Halloween Already??

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. What's not to love? There's no major gift giving, you don't have to go visit family and there's candy involved. How awesome is that? But really, is it already Halloween, again? Someone's either snuck in one extra Halloween each year or the years are flying by because I'm getting older (shudder). Anyway, with Halloween looming, I need to make the all important decision about what to serve at my Open House (which I have done every year for the last 14 years). Every year friends and family come over to my house to sample some goodies and take their kids trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. How fun is that? Many of my friends have made it a family tradition to come to my house every year eat, trick-or-treat and have a family picture taken on my porch swing. I love it! That's what memories are made of. My Dad always loved Halloween because he had a major sweet tooth and well with Halloween there lots and lots of candy. He was always the first (well the second) to hit the candy bowl to pick out a sample of his favorite candies (Reese cups forever!). Or if he happened to be giving candy out at his house, I would save a treat bag of candy for him because he was sure to stop by some time during the evening. Most of my Halloween memories are attached to my Dad and my closest friends. I have to say, the last 2 Halloweens without my Dad have been difficult because I keep expecting him to stop by for candy and he doesn't. It's funny but my childhood memories of Halloween don't include my Dad or my Mom. Halloween was their wedding anniversary so my Aunt always took us trick-or-treating while my parents went out to celebrate. After my parents divorced (maybe the shouldn't have gotten married on Halloween) when I was 9, I never trick-or- treated again. Hmmm...anyway...let's move on.

As I was saying, the most important part of Open House planning is what to serve. I will, of course, serve some of my usuals including Gold Star chili dip, cupcakes (because who doesn't love cake and their fun to decorate), and BBQ meatballs. I have also ordered a layered taco dip from a restaurant called What's for Dinner? and I'll have a cheese ball sampling from Jungle Jim's who by the way makes the best cheese ball combinations I have every had. They have a traditional beef and chives which I serve with crackers to peanut butter and chocolate (a personal favorite) which I serve with graham cracker sticks. The first NEW recipe I plan to add this year is one I found in All For You magazine. I get this magazine via subscription each month and it has $50 or more worth of coupons. Does that rock or what? In September's issue they had a chocolate fudge that contained candy corn and peanuts which are two bits of wonderousness that I love to mix together. I have found many fudge recipes you can make to look like candy corn but none that contain candy corn. That's what made me take a second look at this recipe and decide it was going to be on the menu. Between now and Halloween I'd like to pick out several new recipes and I'll make sure to put the recipe link here and share my ideas. Happy Halloween planning...

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/candy-corn-fudge-50400000116328/

Ah Glee, I have missed you so...

Finally! The 3rd season of Glee begins tonight and I am all atwitter. Don't tell me you're not as excited as I am because I'll never believe you. Oh how I have missed my Kurt and Blaine. Is it too much to ask for a kiss tonight from our newly mated pair? I think not. I do believe Blaine sings to his man tonight (a Tom Jones song no less) so maybe I will get my kiss.

The Poodle...

The Poodle...Suki Boo

Isn't she beautiful? Just ask her. She'll tell you she is the most beautiful girl ever! I guess after 10 years of hearing that she's a little full of herself. Not only is she beautiful, she is sweet, funny and so full of attitude. She's a real character...and I cannot imagine her not being with me always, but we won't discuss that. Suki was named after Sookie on Gilmore Girls and she chatters away just like her. How fabulous is that? Just call me Lorelei. Hmmm...I believe I have that on video. Maybe next time. 

I'll Never Be Julia Child...

Cooking has never been my thing, but I love cookbooks. I buy them. I look at them. I sometimes make a few of the recipes BUT...I never, ever, sit down and read one from cover to cover. Is this a failing of mine that I've never acknowledged? Not anymore! I have finally read a cookbook from cover to cover and I believe I'm slightly obsessed with it. The Pioneer Woman Cooks may very well just save my "cooking" life. The book itself is beautiful, creative, original and it shares more than just recipes.  The author, Ree Drummond was the photographer and designer which explains why you feel as if you're in her kitchen with her. It's charming and chock full of wonderful NORMAL recipes as well as stories regarding her family and her struggles as a wife and mother living on a ranch.

She has become my unwitting assistant in gearing up for the holidays. I know, it's only September but lets be real, before I know it, I'll be basting a turkey and wondering why the hell I forgot to buy the crappy cranberry sauce in a can. So... the challenge I've set for myself is to select the recipes I AM making for Thanksgiving and Christmas and create a shopping list of what I need to purchase. My pantry is lacking in some of the essentials (who knew Kosher Salt was a must). I must and I mean must buy the ingredients for her Cinnamon Rolls AND make them prior to Christmas morning. I absolutely can't serve them unless I've sampled them first. What if they suck? HeeHee... This is my mission should I choose to accept it. I'll let you know if they're really as luscious as they look and submit a picture of my efforts (such as they may be). By the way, I want a Cowboy...

What Have I Done?

Do I really need another hobby? I may have to take some time to think about that. Maybe this blog could be a way of managing all of my interests. I could use it to make notes of all my current projects and maybe as a journal to document places I've visited and people I remember. Hmmm.... I think I'll just roll with this and see how it pans out. Have I convinced myself yet?