Pumpkin Carving Party ~ Halloween 2010

Since Halloween is my families favorite holiday, we always celebrate with a party!

I bought these rising hand picks from my grocers bakery and made my own dirt topped cupcake - you know the dirt is actual Oreo crumbs, right!?!?!I re-purposed my blue beverage tin to a more useful black colored one. I also sprayed on a little black chalkboard paint for a little more fun!Time to eat! Spanakopita, pigs in a blanket, honey BBQ chicken bites, shrimp cocktail, buffalo chicken dip, pizza rolls and sweet -n- sour meatballs!And Mama's homemade candy apples too!When the kids first entered, they made Halloween candy necklaces :) My eldest is such a ham!Then my guests and kids enjoyed pumpkin carving. We had plenty of patterns, pokers, knives and helpers to go around!Most of the helpers were "taker-overers" ... the Dad's really got into it!My boys didn't get any help, I was too busy checking on our guests and Daddy was still recovering from our neighbor's Halloween party from the night before ;)My son's fabulous pumpkin! I love it! And the white pumpkin smells devine as you carve it, kind like cucumber melon! We love white pumpkins around here!Apple bobbing... I am so glad the other parents didn't have the birds eye view I had, they WOULD NOT have let their kids stick their heads in that bucket. Kids can be icky sometimes !!!

And then we went trick or treating with a few friends and happened upon this house in my neighborhood. They only set this display up on Halloween morning just for the trick or treaters! They put so much heart and soul into it and it shows! No pun intended!

Thanks for stopping by!
Rachel

Happy Halloween Hostess Gift

I made this fun hostess gift for my neighbor to thank her for inviting us to her annual Halloween bash. Enclosed in the personalized cauldron is a green pillar sitting on top of a pillar holder that looks like Frankensteins legs (from Michaels).

I purchased the purple and black overlayed witches hat from the dollar section of Target. I added the boa ($1 - Joanns) and ribbon (Dollar Tree) as well as loaded the cauldron with tissue paper. I found the purple glittery broom at Joanns for a little less than $4 after their 60% off sale. I thought it was a great addition to the gift!

Have a safe and fun Halloween!!!
~Rachel

I am so very proud

of my 8 year old! Zach created, gutted and carved his very own Jack-O-Lantern this year! I love it! It is creative and unique ... just like the cream in my Oreo, my Zachary!!!!
Mama loves you, Creamy!

Going Batty

I decided I needed to craft just ONE more Halloween goodie this week! Just what I need, more crafts, like I need another hole in my head :)

I "borrowed" this ephemera image from the net and embellished the pendant with a few stray jewelry pieces I had "laying" around!

Just something fun :)
Thanks for stopping by!
Rachel

$2 Good Will Shadow Box Transformation

I bought this fabulous shadow box for only $2 at Goodwill a few weeks ago!And I turned it into this .... I am addicted to making these cute little flowers from vintage clothing patterns. I just punch out a scrap of paper in my favorite pattern or color for a little pop and then embellish to match my creation and voila....

I used the Vintage inspired tag I made for a swap as my focal point int he shadow box. The background paper is by K&Co.

I am linking up Metamorphosis Monday ... so hop on over and be inspired!

Also linking up with http://thepottingshed-anythinggoeshere.blogspot.com/2010/10/vintage-halloween-blog-party.html
~Rachel

Close up of my Halloween Tablescape

As requested, I took better and closer photos of my Halloween table scape in the dining room.I bought this black glittery pedestal from Joann's for 60% (hard to see in the photos), which I actually plan to place a plate of cupcakes on for our Halloween party! But I couldn't resist placing my witches hat, from Target on, just for now! Here are the place settings. Ready for a heaping bowl of Witches Brew. Don't worry, I will give you a big ol' heaping helping of Eyes of Newt. I know how much you love them in your Brew!Napkins and table runner from Kohl's (this year- a splurge with my Kohl's bucks!)I always put out a little bottle of Magic potion, it adds that zesty kick to my Witches Brew!I love this Melamie plate from Target. I wish it was ceramic but I won't complain, I love the graphic!And my glass jars are full of baubles, trinkets and treasures (candy too!). We are ready for our annual Halloween party (I plan on letting the kids help themselves!) I redid the table scape in the living room. I used my Mother -In-Laws HUGE copper platter as a base and then layered it with my Party Light candelabra, pumpkins (on the pedestal I bought in a garage sale a few week ends ago for $.50), garland and the BOO blocks I also picked up from the same garage sale, also fifty cents. The lady was a country crafter and selling TONS of her homemade Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas goodies DIRT cheap- SCORE!!!!And a second glance at my foyer table. At night I light the houses with twinkle lights. It is great for that Halloween ambiance!

