Jolly Jack-o-Lantern Halloween Wreath”

As we walked up the sidewalk, I would size up each house, trying to determine if first … anyone was home and would answer the door and second … what kind of treat would be handed out.  My experiences had already taught me that behind the door of an unwelcoming house, there always seemed to be a stale bit of peanut butter taffy wrapped in orange or black paper.  Whereas, the brightly lit homes with welcoming porch lights and cheer-y doorbells seemed to house people who would fane surprise that there were spooks at their door and would generously grab into their bowl of treats and distribute a handful of goodies!  …………………………… by Trenda

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Recalling my memories of Halloween’s Past, I love making special treats and stuffing little treat bags for each of the masquerader’s coming to 0ur home!  Look at these cute little Halloween bags.  They were so easy and fun … to make and fill!  My treat bags are filled with a little trac of Knock-knock jokes, vampire teeth (complete with a packet of red watermelon-flavored goo, to squish out like blood!) Halloween candies, and Jack-o-Lantern rings.  I also made some bigger sized bags for our own precious goblins (a cheerleader and a vampire!) and concocted these extra-special treats … Candy-Coated Ghost Peeps and Harvest Moon Pies

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I bought the larger sized handled Kraft bags at Hobby Lobby, 5 for $1.99 and the smaller ones at Michael’s, 6 for $2.99.  I stamped each bag with black ink from my “Pigment” black ink pad and used 2 cute stamps I “found” on sale at Hobby Lobby!   To dress up my little bag, but wanting to keep it, simple … I tied a piece of raffia into a bow on each handle.  I love the “scarecrow-look” of this rustic little bag with the straw bow!

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Now, for some fun and easy treats to make and put into each treat bag!  These darling little Ghost Peeps are dressed for Halloween with a “coat” of candy (;  and are adorned with bright polka dots, sprinkles, nonpareils’ and a fun assortment of Halloween pumpkins, bats, and mini ghosts. 

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Pictured below are all the supplies needed to make the Ghost Peep Pops.  Tip: I melted my candy melts in tea cups so I wouldn’t have to use so many melts, but would have enough “candy depth”  to coat the bottom of each ghost.

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Then I inserted a Halloween straw (I bought mine from Home Goods) into the bottom of each ghost and propped the chocolate coated Ghost Pops up, while the candy hardened.  Tip:  I found that my toaster made a perfect drying rack! (:  I made sure my toaster was unplugged and then inserted each Ghost Peep Pop into the toaster slots.  The candy hardened up perfectly, without having any side flattened.

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After the candy hardened, I wrapped each ghost in a cellophane candy bag and tied it with a brightly colored polka dot ribbon.

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From my cottage to yours  ~  Trenda

 

Thank you so much for spending some time with me today!  I’d love to hear from you and I am truly delighted, reading what you have to say.  Please leave any questions you may have or comments, below.  Don’t be dismayed when your comment doesn’t “appear” right away.  Word Press checks everything I send or receive for SPAM and all have to be approved, before posting.

Halloween DIY Treat Bags and Candy-Coated Ghost Peeps …….. by Trenda from Cottage Green on the Lake

Part 2 of “A Halloween of Memory Past” (Click on Part 1 of … A Halloween of Memory Past from previous post “Jolly Jack-o-Lantern Halloween Wreath” by Trenda)

PicCollage[439].pngHalloween of Memory Past by Trenda ~ cont’d from previous post “DIY Jolly Jack-o-Lantern Halloween Wreath”

As we walked up the sidewalk, I would size up each house, trying to determine if first … anyone was home and would answer the door and second … what kind of treat would be handed out.  My experiences had already taught me that behind the door of an unwelcoming house, there always seemed to be a stale bit of peanut butter taffy wrapped in orange or black paper.  Whereas, the brightly lit homes with welcoming porch lights and cheer-y doorbells seemed to house people who would fane surprise that there were spooks at their door and would generously grab into their bowl of treats and distribute a handful of goodies!  …………………………… by Trenda

PicCollage[437].png

Recalling my memories of Halloween’s Past, I love making special treats and stuffing little treat bags for each of the masquerader’s coming to 0ur home!  Look at these cute little Halloween bags.  They were so easy and fun … to make and fill!  My treat bags are filled with a little trac of Knock-knock jokes, vampire teeth (complete with a packet of red watermelon-flavored goo, to squish out like blood!) Halloween candies, and Jack-o-Lantern rings.  I also made some bigger sized bags for our own precious goblins (a cheerleader and a vampire!) and concocted these extra-special treats … Candy-Coated Ghost Peeps and Harvest Moon Pies

