Pumpkin Roll Dessert

Got this recipe from Penzey's Spices. This is amazing and is easy. Don't let the 'roll' part scare you, it isn't bad at all. Here is the recipe:

3 large eggs

7 1/2 oz canned pumpkin (half of a 15 oz. can)

1 cup sugar

1 cup flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. cinnamon

*I add about 1 tsp. of pumpkin pie spice to mine, and about 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon)

Filling:

8 oz. softened cream cheese

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

2 Tab. softened butter

Preheat oven to 375. Line a jelly roll pan with wax paper and spray with non-stick spray. In a mixing bowl, beat together the eggs and pumpkin. Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix well. Pour the batter in the pan and spread evenly using a flexible spatula. Bake at 375 for 12 minutes. Gently turn the cake over and ease out onto a clean dish towel (not a terry one, a plain cloth), or cheesecloth, discard the wax paper and carefully roll the cake from the short end. (I put another cloth on top of the cake and rolled it up with the cake sandwiched between the two clothes). Let cool for 15 -20 minutes. Don't leave too long rolled up or it is hard to unroll without cracking. While the cake is rolled between the towels, beat together all the filling ingredients. Unroll cake and spread the filling all the way to the edges. Re-roll and place on a serving platter. I put the filling on the cake while the cake was still warm and had no problems with the filling melting as long as I put it in the fridge right away. Sift powdered sugar on top right before serving.

No Sew Tulle Tutu

(use red tulle and glue on white felt polka dots to create a minnie mouse skirt)

(Or use green to create Tinker Bell; or use whatever color(s) you want to create your own look!)

So when I made the tutus for my daughter I cheated a little. I know it says 'no sew' but I didn't really like the idea of staples, so i hand stitched the elastic waistband together, which was really very easy and very quick. However, staples do work. Also, they say it takes about 30 minutes to make, but it took me closer to an hour to get the tulle all cut into strips and tied on (just FYI)

What you need:

6 yards of tulle (this may seem like a ton, but for my daughter who has a small waist, this was barely enough)

Elastic for waistband (1/2 inch - 1 inch thick)

staples (or needle and thread to hand stitch)

scissors

ruler

Next, here is the website I used that has step by step directions and pictures. Good luck!

Halloween Mummy Pizzas

These are so cute and fun for Halloween.

ingredients:

english muffins

pizza sauce

mozzarella cheese (shredded or in cheese sticks)

sliced olives

directions:

Preheat oven to 350. Cut english muffins in half. Spread pizza sauce on top, then top with strips of mozzarella cheese. Make a slit for the mummy's mouth and eye space. Then put two sliced olives in place for eyes. Bake for 10 minutes.

*can slice scallions and put inside of sliced olives for pupils

(recipe and top picture from Family Fun Magazine)

Halloween Popcorn Balls

20 cups popped popcorn 1 1/2 cups light-colored corn syrup 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 7-ounce jar marshmallow creme 2 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups reese's pieces

Instructions: 1. Remove all unpopped kernels from popped popcorn. Place popcorn in a buttered 17x12x2-inch baking pan or roasting pan. Keep popcorn warm in a 300 degree F (150 C) oven while preparing marshmallow mixture. 2. In a large saucepan bring corn syrup and sugar to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in marshmallow creme, butter, and vanilla until combined. 3. Pour marshmallow mixture over hot popcorn; stir gently to coat. Cool until popcorn mixture can be handled easily. Stir in candies. With damp hands, quickly shape mixture into 3-inch-diameter balls. Store at room temperature up to 1 week. Makes 24 popcorn balls.