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Showing posts from 2009

Great Last Minute Gift-- Bed Pockets

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Organize: Bed Pockets Great Gifts to Sew bedside pockets Simple-to-sew handy pockets. Tools + Materials · fabric runner · sewing machine or needle and thread 1. Fold one end of the fabric runner to the desired pocket depth. We used a vintage emboidered runner. 2. Stitch together the outer edges of the folded portion. 3. Stitch through the folded portion in two places to make three pockets. 4. Tuck the runner between your mattress and box spring, allowing the pockets to hang out. How easy can you get? While I wouldn't necessarily use a vintage table runner, I could see using the basic pattern of a table runner to get the width and sew my own to fit the style of the recipient. Talk about a last minute quickie!

Alligator Swamp Water -- For Gator Fans

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Alligator-Swamp-Water/Detail.aspx WARNING! Highly alcoholic.

More Spooky Drinks for Adults and Kids

Go here and have a ball: http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Halloween-Drinks-Spooky-Sipping/Detail.aspx Happy Halloween, everyone!

Halloween Pumpkin Carving Party

This site not only has the organization, it has recipes to match! http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Halloween-Pumpkin-Carving-Party/Detail.aspx There are even pumpkin carving templates!

USE ALL Your Pumpkins This Year

Carving a pumpkin this fall? Don't throw any of it away! By Jeff Yeager Posted Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:44am PDT Related topics: Food and Drink , Holidays , Veggies More from The Green Cheapskate blog "Jeff, can't we at least celebrate the holiday before you eat the decorations?" I've heard that more than once from my long-suffering wife during our 26-year marriage. You see, cheapskates like to celebrate Halloween and other holidays just like everyone else. But we grimace at wasteful rituals like throwing away a perfectly good pumpkin after using it for only a few days as a decoration. Americans buy more than one billion pounds of pumpkins at Halloween, and the vast majority of those end up in the trash. But at the Green Cheapskate's house, we eat our jack-o-lantern, every last bit of it. While some particularly meaty varieties of pumpkins are specifically grown to be eaten (including Sweet Jack-be-Littles, Cheese Pumpkins, Sugar Pumpkins, and some delicious heirl

Candy Corn Bark

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Candy Corn Bark SUBMITTED BY: Julie G PHOTO BY: MEREDITHRAE24 "A delightful recipe only for those with a incurable sweet tooth! Candy corn mixed with chocolate sandwich cookies and pretzels will please your whole Halloween crowd." RECIPE RATING: Read Reviews (30) Review/Rate This Recipe PREP TIME 10 Min COOK TIME 10 Min READY IN 50 Min Original recipe yield 20 pieces INGREDIENTS ( Nutrition ) 16 Halloween-colored chocolate sandwich cookies, chopped (Yeah, Halloween Oreos, okay?) 1 1/2 cups broken small pretzels 1/3 cup raisins 1 1/2 pounds white chocolate, broken into squares 2 cups candy corn orange and brown sprinkles DIRECTIONS Spread the cookies, pretzels and raisins evenly onto a lightly greased small baking sheet. Melt chocolate in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water, or in the microwave, stirring frequently until melted. Remove from the heat while there are still a few chunks, and stir until smooth. White chocolate burns easily. Drizzle chocolate with a spoon ove

Never Waste Food Again

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http://green.yahoo.com/blog/guest_bloggers/9/50-ways-to-never-waste-food-again.html      L ena Austin http://www.LenaAustin.com Writing blog: http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com Recipe and Pagan blog: http://third-infinity.blogspot.com Low Carb Diet blog: http://fatfrogdiary.blogspot.com  

Tortilla Spikes with Devil's Salsa

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Spiderweb Sundae

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Too fun not to do, right?