PicCollage[484].png

I bought the larger sized handled Kraft bags at Hobby Lobby, 5 for $1.99 and the smaller ones at Michael’s, 6 for $2.99.  I stamped each bag with black ink from my “Pigment” black ink pad and used 2 cute stamps I “found” on sale at Hobby Lobby!   To dress up my little bag, but wanting to keep it, simple … I tied a piece of raffia into a bow on each handle.  I love the “scarecrow-look” of this rustic little bag with the straw bow!

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Now, for some fun and easy treats to make and put into each treat bag!  These darling little Ghost Peeps are dressed for Halloween with a “coat” of candy (;  and are adorned with bright polka dots, sprinkles, nonpareils’ and a fun assortment of Halloween pumpkins, bats, and mini ghosts. 

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Pictured below are all the supplies needed to make the Ghost Peep Pops.  Tip: I melted my candy melts in tea cups so I wouldn’t have to use so many melts, but would have enough “candy depth”  to coat the bottom of each ghost.

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Then I inserted a Halloween straw (I bought mine from Home Goods) into the bottom of each ghost and propped the chocolate coated Ghost Pops up, while the candy hardened.  Tip:  I found that my toaster made a perfect drying rack! (:  I made sure my toaster was unplugged and then inserted each Ghost Peep Pop into the toaster slots.  The candy hardened up perfectly, without having any side flattened.

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After the candy hardened, I wrapped each ghost in a cellophane candy bag and tied it with a brightly colored polka dot ribbon.

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From my cottage to yours  ~  Trenda

 

Thank you so much for spending some time with me today!  I’d love to hear from you and I am truly delighted, reading what you have to say.  Please leave any questions you may have or comments, below.  Don’t be dismayed when your comment doesn’t “appear” right away.  Word Press checks everything I send or receive for SPAM and all have to be approved, before posting.

DIY Autumn Leaf Drink Markers …… by Trenda from Cottage Green on the Lake

It’s time to hang our autumn wreath on the front door; time to put out “Hal” … our wooden scarecrow with a green trellis backdrop and spunky black crow perched on the railing, and time for home fragrances and candles in mellow, spicy scents of autumn.  It’s time for the magical transformation of our home, putting “touches” of the season on tabletops, mantles, and throughout each room that reflect the warm, cozy feeling of autumn. <!–more–>

So far, the chandelier is dressed for autumn with leaves, grape clusters and a draping of golden acorns.

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And … summer decor on the buffet is slowly being replaced with pumpkins, bushy-tailed squirrels, and glittered acorns.

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Dressing our home for the fall season includes how I set my table … which dishes I use, which napkins I match up with what napkins rings, and all the other “accoutrements” I have to accent my table … “4theseasons.”

I made the cutest autumn drink markers that I want to show you how to make today.

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I bought all the supplies I needed at Hobby Lobby on the bead/jewelry-making aisle.  The wire loops, tube of assorted beads and cards of autumn leaf buttons were all on this aisle.  The only other item that I used in making these drink markers was a pair of needle nose pliers, which I used in bending one end of the wire loop to slip and secure the drink marker into the eye-hole, after all the beads and leaf were in place.

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These are so easy to make … Just take the size wire hoop that you want to use for your drink marker and begin “threading” beads in whatever order  you choose.  When you have half of the ring filled with beads, put on the size and color of leaf that you want to use for your drink marker and continue threading on the other half of your beads, matching the sequence you used on the first side.  Make sure you leave room at the end of your wire loop to make your fastener.  After all your beads are threaded, bend the very end of your wire hoop so it will slip into the wire eye on the other side of the hoop, and fasten. (Notice how the end opposite the “eye” of the wire hangers are straight before I bent them to make a fastener.  I’ve also turned some of the leaves over so you can see that they are just buttons!)

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Our family get-together’s range from small to large gathering’s so I made lots of drink markers and had fun using all different bead color combinations and sizes of leaves.  We always reserve the biggest leaf for my husband and our youngest grandchild gets the smallest leaf … and everyone remembers which glass is there’s by the color and size of their leaf!

