Friday, October 22, 2010

Finger Lickin' Good...Ewww and Yum!

Are you trying to find that perfect treat to serve to your guests or trick-or-treaters?  Severed finger cookies will do the trick!  Warning:  They look so real that they may run screaming from them!  Seriously, I was so excited to make these and brought them into my daughter's first grade class (years ago) and the kids wouldn't touch them!  The adults had a great time eating them though!  I posted these last year and they are a huge hit so I am bringing them back!  The best Halloween cookie I have ever made mostly because it is so effective! They taste yummy too!  Make them if you dare!  Recipe below...


Bloody Severed Finger Recipe


1 cup butter, softened
1 cup confectioner's sugar
1 Egg
1 tsp almond extract
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 2/3 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
3/4 cup almonds, whole blanched (not sure what blanched means, I just bought "slivered" almonds for the nails)
1 tube red decorator gel
 Preheat oven to 325

Cream the butter with powdered sugar.  Mix in egg, and extracts until creamy.  Sift and add the dry ingredients.  Blend to make a soft dough.  Wrap and refrigerate dough until it is easy to work with (about 15-20 minutes).  Roll into a finger shape about 3" long and 1/2" thick (They will rise when baked so make them smaller than you'd like the finished finger to be).  Place finger on lined cookie sheet.  Using a butter knife, lightly press a flat nail bed shape at the end of the finger and cut 3 lines in the middle of the finger to form knuckles.  Press lightly above and below knuckle to make finger more realistic (give it shape).  Bake at 325 degrees for 20-25 minutes.  Remove from oven and let cool for 3-5 minutes.  Put a bit of red gel in the nail bed and press the almond fingernails into the end of the finger.

*Arrange fingers on a nice platter, add some spiders to crawl over fingers.  Try and make them as real as possible!

Have fun making these and let me know if you do!

xojamilyn

Photo's taken via me, recipe via Living It At Home




Saturday, September 25, 2010

"Creepy Elegance"....I've Gone Batty!

Are we really here again...already?  Yes, start your planning now!  Just a friendly reminder to get movin'!  Every year {after the wonderful Halloween night has passed} I say, to myself, I am going to do better next year or do more or start earlier!  Fall is my favorite time of year and with it comes all the splendor of decorating for the season.  This bat project was relatively easy and didn't require too much commitment.  Kind of a last minute project I jumped at.  I think it gave me the desired affect I was looking for to decorate my front door (yes, that is my front door and my daughter).  I call it "creepy elegance".  Even though it is only September 24, I feel like I am behind in my planning.  Especially when you are looking for material for your blog!  I am determined to enjoy myself and not stress over how much I decorate this year.  If you would like to try to make these bats, please go here for my instructions.  Come join me and let's get creative!  My favorite thing to do...
"Gone Batty" photo property of Living It At Home

"Gone Batty" photo property of Living It At Home
Since I am in Halloween mode now, I am going to try and do a weekly post on decorating for Halloween or the Fall season.  I am going to see how it goes!  It is such a beautiful time of year here in Massachusetts!  I hope you are enjoying gorgeous weather wherever you may be!  I am looking forward to seeing all the beautiful leaf colors!
If you would like to share your Fall or Halloween projects please link up!  I would love to see them!
Stay tuned for more!
xojamilyn