Samhain Ritual for Pagans

Samhain (October 31st) 8. HISTORY Samhain to the Celts was their New Year's Eve even. That mysterious moment belonging to neither past nor present, or this world nor the other. It was a time when the herds were slaughtered and the meat salted, which also led to the use of salts in magic ritual as a disinfectant against psychic or spiritual evil. On this night also, the spirits of dead friends sought the warmth of the Samhain fire and communication with a living. The divinatory aspect of Halloween is understandable for two reasons. First, the psychic climates of the season favored it, and second, the anxiety about the coming winter demanded it. The fertility ritual aspect was reflected in legends of gods and heroes. As such, it was a time of deliberate (and tribally purposeful) sexual freedom. That is primarily a Celtic tradition, as many other superstitions say to refrain from sex for fear that your former (dead) friends would take over your body and you might have A Change

Shoo Vampire Soup

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Yes, of course it has lots of garlic. LOL! It's good. Trust me. I substitute cauliflower for the potatoes though.

Pink Ghouladas-- Not Necessarily Alcoholic, but Fun

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I'll make the non-alcoholic version, and yes, I will make the glasses "bleed." What's life without a little fun?

Mauled Apple Cider

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Yeah, you know it's good. I recommend getting a friend who knows calligraphy to print out name cards detailing what each dish is on a "parchment" cardstock card to place near each food. Who says kids get all the fun?

Lady's Fingers and Men's Toes (Pretzels)

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Follow the directions carefully, and try not to laugh too much at this funny snack.

Black Devil Martini

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Black Devil Martini Photo by Steve Murello RELATED LINKS See a Slideshow of All 12 Halloween Cocktails All Halloween Cocktails At-A-Glance Get More Halloween Ideas A martini of a different color, dark rum and a black olive garnish give this drink its midnight hue. Rim the glass with coarse orange sugar to dress it up for a Halloween party. Ingredients: 2 oz. dark rum 1/2 oz. dry vermouth Black olive Preparation: Stir and strain into chilled martini glass, garnish with olive. Recipe courtesy American Professional Bartending Schools of Illinois in Chicago

Liquefied Ghost Cocktail

Liquefied Ghost Liquefied Ghost Photo by Steve Murello RELATED LINKS See a Slideshow of All 12 Halloween Cocktails All Halloween Cocktails At-A-Glance Get More Halloween Ideas This ghostly-white drink tastes like a grown-up version of a milkshake. Mix vanilla simple syrup, cream, vodka and soda and serve in a martini glass. Ingredients: 2 oz. vodka 1 oz. vanilla simple syrup 1 oz. cream 2 oz. soda Preparation: Mix vanilla simple syrup, cream, vodka and soda and serve in a martini glass. Recipe courtesy Janelle Maiocco,

GHOST Sandwitches, Part Two -- The Tapenade

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Kalamata olives aren't that difficult to find these days. I can even find them in the deli section of the commissary. It's not a bad spread, really.

Easy Halloween Treats

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Now these are easy treats! Marshmallows on sticks with a candy coating. Wow! I'm so doing this.     http://www.wilton.com/idea/Kooky-Candy-Coated-Marshmallows       Lena Austin http://www.LenaAustin.com Writing blog: http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com Recipe and Pagan blog: http://third-infinity.blogspot.com Low Carb Diet blog: http://fatfrogdiary.blogspot.com  

GHOST Sandwitches, Part One

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For those who can't figure it out, it's: G oat Cheese, H erbs, O ak-leaf lettuce, S un-dried tomatoes and T apenade. I'll post the tapenade recipe tomorrow.

Eyeball Highballs

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I don't drink, but this sounds fun to serve.

Ancient Eggs --Low Carb!

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Okay, so it's a little work. They still look cool and taste pretty darn good.

