Posts Tagged ‘Halloween’

I have to admit, Jackie E-S is one of my favorite people in the needlework industry… maybe the pull of one hyphenate to another?

Anyway, trust her to come up with an original idea such as this! LOL

Tink

*When I dream, I cook and bake like an artist!*

HeartStrings FiberArts – Jackie-O-Lantern Open Wrap Pizza

HALLOWEEN MEMORY
Have you always dreamed of carving the ‘perfect’ pumpkin? As a kid, I found
that harder to do than you might think. Before I even had a chance to
approach being an ‘expert’, I moved to Cajun country in the deep south.
Believe me, carved pumpkins don’t last long around here in the heat that
persists well past Halloween! They wither up quickly and get pretty gross.
(and rotted pumpkin smell is yuck!)

So I’ve come up with some other ways to practice my talents in making
jack-o-lanterns. Join me in making a Jackie-O-Lantern Open Wrap Pizza that I
concocted out of some makin’s in my frig. The smell is great, but these
won’t last long either because they are DEE-Lich. Have fun and bon appetit!

INGREDIENTS
Plate-sized flour tortilla (i.e. soft taco wrap)
Salsa
Cheddar cheese
Fresh Jalapeno or sweet green pepper (your choice, depending on your taste
preferences and availability)
Cajun smoked sausage (andouille) or other meat topping that can be ‘carved’
for the facial features (e.g. pepperoni or slice salami)
Optional: Red hot sauce

INSTRUCTIONS

Here I have all the ingredients and cooking tools gathered together and am
ready to get started on assembly.

ASSEMBLY

STEP 1 – Put flour tortilla in pan.

Note that I am planning to use a stove-top non-stick sauté pan for ‘baking’
the pizza.

STEP 2 – Spread some salsa on the tortilla.

I prefer green salsa, but red salsa is good, too. My taste buds have gotten
used to hot and spicy here in Cajun country, so the hotter the better.

STEP 3 – Grate cheese and sprinkle amount desired over salsa.

I prefer extra-sharp cheddar, but ya’ know, any cheese is good. I haven’t
ever met a real cheese that I didn’t like. I don’t recommend those imitation
processed cheeses though.

Actually, for this type of thing, I usually use the pre-grated cheese I can
get at the store – saves me the time and aggravation of cleaning the grater.
But I was out of stock in my frig and sent my man-friend to the store,
thinking I would save some time by letting him do the shopping. Wrong … he
is one of those ‘label readers’. After comparing price and ingredients, he
made an executive decision to get block cheese instead because ‘much lower
cost’, especially as so much of the weight of the pre-grated cheese was in
‘filler’ so it wouldn’t stick together in the package. Oh well – I guess
that means the block cheese is healthier (as well as less expensive), so we
can eat more, lol.

STEP 4 – Clean and slice pepper in thin strips, reserving top of one half as the
‘stem’ of the pumpkin. Place strips and stem as shown in picture to mimic a
pumpkin.

Did you see those sweet green peppers in the picture? Those are from my own
plants, still producing peppers in bunches like grapes even now this late in
the season!

STEP 5 – Slice sausage and ‘carve’ triangle and small rectangle pieces for eyes,
nose and teeth. Place similarly to that shown in picture as a guide, or just
be creative with your own facial features and expressions!

BAKING

STEP 1 – Cook on stove over medium heat for 7 – 8 minutes, or until cheese is melted
well and bottom of tortilla is crispy.

Did I mention it stays hot where I live well past Halloween? Well, no use
heating up the house by turning on the oven, and stove-top will work just
fine.

Here is the ‘baked’ pizza. Isn’t it cute?

SERVING

STEP 1 -To amuse the kids (or even grown-ups!), shake some red hot sauce ‘blood’
over the mouth. (or substitute catsup if you don’t like it as spicy as we do
here in Cajun country)

Slice in wedges as for pizza and eat-’em-up. Let me know how you like it!

COMPANY INFORMATION

Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer (Jackie E-S) is the chief cook and
designer/publisher at HeartStrings FiberArts, home of HeartStrings knitting
patterns that are a joy to knit into your own heart-felt creations.

HeartStrings knitting patterns for today’s modern knitter take your knitting
beyond the ordinary with clear comprehensive instructions. HeartStrings
FiberArts is dedicated to advancing the art of knitting through innovative
designs based on tradition in updated techniques. Ask for HeartStrings
patterns at your local yarn shop, or check our online store locator and
Shopatron shopping service to locate a retailer for you.

Jackie E-S invites you to visit the online Design Collections gallery for
inspiration in knitting your own one-of-a kind garments and fashion
accessories using HeartStrings’ quality yarn-generic instructions. There are
some really cute Halloween patterns you won’t want to miss either!

http://www.heartstringsfiberarts.com/

http://www.jackie-es.com/

Not only does this Pumpkin Bread evoke thoughts of Autumn, it is a healthy interpretation of the seasonal classic!

Tink

*When I dream, I cook and bake like an artist!*

Heart Healthy Pumpkin Bread

HALLOWEEN MEMORY

It is fall in Wisconsin and the season of pumpkins. with Pumpkin bread is a favorite fall treat of mine and I love this lighter version.  It makes a perfect Halloween evening snack with a cup of tea or hot cider.  Making this bread in muffin cups is a perfect way to share it with all of the little ghosts and goblins that come to your door. Homemade treats and stopping in for a little visit are a Halloween tradition here in rural west central Wisconsin.  At our house it also includes a visit with our Chocolate Lab named Boo who was born on Halloween.

INGREDIENTS

2/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup Egg Beaters
1 ½ cup sugar
1 can (1 lb.) pumpkin
2/3 cup water
3 1/3 cup flour
2 tsp. soda
1 ½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves
2/3 cup raisins

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat oven to 350. Grease two 9x5x3 inch loaf pans.

STEP 1 – Thoroughly mix applesauce, egg beaters, sugar and pumpkin.

STEP 2 – Add water.

STEP 3 – Add dry ingredients other than raisins and mix till smooth.

STEP 4 – Stir in raisins. Pour into pans and bake for 58 minutes.

STEP 5 – Bake as muffins for 25-30 minutes.

COMPANY INFORMATION – Chippewa Creek Quilts

Chippewa Creek Quilts was founded in 2005 and offers patterns for quilts inspired by nature and the great outdoors. All of the quilts use an easy fusible appliqué technique and most can be completed by a beginning quilter. Bring a bit of nature inside with Chippewa Creek Quilts.

www.chippewacreekquilts.com

It’s that time again! (personally I can’t believe that the summer is over and it is October, but then, I’m blonde! LOL)

Here at TheArmchairChef.com we celebrate October and Halloween with the Halloween Countdown. My friends from the Needlework Industry and the Quilt Industry share their Halloween Memories AND recipes, for 31 days

The recipes are pouring in and there are some great ones this year. My cooking/baking instincts are at full alert… and my tummy is growling as I type (always a good sign!)

I have always loved reading personal stories and the icing on the pumpkin cake (to give the metaphor a Halloween theme!) are the Halloween Memories everybody shares, along with their recipes.

I hope y’all will stop in often (with or without your costume!) and see what goodies we have to celebrate this fun and wonderful season!

Tink

*When I dream, I cook and bake like an artist!*