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Now that you know how to make your drink markers, it’s fun to pick out different buttons and beads to make markers for every holiday and occasion. I’ve even bought block letters on the bead aisle and have made one-of-a-kind drink markers for our family using the first initial of every family member. I’ve also made drink markers and added them to wedding gifts as a little “bonus” gift for newly-weds … with their “love” names for each other, spelled out on the drink marker.  Halloween pumpkins and ghosts … Christmas trees and candy canes … Spring flowers and bunny’s … the possibilities are endless!  I hope you have as much fun making these as much as I do!

From my cottage to your’s  ~ Trenda

“Fall” … in love & Harvest Moon Pies by Trenda from Cottage Green on the Lake

“Fall” … in love with the autumn season, colored leaves, cooler days and all things cozy.  Here in Texas, September is just the prelude of the overture to come, but change is in the air; hayfields are filled with freshly baled hay, the little winter coots have returned and last night a gorgeous “harvest moon” rose slowly over the lake. <!–more–>

Now, I think you are going to “Fall” … in love with these darling treats … Harvest Moon Pies.   This idea is from a past addition of Southern Living Magazine and I was delighted to find that these desserts were easy to assemble and  almost too cute to eat!  I know we’re going to need more Moon Pies for Halloween  … to decorate with all things spooky!

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These decorated Moon Pies are a fun addition to any holiday and are a wonderful project for you and your children to enjoy doing together.  Have fun decorating each Moon Pie differently and you’ll finally have a use (if you’re like me!) for all those adorable holiday sprinkles, that seem to amass in your cabinets! (:piccollage1085342.png

I used a wire Maple leaf basket I had tucked away in my “4 the seasons” closet – my sweet hubby built for me!  I put a block of florist foam in the bottom of the basket to anchor and display my Harvest Moon Pies and covered the foam with some shredded black and orange paper I had.  Then, I wrapped each of my decorated Harvest Moon Pies in a cellophane favor bag. (I bought my cellophane bags from Hobby Lobby, they were located on the candy-making aisle along with the Wilton Candy Melts and “lollipop” sticks) and added autumn-colored ribbons around each handle.

I love the novelty of this charming and creative centerpiece, but I also love that they can be given as party favors, since I individually wrapped each of my Harvest Moon Pies!

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HARVEST MOON PIES/ LEVEL: EASY/  YIELD: 1 DOZEN

INGREDIENTS AND ITEMS NEEDED:

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INGREDIENTS & ITEMS NEEDED:

  • 12 lollipop sticks
  • 2 packages Chocolate Flavor Moon Pies (6 to each small package)
  • 1 package vanilla candy melts – orange colored (I used Wilton’s Candy Melts)
  • 1 zip-type plastic bag or cake decorator bag  
  • scissors
  • wax paper
  • assorted sugar cake decorations (I used Wilton’s leaf shaped decorations)
  • assorted seasonal sprinkles
  • ribbon in autumn colors
  • Decorator Icing

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Insert 1 lollipop stick, 2 to 3 inches into marshmallow center of Moon Pie
  2. Microwave candy melts in a glass bowl at Medium (50 percent power) 1 minute or until melted, stirring once. (read detailed instructions on the back of candy bag) Spoon into your plastic bag or cake decorator bag, push air out and seal.
  3.  Snip a small hole in 1 corner of the bag; pipe melted candy around where the lollipop stick meets the Moon Pie to hold it securely in place.  Lay flat on wax paper and let stand until firm.  *SEE NOTE BELOW
  4. Pipe a fun border of melted candy around the edges of the Moon Pie or pipe squiggles across the top; then add sprinkles, cake sugar or attach candy decorations (ie: candy corn, pumpkins, etc.) using melted candies or frosting

*Be sure and help your little ones insert the candy stick into their Harvest Moon Pie and pipe melted candy around lollipop stick for them. 

I hope you “Fall” … in love with these Harvest Moon Pies  and enjoy making and eating them, as much as we did! (:

There are so many thing to love about Fall!

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“Fall … in love with all things pumpkin!

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“Fall … in love with harvest moons and breezy nights

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“Fall” … in love with hay bales gleaming.

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 “Fall” … in love with yellow leaves, lying on the grass.

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“Fall” … in love with children playing … laughing, giggling.

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“Fall” … in love with FALL!

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From my cottage to yours ~ Trenda