All Hallows Cheese

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You can find Branston Pickle here: http://www.britishfoodshop.com/shopexd.asp?id=45 They claim it's worth the trouble to get. Let me know, will you? If you wish, you can make your own pumpernickel bread using this recipe for the bread machine: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Bread-Machine-Pumpernickel-Bread/Detail.aspx

Bloody Brain Shooter Cocktail

Bloody Brain Shooter Bloody Brain Photo by Steve Murello RELATED LINKS See a Slideshow of All 12 Halloween Cocktails All Halloween Cocktails At-A-Glance Get More Halloween Ideas Channel your inner mad scientist with this Bloody Brain Shooter. Mixing acidic lime juice and Irish cream causes the cream to curdle, creating brain-like strands in the shot. Ingredients: 1 1/4 oz. strawberry vodka such as Stoli 1/8 oz. Rose's lime juice 3/4 oz. Bailey's Irish Cream Splash of grenadine Preparation: Chill vodka for better smoothness. Add vodka and lime juice to a shaker, shake and strain into a shot glass. Using a straw, dip some Bailey's Irish Cream into the shot. Once you submerge the straw into the Bailey's put your finger on top of the straw to hold the Bailey's in the straw. Dip the straw tip into the vodka and slowly release your top finger. The Bailey's will curdle a little bit due to the lime juice and you should be able to make strands of Bailey's. Repeat the

Witches' Brew Cocktail

URL: http://www.fineliving.com/fine/entertaining/article/0,2498,FINE_22197_5673660,00.html Witches Brew Witches Brew Photo by Steve Murello RELATED LINKS See a Slideshow of All 12 Halloween Cocktails All Halloween Cocktails At-A-Glance Get More Halloween Ideas Use a cauldron to mix up a batch of this party-perfect punch. A mixture of pineapple and cranberry juice give this drink its harvest moon-hue, while a shot of Malibu rum gives it a Caribbean kick. Ingredients: 2 oz. mixed pineapple and cranberry juice 2 oz. 7-Up 1 1/4 oz. shot Malibu Coconut Rum Preparation: Mix juices and 7-Up in a highball glass. Pour shot down the side of the glass right before drinking. Recipe courtesy Kelley Meredith, bar manager, Red Brick Tavern, Lafayette, Ohio

Monster Claws

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This too-easy trick has been known to Moms for years, but hey, why should the kids have all the good eats? Me, I love different dipping sauces besides just plain ol' barbecue, but that's up to you.

Ghoulish Goodies

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While these do require some skill, mostly they just require some special equipment. Take your time! The biggest necessity for this treat is patience!

Halloween Creatures, Part Two

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My favorite is the banshee. What's yours?

Halloween Creatures, Part One

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Who doesn't love a good creature? This list gives you scary things from around the world to do. More tomorrow!

Witch Lantern

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Yes, I know, I forgot the template. However, a good web search will undoubtedly reveal a few witch on broom silhouettes you can use. This particular craft came from Martha Stewart Living magazine, so I'd start with the Martha Stewart websites. Forgive me, but I find a certain amount of sardonic humor in having witch designs all over my house at Halloween time. All in good fun, of course.

Spider Table

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This is really much easier than it first appears. Right click on the image, save to your computer, then print it out. All the spiders are pom-poms and satin cord! I recommend the use of hot glue guns for the spiders and fabric glue for the ribbon webbing.

Easy Scary Sound Effects

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Flower Petal Masks

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I love these because there are so many options. Just think how many silk flowers and leaves there are in the craft stores to mix and match!

Aqua Gems Pumpkin Candle

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There really is a pumpkin design at the bottom of this. See the bottom of the page?

Brain Gelatin Mold

I'm still laughing over this mold. You just have to see it. http://www.shindigz.com/party/Gory-Brain-Mold.cfm

Fw: Jerry Baker's What's Growin' On October Newsletter

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 Look at these great tips for fall! I love and use Jerry's "Yarden" Tonics. They really do seem to help.   Greetings, The air is getting crisper, the days are getting shorter, and the beautiful leaves are just starting to show their stunning fall colors. Before you know it, your Halloween jack-o'-lantern will make way for Jack Frost, who'll leave his telltale calling card all over your yard and garden. So visit the cider mill and bring home the fixin's to treat yourself to our delicious homemade applesauce. And don't worry about all those bees and yellow jackets—keep 'em at bay with a few of my easy tricks. Above all else, get out and enjoy the weather while you can because Old Man Winter will be here sooner than you think! ************************************************************************************** IN THIS ISSUE ************************************************************************************** **** BUY 2 SETS OF MOLE & GOPHER

