The Lion, the Witch and the...Pac Man?

Pumpkins!  This is about as artistic as I get.  Yes, they were all stenciled...and my husband did the hard parts.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Carving Pumpkins means seeds!  They normally are not my favorite, however I found a way to make them that passed the test of everyone in my family.

Yummy Pumpkins Seeds

Wash your seeds so there is no goop left on them.  Boil the seeds with salt for about ten minutes, drain.  Lay them out on a pan and sprinkle with season salt.

Bake at 325 degrees for about ten minutes.  They will be crunchy outside with a softer inside.  Sprinkle more salt on them if you'd like, and enjoy the whole seed, no need to shell.

Homemade Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Peanut Butter Cups

1/3 lb graham crackers (1 wrapped pkg)

1 lb powdered sugar (3 ¾ C)

2 C peanut butter 

2 cubes margarine, melted

6-8 oz chocolate chips (I use more)

Blend graham crackers in a blender 2-3 at a time, mix in with powder sugar in a bowl.  Add melted margarine.  Mix.  Mix in Peanut butter.  Spread in a 13x7 inch cake pan.  Frost with melted chocolate.  Put in refrigerator for 10-20 mins only, until set.

Meal in a Pumpkin

A family favorite Halloween tradition.  Every Halloween as a kid we would have this meal.  Of course often we were so excited about getting candy we didn't want to eat dinner.  My mom became wiser and started making it the day before.  Best of both worlds.  And a tradition I plan to continue.

Meal in a Pumpkin

1 medium pumpkin, cut off top, clean out, can draw face on pumpkin with permanent marker if you want

1 medium onion chopped

2 T oil if needed

2 lbs hamburger

2 T brown sugar

4 oz can sliced mushrooms

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 ½ cups cooked rice

8 oz can sliced water chestnuts

2 T soy sauce

Brown meat, sauté onion, add oil if needed, add soy sauce, brown sugar, mushrooms and soup. Simmer 10 minutes. Add rice and water chestnuts. Spoon mixture into the pumpkin shell. Place pumpkin on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until tender.

Cooking Spray

So, I heard there was a great way to save money by making your own cooking spray.

The first recipe I tried was this:  
1 Part oil
4- 5 parts water

Mix in spray bottle or brush on

I baked banana bread and while both loaves came out easily, I was left with this.

Left was homemade spray

I added more oil to 50/50 put it in a spray bottle instead of brushing it on and baked cupcakes.
I got this:

Can you guess what row had the homemade?  This recipe is all over the internet, or versions of it.  Not sure what I am doing wrong.  For now I'm back to the expensive can of junk. Sad.

Soap Scum Be Gone!

This was the recipe I was given:

Tub Cleaner - vinegar and dish soap, no scrubbing! Heat 1/2C white vinegar in m'wave for 90 sec, pour into spray bottle. Add 1/2 Cup BLUE Dawn dish soap. Shake gently to mix. Spray on surface, let it sit 1-2 hours. Just wipe it away then rinse with water. Should also take soap scum off shower doors!


And it works:
The Craft Patch: Pinterest Tested: Tub Cleaner:


I used a different dish soap, heated the vinegar half as long and poured it on instead of using a spray bottle.  And it works.   I then took the leftovers to clean the nasty soup holder in the bathroom.  I did not let it sit for long (less than five minutes) before I started scrubbing.  It came clean easily and I got to see how old and disgusting it was naturally.

   

Since my first experiment, I decided to use a cheap Walmart brand of soap, and test if that would work as well. I am not sure the reason the recipe specifically says "Blue Dawn"  I used orange Great Value and it did the same thing.  Yeah for saving even more while still getting a clean bathroom! Now onto that gross tile.

Honey Popcorn

After a long weekend of eating way too many treats, I decided to cut back on my sugar... for a few days. I enjoy sugary treats, a lot, notice how desserts dominate this blog.  So, I gave myself two "cheat" foods: honey and homemade raspberry jam.  Unlike chocolate these are food I won't eat by the pound.

With a fresh batch of salsa I was doing pretty well not craving sugar until last night.  I really wanted caramel popcorn.  Thank you internet for the following idea, I never would have thought of it on my own.

Honey Popcorn
Lots of popcorn
equal amounts honey and butter melted and mixed (I did about 1 TBSP each, but would probably do less next time.)

Pour the honey mixture over the popped popcorn and mix well.  A little salt makes it taste similar to kettle corn.  Enjoy your sweet-and not too unhealthy- treat.

Sorry no picture, I ate it all before thinking about taking one, just imagine popcorn with a light honey glaze...Mmm, yummy!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

15 oz can pumpkin
1 box spice cake
1/2-1 pkg semi-sweet chocolate chips

Mix pumpkin and spice cake in a bowl.  Keep stirring until it is very well mixed.  You know, like until your arm feels like it might fall off.  Then add the chocolate chips (I don't do the whole package) and mix some more.

Place mixture in 12 muffin tins (they only raise a little so fill them mostly full) and bake at 350 until done.  About 20-25 mins.

YUM!

Salt and Sugar Sensory Table

Especially with weather getting cooler, more activities need to be done inside.  Here is a fun simple idea for little ones with busy hands.

Place salt or sugar in a container and allow them to explore.  You can add toys such as a straw, spoon, or small toy.


I placed a little of both in separate containers.  After tasting both of them (as little ones will) my toddler dumped them together and enjoyed the fun.

The salt/sugar can also be stored for another day of fun later on.

Paper Pumpkin

I am not a crafty person. By the end of any craft I have more of a mess than anything to show for it. That being said, I found a craft that even I, lacking all crafty skills, could do.  I found it in a children's magazine and was actually excited to try it.  It's a paper pumpkin.  For some reason pumpkins are the only thing that motivate my artistic side.  (Pumpkin carvings coming this month!)

I made a craft!

My husband had the camera so I don't have the step by step process.  Fortunately, the magazine I got it from is completely free online!  The page (with a pumpkin recipe) can be found here The Friend.

Enjoy the simple craft!