Witches Hat

I needed a witches hat this year for a couple of reasons. The first being my sister and her daughter, my mom and I decided to go to the Witches Breakfast at Gardner Village in West Jordan, the next being all my sisters, my mom and I were doing a girls night out that included going to Witches Night Out at Gardner Village. For each event you have the option of dressing up like a witch. We all decided it would be super fun to wear hats. I looked around and didn't really love any of the pre-made witches hats, although my mom and sisters found some really cute ones in a different city at a place I wouldn't even have thought of looking. So I decided to make my own. I love how it turned out and I got a lot of compliments at Witches Night out. I'll post a picture of the evening once I get it from my sister. We had tons of fun. I must say I love my orange owl which was a random find at Michael's. Plus I absolutely love making the fabric roses/flowers. They were so much fun. I just wish I had more things to put them on so I could make more.

The front of the hat (above), close up of one of the sides (below)
The back (below)
Close up of the other side (below)
Disclaimer: I'm a crappy photographer, so sorry the pictures are kind of fuzzy.

Autumn Cake

I decided every now and then to post previous cakes I've made and since it is feeling like a very Fall day I wanted to post last years Fall/Autumn Cake. I have a baking bug right now, the leaves have all changed on the mountains, it's overcast outside and my house smells like a delicious pumpkin candle. So I've decided it's the perfect Sunday for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies. I'm heading into the kitchen to make them now. If I don't eat them all right away I'll post some pictures of them.

October Daring Cooks Challenge

Our October 2010 hostess, Lori of Lori’s Lipsmacking Goodness, has challenged The Daring Cooks to stuff grape leaves. Lori chose a recipe from Aromas of Aleppo and a recipe from The New Book of Middle Eastern Food.




It was hard to find grape leaves so I used cabbage leaves since I grew up having cabbage rolls. I didn't cook them all the way through (only blanched them) because I like mine slightly crunchy.

Daring Bakers September Challenge

The September 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Mandy of “What the Fruitcake?!” Mandy challenged everyone to make Decorated Sugar Cookies based on recipes from Peggy Porschen and The Joy of Baking.

It was really fun to make. I'm not sure I'm sold on the recipe, I still prefer my grandmothers sugar cookie recipe but it was yummy and they were fun to decorate.
I did a September or Autumn theme. That included dog bones because it's my dogs birthday in September and fall leaves because of the wonderful colors that are starting to be splashed across the mountain sides. I did the decorating for most of them with melted chocolate.

September Daring Cooks Challenge

The September 2010 Daring Cooks’ challenge was hosted by John of Eat4Fun. John chose to challenge The Daring Cooks to learn about food preservation, mainly in the form of canning and freezing. He challenged everyone to make a recipe and preserve it. John’s source for food preservation information was from The National Center for Home Food Preservation.

I choose to make rasberry and blackberry freezer jam since they're in season. I just used the recipe on the back of the pectin box.



I've made both freezer jam and jarred jam that you have to cook and I must say freezer jam is much easier, at least to me.