Indian Pudding

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Indian Pudding Recipe Print Options Print (no photos) Print (with photos) Ingredients 6 cups of milk 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal 1/4 cup flour 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup molasses 3 eggs, beaten 1/3 cup of granulated sugar 1 teaspoon of cinnamon 1 teaspoon of nutmeg 1 cup golden raisins (optional) Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream Method 1 Scald the milk and butter in a large double boiler. Or heat the milk and butter for 5 or 6 minutes on high heat in the microwave, until it is boiling, then transfer it to a pot on the stove. Keep hot on medium heat. 2 Preheat oven to 250°F. 3 In a separate bowl, mix cornmeal, flour, and salt; stir in molasses. Thin the mixture with about 1/2 cup of scalded milk, a few tablespoons at a time, then gradually add the mixture back to the large pot of scalded milk. Cook, stirring until thickened. 4 Temper the eggs by slowly adding a half cup of the hot milk cornmeal mixture to the beaten eggs, whisking constantly. Add the egg mixture back

The Sabbat of Mabon

VII. AUTUMN EQUINOX (C. SEPT 21) A. HISTORY “The two Equinoxes are, as we have pointed out, times of equilibrium. Day and night are matched, and the tide of the year flows steadily. But while the Spring Equinox manifests the equilibrium of an athlete poised for action, the Autumn Equinox's theme is that of rest after labor. The Sun is about to enter the sign of Libra, the Balance. In the Stations of the Goddess, the Spring Equinox represents Initiation; the Autumn Equinox, Repose. The harvest has been gathered in, both grain and fruit, yet the Sun- though mellower and less fierce than he was- is still with us. With symbolic aptness, there is still a week to go before Michaelmas, the festival of Michael/Lucifer, Archangel of Fire and Light, at which we must begin to say au revoir to his splendor." (WBC p.116) Unlike Lughnasadh, which marked the time of beginning to gather the harvest and emphasized the sacrifice aspect of the God, Autumn Equinox marks the c

Zuchinni or Apple Bread for Cakes and Ale

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This is one of those versatile "serve for several occasions" recipes. Zuchinni for Lammas, Apple for Mabon, and Carrot-n-Pineapple for Samhain. I substitute a full cup of Spenda for Baking for the sugar in the recipe. I like my quick breads sweet, but you're welcome to use the correct substitution amounts on the package first to see how you like it.

Get Your Garden Organized with Folia

Get Your Garden Organized with Folia Gardening software can help you get the most out of your backyard garden. By Jaymi Heimbuch San Francisco, CA, USA Thu Apr 30 15:32:00 GMT 2009 Alexander Raths/iStock READ MORE ABOUT: Eco-Friendly Kitchens Gardening Green Your Yard Organic Gardening Tips Websites Dashboard tools are already an important part of smart homes , smart driving ...but what about smart gardening? Folia provides a user-friendly dashboard tool to help users know what plants are being sown and harvested, as well as weather forecasts, seed organizing, and photo organizing so that your garden can grow at its best. Gardening and Urban Homesteading are on the upswing and getting organized is a big part of running an efficient garden, and getting the most out of it. If you want to really gather your weekly produce from your garden , you'll need to keep track of your plants, your seeds , your planting and harvesting timing, maintenance scheduling and so forth. Folia

