Halloween 2010

Mini-candied apples!

I recently went to a party where someone made candied apples.  Yum, right?  I love candied apples, especially in the fall season.  BUT I just don't like how big and messy they can be.  Not only that, but I like to have the coating with every bite of apple and end up wasting much of the apple.

So, you can only imagine how excited I was to find this recipe for (wait for it) mini candied apples!  This would be a great activity to do with the kids, or even for a Halloween party. 

You will need:

4-inch lollipop sticks
Melon baller
Granny Smith apples (one apple makes about 8 mini apples)
Butterscotch, chocolate, or peanut butter chips*
Chopped nuts, nonpareils, sprinkles, shredded coconut (or whatever your heart desires!)
Small paper candy cups
   *caramel may not adhere to the apple without the peel, per a comment on the website
 

Instructions: 

First, cut the lollipop sticks in half at an angle (the pointy end will go into the apple pieces easier). 

With the melon baller, scoop little balls out of the apple. Each ball should have a section of apple peel. 

Push half of a lollipop stick into the peel of each ball. Pat the apple pieces dry.
Melt the chips according to the package directions. 

Dip and swirl the mini apples in the melted chips, then roll the apples in nuts, sprinkles, nonpareils, or coconut, if desired. 

Place the mini apples in paper candy cups to set.

Enjoy!






p.s. Ok, so I read the reviews and found that many had problems with the coating sliding off. Someone recommended using caramel sheets instead. At any rate, this is definitely a "trial & error" recipe!

Family Hike

Once in awhile Tom has a Saturday off. This day was one of them. We decided to pack up the kids and take in some fall colors of the Rockies. We didn't find much of that (too early or too late?  Can't say...), but we did have a great family hike...

  Aaaah, Colorado!

 

 Looks kind of like C's resisting strangling E...a subconscious thing?

 Argish LOVES the outdoors

 ...and this is why we love it here in Colorado.

 My favorite photo of the day. :)

Homemade Yarn Wreath

I've been wanting to make a yarn wreath for awhile now. I really admire the wreaths from Itz Fitz, but really don't want to spend the money.  So, I researched yarn wreaths on the web and found that it is not that hard to make one myself!  I got the wreath from a dollar store, used some yarn from my old knitting days, and bought felt to make the flowers (per this tutorial).  The result?

I'm pretty darn proud of myself, not bad for a first try. :)  

Wrapping the yarn around the foam wreath was a bit tedious, so since the yarn is neutral in color, I came up with the idea of just pinning the flowers to the wreath and changing them out for seasons and holidays.  For instance, I want to make more orange flowers and add some black ones for Halloween.  Too fun, and very easy peasy (it literally took me two hours)!!