HaLLoWeeN...OOOhhhHH...

For Halloween this year I decided to ask Little Man what he wanted for dinner before the big Trick-or-Treating festivities began. 

Normally we eat pretty healthy around here and try to keep the processed, sugar-filled, non-veggie oriented items away from this dwelling, but I figured in honor of this holiday that is already pretty twisted anyway we might as well go all out and eat all of the above and then some. 

I mean why not, right?!

So, we invited some friends over and I set up some tables in the yard and we partied it up with the following on our plates:

Chili, Cheese nachos- I even bought Velveeta- which as far as I'm concerned is like a 4 letter word around here.  I wasn't joking when I implied that we got WILD around here.

Homemade Apple Pie w/ ice cream- YUM!

Homemade Hot Chocolate w/ Homemade Marshmallows- and for the record- I might not EVER eat another store bought marshmallow again!  I am officially spoiled and my taste buds are officially snobbed out!

After we stuffed ourselves silly the munchkins got dressed up and we headed to this really fun street here in town that looks like a Halloween Explosion took place- all the houses hand out sinful amounts of candy and basically try to make all the local children (and their mothers) wake up the next day with sugar-hangovers (which I did btw).

 

It was a rockin' fun day- however I was a little bummed when Little Man's original costume idea was a wash and we had to fall back on the ole' stand by BatMan.

Awww...Ole trusty Batman- he's a good one, he's a good one (*sigh*).

Here are the Apple Pie, Hot Chocolate, and Marshmallow recipes that I followed:




Hot Chocolate from the blog Honey and Fitz - My sexy, stud of a husband said it was the BEST he'd ever had, and he doesn't throw around words like "Best ever" very often- so I guess that's really saying something.

Marshmallows are Alton Brown's at the Food Network site - I don't know if they will roast up like store bought ones, but I can't wait to test it out.  I'll keep you posted, because I mean really?!  Who doesn't want to know all about my marshmallow adventures?!?!..it's exciting stuff.

and Grandma Ople's apple pie at All Recipes.

I've done the apple pie a few times and it's good one, and I most certainly will be doing the hot chocolate and marshmallows again at Christmas- the extended fam is in for a treat!

We hope you had a Wonderful and Happy HaLLoWeen!!!

Tasty Goodness

Check out some of the new recipes I've been trying out HERE. They're so Yummy!

Recipes

I posted a few recipes on my other blog Diary of a Hungry Mom...they were all pretty tasty!

Prayers do come true...

For those of you that don't know I'm kind of a stickler about the things that my kids eat. They have to eat veggies, and everything whole wheat, and not much junkie stuff. Kane has told me on more than one occasion that he would like to go live with his Nana and Mimi because (and I quote)- "Because they let me eat that tasty junk that you won't let me have."

Anyhoo, tonight while praying he says this:

"Thank you for giving me the courage to eat all that healthy food that my mom has me eat."

HA!

What a mess...He'll thank me for it later when he's older...maybe.

(carrots...YUM!)

Zucchini Muffins the Healthy Way...

Here's another great, healthy muffin recipe for you!

Zucchini Muffins

Dry Ingredients:
4 c. whole wheat flour
2 T. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 c. brown sugar

Wet Ingredients:
1 1/2 c. nonfat milk
4 egg whites, slightly beaten
1/2 c. applesauce
3/4 c. honey
1 c. grated zucchini
1/2 c. raisins

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease muffin tins lightly with oil or spray with a non-stick cooking spray, or line muffin pan w/baking cups (I do this).

2. Combine dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.

3. Mix the wet ingredients together. Pour into the dry ingredients and stir until just barely moistened. Batter should be lumpy. Fill muffin tins 2/3 full with batter.

4. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.

Makes right around 2 dozen, and like a lot of my recipes these can separated and frozen until you want them. Most of the time I try not to buy store bought treats so these are great to snack around on or for breakfast w/ some fruit and ice cold milk!!!

This recipe is actually my revised edition. For the original you can go HERE.

Hope you enjoy!

Pure Goodness...

I was asked to post my recipe for Lemon Meringue Pie the other day when I posted a picture of mine for Easter. So Here It is:


This is from Betty Crocker's Best of Baking

This is for a 9 or 10 in pie

Filling:
Mix in saucepan: 1.5 cups sugar, 1/3 cup cornstarch

Stir in gradually: 1.5 cups water

Cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil on minute (however I always let it boil, while stirring, for about 5 minutes. I find that it helps it firm up better).

Slowly stir half the hot mixture into: 3 egg yolks, slightly beaten

Then beat into hot mixture in the saucepan. Boil 3 more minutes longer, stirring constantly. Remove from hear. Continue stirring until smooth.

Blend in: 3 Tbsp butter, 4 Tbsp lemon juice (fresh is best), 1 1/3 Tbsp grated Lemon rind

Pour into Baked pie shell. Cover with Meringue (recipe follows). Bake until a delicate brown. Serve as soon as cool.

Meringue:
3 egg whites
1/4 tsp cream of tarter
6 tbsp sugar

-I always double this because I like a big Meringue (I think it's prettier!)

1. Beat whites with cream of tartar 'til frothy.

2. Gradually Beat in sugar a little at a time.

3. Continue beating until stiff and glossy.

4. Pile meringue onto pie filling, being careful to seal the meringue onto edge of crust to prevent shrinking. If the filling is exposed to the heat (not entirely covered), it may "weep".

5. Swirl or pull up points for decorative top. Bake at 400 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until delicately browned. Cool gradually in a slightly warm place, away from drafts. A chill my make the meringue fall.

There it is! and it is super Yummy! This is the hubby's favorite!

Enjoy!!!