Equinox Cleaning

The Equinox Cleaning Is this like spring cleaning? Yes. Spring cleaning was a necessity in historical times when the house remained closed up all winter, gathering soot and smoke from the fireplace as well as the accumulated mess made when people are cooped up inside for long periods of time. That being said, we all need to do a thorough cleaning now and then. I recommend doing so at the equinoxes. In fall, we’re getting ready to shut our homes up for the winter and the holidays. Friends will visit, parties will be thrown, and of course we all want to show our homes off to the best advantage. In spring, we’re driven to open our homes to the warm spring breezes. However, let’s be honest. Very few of us have the time to strip our rooms completely one by one, washing anything that holds still for it. However, a few things can be done in a very short period of time. First things first! Take down the curtains, carpets, and throws. Dump them in the washer and/or load them in the car for a tr

Pumpkin Bars or Applesauce Bars

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See? Told you that applesauce you made probably wouldn't survive until Halloween. Here's another good use for it. If you don't know how to make cream cheese frosting, here's a LINK.

Tangy Cider Mold

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Mabon Incense

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I repeat this incense every year because it's the best I've found. Note this is the type where you mix a powder, then sprinkle on a briquette. No, I don't mean one of those toxic charcoal briquettes you use on the grill. Here's a LINK to the correct type. Scroll down, you'll see them. Look in the links section of this blog and buy your herbs and oils from reputable shops. If you want to burn chemical powders and sniff them, there's a dealer in the red light district. You want the good natural stuff, you pay for it. Why a powder instead of just buying already made? Same reason as above --no chemicals you have to worry about. I don't see the point of loading the air with more chemicals than necessary. The idea here is to cleanse the air and perfume it, not pollute it. While you're at it today, say a little prayer and light a little incense for those lost in the 9/11 Tragedy.

Peach Melba Sundae

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Flaking Jello is easy. Just make the Jello and let it firm up. Use a fork and run it up and down the Jello to create small flakes. Get out your aggressions. It's fun and easy. For me, I use fresh or frozen peaches to cut down on the carbs, and serve with Cool Whip Free. I can't resist ice cream, so we don't have it around here much. LOL! Any way you have it, this dish is a delight when Indian Summer Days strike.

Mabon Applesauce Coffee Cake

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While too "expensive" for me on a low carb diet, I try to be fair to those who don't have to watch every crumb they put in their mouth. Save this little treat for Sunday mornings or Sabbats. To me, this is a great "cake" for Cakes and Ale. Served with a hot mulled apple cider, it's perfect for a fall treat.

Apple Fluff

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Ooops! This scan came out just a little off-kilter, but hopefully you can read it. This is a fall-flavored treat that isn't anymore "expensive" calorically than eating regular applesauce. Serve this as an after school snack, and you'll be the neighborhood home they all come to visit. The other parents will love you for serving a nutritious snack disguised as something tasty, too.

Applesauce Popsicles

Applesauce Popsicles! Really! Make homemade applesauce, then pour the juice in popsicle makers. Cool! http://mealplanning mommies.blogspot .com/2009/ 05/homemade- frozen-pops. html

Mini Apple Spiced Glazed Donuts from Selena Illyria

By Sandra Lee Cause i'm evil and I'm craving donuts. LOL Recipe Link: http://www.foodnetw ork.com/recipes/ sandra-lee/ mini-apple- spiced-glazed- donuts-recipe/ index.html Recipe: Ingredients 1 (7.5-ounce) can refrigerator biscuits 1 cup powdered sugar 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 2 tablespoons apple juice 3 cups canola oil Directions Remove the biscuits from the can and place onto a cutting board. Using a 1/2-inch biscuit cutter or the cap from a water bottle remove the center from each biscuit. Place both the donuts and donut holes onto a sheet pan and allow them to rest and come to temperature, about 15 minutes. In a large bowl combine powdered sugar, pumpkin pie spice and apple juice. Whisk together until smooth and well combined. Set aside. Heat the oil, in a medium pot over medium heat, to 350 degrees F. Fry the donuts, 3 at a time, until golden brown, about 1 minute per side. Remove from oil and place on a sheet tray lined with a paper towel. Repeat with remaining donu