Linking up with Table Top Tuesday over at :

And Susan at :

Thanks for stopping by!!!
Rachel

A couple of quick Halloween cards

I love being able to use up my scraps! Now, the hard part- giving them away!
Happy Haunting!

Rachel

Ghostly Chicken and Dumplings

I needed a great chicken and dumplings recipe since I had a whole chicken in the refridgerator. I Googled a few recipes and found this one...
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/chicken-and-dumplings-recipe/index.html ...it is delicious! I thinks Emeril would be very proud of me!

Emeril Lagasse's Chicken and Dumplings

Ingredients

For the broth:

2 chickens (4 pounds each), backs removed and cut into 8 pieces each
1 large onion, coarsely chopped
6 cups water
2 bay leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons salt

For the dumplings:

2 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter
1 cup milk

7 tablespoons butter
10 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup dry white wine
2 teaspoons Essence, I used Tony Chachere's cajun seasoning

1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
3 ribs celery, cut into 1/2-inch pieces on the diagonal
4 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces on the diagonal
1 large onion, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup frozen green peas, thawed
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

Directions

Cut chicken backs, necks and wings into 1-inch pieces.

For the broth: in a large pot, combine the chicken, onions, water, bay leaves and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, partially covered, until the chicken is tender, about 45 minutes. Remove the chicken pieces and set aside. Discard the chicken backs, necks, and wings. When the chicken pieces have cooled, remove the meat from the bones in chunks and set aside. Discard the skin and bones. Strain the broth and discard the vegetables.

Prepare the dumplings: In a medium bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, and salt together. In a small saucepan over low heat, bring the butter and milk to a simmer. Stir the butter and milk mixture into the dry ingredients with a fork and stir until the mixture just comes together. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to a 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into long strips 1-inch wide. Transfer to a large plate or baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until ready to use.

In the cleaned Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook until golden-brown, 3 to 4 minutes. While whisking, add the wine, the reserved chicken broth, Essence (I use Tony Chachere's cajun seasoning) , and thyme. Cook until thickened, about 5 minutes, then add the celery, carrots, and onion. Cook until the vegetables are tender-crisp, about 15 minutes. Add the reserved chicken meat, heavy cream, and peas. Season with salt (if necessary), and add black pepper, to taste.

Place the dumplings on top of the chicken mixture and gently stir into the hot liquid. Cover and simmer until the dumplings are cooked through, about 10 minutes. Gently stir in the parsley. Serve in large soup bowls.

Have a devil of a good week!
~Rachel

Halloween Dining Room and Tablescape

Welcome to my Haunted Dining Room~ I put up my handmade Cricut banner and garland and twinkle lights... JUST FOR YOU! I set out the black ceramic plates and orange soup bowls with my favorite spider web napkins and table runner from Kohl's!

I filled all of my apothecary jars!

And I labeled them as to not confuse you between the candy corn and the plastic fangs.

Mr. Glittery Skeleton is standing guard...

He is making sure you only take one "sucker"!!!!

Now that we are all decorated for the favorite Lombardo holiday, we have to decide on the menu for our Halloween Day Pumpkin Carving Party!

Joining Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/2010/10/35th-table-top-tuesday.html
Hop on over http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2010/10/beautiful-fall-tablescape-and-give-way.html and look at all the gorgeous tablescapes!

I am thankful I had a reminder for Centerpiece Wednesday! Pleas hop on over for more Halloween ideas (I recommend clicking on Purple Chocolate Home to see her fabulous witchypoo tea party!) http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/