Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

I decided to make my staple witch hat cookies this year.  They are super easy and delicious!  (Try this to make them into a Thanksgiving Treat!) 

Also, I used these printables to decorate some water bottles that we drank while passing out candy and watching Halloween movies!

Please share links to your party treats in the comments!

Happy Birthday Emily Post

Emily Post (born 10-27-1872) is a house hold name synonymous with etiquette and manners.  Her book is the first thing I go to when I have a question on etiquette (see here).  I have a copy of one of the original book from 1922 that I still use...  

In honor of her birthday today, I decided to share a link to the Emily Post Institute.  The Emily Post Institute is the Post family business spanning five generations.  It studies the evolution and development of new etiquette guidelines based on "core principles of honesty, respect  and consideration" which makes it the PERFECT place to continually find answers to your everyday etiquette questions!  

6 Ways: Party Inspiration

Need a bit of inspiration for a great party theme?  Or perhaps you have a theme in mind, but no idea how to follow through?  I’m sure you have tried Pinterest or looked at Google images, but sometimes, you want ORIGINAL ideas that are totally unique to you and your party! 

Library:  Have a theme in mind?  Go to the library and find all the books on the topic!  Flip through some pages and gather notes.  You will be really surprised  by the details you can gather.  Also a plus, its FREE!  

Example:  Want to throw a car themed shindig?  Search for car books, you might find an era that you want to focus the party details around.  Find key words (drive, gear shift, wheels, leather, fender) that go along with the theme to be used to “name” foods at a buffet. 

Festivals:  I am taking the opportunity of this fall to go to as many festivals as humanly (and budget-ly) possible.  This has given me A LOT of really great ideas for party details for new party themes all from the sights and smells of the festival.  

Example 1:  A fall festival always smells of apples, cinnamon and popcorn.  The colors are usually brown, orange, perhaps a bit of red and green.  I usually feel all “cozy” at this type of festival.  The next fall party I plan will certainly have these details!

Example 2:  A French festival has Can-Can dancers and a lighted Eiffel tower.  It smells of pastries and fresh bread (not to mention some champagne).  The festival I went to had some lace and French fashion which included Chanel’s classy suit.  I would use these foods, music, and the classy and danty feeling for my “French” Themed party. 

Fabric Store/ Hobby Lobby:  These craft and fabric stores may seem overwhelming to someone who isn’t quite sure what theme they are going to plan around.  However these stores are probably going to have the items you may want to use, or at least use to make something DIY, so why not start there! 

Walmart!:  Just like a craft or fabric store, I use Walmart to buy most of my party supplies (especially now that my local Wally World has a WILTON aisle!  Sometimes when I want inspiration,  I just walk around, find some paint chips to use for a craft, and a pretty wine bottle, and I’m halfway to a girls night in!  (okay, not half way, but on my way!)

 Watch a Movie:  This idea is a lot like the library idea, except it’s a bit more specific.

Example: If I want to theme a party around a movie (Breakfast at Tiffany’s) I like to watch the movie with a pad of paper and a pen to take notes.  You will be surprised of the details you can get!

Clean out your Closet and Kitchen Cabinets:  This idea is probably the cheapest!  Look in your own home for ways to use items you currently have as a piece of your new party them! 

Example:  I use a cake stand/punch bowl as a centerpiece full of apples! 

Have you ever gone out to a store just to get some ideas for a party?  Do you have a Pinterest addiction?  Where do you get inspiration for a party theme?  Share in the comments!

Apple Pie Pops

Welcome to the Last and Final Day of Apple Week!

Today is about a tasty party FAVOR that your guests will just LOVE!

This recipe has a two step process; one is to make the pie crust dough, and the other is to make the actual "pie" pop.

Step one:  Pie Crust Dough

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Butter

1 1/3 Cup Flour

3 - 4 Tablespoons Ice Cold Water

Mix butter and flour while adding a teaspoon of water at a time.  

Continue mixing until the dough cleans off the side of the bowl.    

Step two:  Apple Pie Pops

Ingredients/Supplies:

Pie Crust Dough

4 - 5 Apples Finely Chopped

Dash of Cinnamon

Dash of Sugar

Baking "Pop" Sticks

1.  Roll out a handful of pie crust dough on a floured surface.  

 2.  Use a 3 inch cookie cutter (round of scalloped) to cut out a side of the pie pop.  Then place on a cookie sheet.

4.  Put about a tablespoon of the apple mixture in the middle of the pie crust.

5.  Take a pop stick and place it in the pop starting in the middle of the apple mixture.

6.  Place another pie crust on top of the apple mixture and pop stick.  Then use a fork to firmly press crusts together.  Do this all the way around the pop!

7.  Bake in the oven for approximately thirty minutes.  (I usually start out for ten minutes and rotate the cookie sheet as necessary!)  Once the pops are done, they will be a golden color.  Place them on a cooling rack until completely cooled. 

Turning these pops into a favor is easy!  

You can use numerous different types of packaging to give these "suckers" away, such as:  vases, gift boxes, or even Starbucks Frappucino bottles turned milk bottle (find that easy how to here!)  

If you need to fill the bottom of a vase or bottle, use brown sugar, or some candy (Reese's Pieces would look awesome!)

Have you ever made pie pops before?  How about as a party favor (I really like edible favors!)  

Apple Debbie Cookies

Welcome to Day Four of Apple Week!!

Today is ALL ABOUT a tasty apple dessert (that could also be eaten for breakfast, depending on your definition of breakfast!)

This recipe is actually a compilation of a description of a cookie the Mr Fix-It Fiance gave my mother, who then turned it into a full on recipe to share!  I hope you enjoy it.  It is a present from my family to yours!!

Ingredients:

3/4 cup unsalted butter, nearly melted

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1T cinnamon

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup applesauce

Instructions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line rimless cookie sheets with parchment paper. It has to be parchment this time. (I use my SILPAT!)

2. In a stand mixer, cream together butter, sugar, salt, and cinnamon mix until smooth and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla extract, then mix in the baking soda and baking powder. Add the flour and mix until just combined.

3. With a cookie scoop, scoop the dough scrapping off the excess as you go up the bowl. 

4.  Flatten the dough slightly place teaspoon of applesauce on top. 

(Note:  I adapted this a bit, because I had PLAIN applesauce on hand and I REALLY like cinnamon!  I added some cinnamon to the applesauce and then added some of the apple pulp from making apple cider!) 

5.  Place another scoop of dough on top and seal well. 

6. Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown around the edges. After baking, carefully slide the parchment with the cookies onto the counter. Let cool until they are no longer soft but still slightly warm.

 Enjoy!

Do you have recipes that are family made?  Do you like to eat cookies for breakfast sometimes (I really do!)?