Graveyard Cake & Pumpkin Brownie

Devin was born on Halloween. So every year it is fun to come up with a festive cake for him!

Maressa made this yummy and cute brownie pumpkin for Devin's birthday.


My Fish Heads like to crush up oreos (for dirt) and add tombstone cookies and gummy worms for a Birthday Cake for their Dad...

Scary Halloween Dinner

Every year I make my family a SCARY Halloween dinner (about a week before Halloween). I wish I had pictures from each of these dinners. Here is a quick picture after one of these meals.



Frankenstein Brains - Grandpa Joe's Stuffed Green Bell Peppers
Monster Mash - Nicole's homemade guacamole
Coffins - Baked potatoes
Fingers - Pigs-n-blankets
Vampires Blood - Raspberry or Dark Cherry Jellow with raspberries

The below picture shows that I made Tombstone Croutons on our funeral potatoes. All you do is cut white bread into tombstone shapes, brush with butter and broil.


Devin's birthday just happens to be on Halloween. So we usually make him a graveyard cake. The below picture was a very simple dessert for all the little cousins to do to keep them busy - jello pudding cups. Just fill an empty cupcake tin with various Halloween Treats for the kids to dump into their pudding cups.

Another easy dessert is to dip NutterButter cookies into melted white chocolate. Use mini chocolate chips for the eyes and you have a quick batch of ghosts.

How could I not include the below picture of my crazy kids (notice the Frankenstein Brains and Coffins for dinner).

Frosting for Gingerbread Houses, Snowy Igloos or Haunted Houses

4 cups powder sugar
3 egg whites
1/8 tsp. cream of tartar

Using a heavy duty mixer (standing Kitchen Aide mixer) combine all ingredients and beat in bowl 5-7 minutes until icing holds peaks and becomes shiny.

You can make a double batch at the same time. Store in airtight containers in refrigerator. It will last for a month in the refrigerator.

I usually will make 2 double batches at the beginning of December. Then I am always ready for last minute entertaining or fun. I also always have on hand boxes of sugar cubes - we like to make igloos or snowy mountains out of the igloos (add mini m&m's for Christmas lights). Using sugar cubes is a lot easier for little kids and requires less adult help. Have a competition to see who can build the tallest building.

Building igloos with the Woodwell girls or "Bea Girls" as little Emily used to call them.


Building igloos with the Estradas!


Building sugar cube / graham cracker houses with the Weirdas!




I had Tyler's 2nd grade class build snowy igloos for their holiday party.






Emily attended Gingerbread Preschool - so of course they had to build gingerbread houses at Christmas time.






At Halloween time use this frosting with chocolate graham crackers to make Haunted Houses (decorate using candy corn, sun flower seeds, black and orange m&m's). You can also tint the frosting orange if you want.



These Haunted Houses were from Tyler's 1st grade class. I gathered small cartons of milk/orange juice so the kids could spread the frosting on the carton and press the chocolate graham crackers onto it.....much easier for little hands.

Trunk or Treat Party

Princess Catherine...


Emily with Maci!


The Hilton's with Baby Caleb!