Showing posts with label Halloween. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Halloween. Show all posts

Thursday, November 10, 2011


From Linda Cicero’s Cook’s Column
Perfect Pumpkin Cupcake with Vanilla Bean Butter Cream

For the cupcakes:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Seeds from 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped

For the vanilla bean butter cream:
8 ounces cream cheese
1 stick unsalted butter
Seeds from 2 vanilla beans, split and scraped
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 cups confectioners’ sugar


Note:

After you scrape the seeds from the split vanilla beans, you can put the empty pods into a
container of sugar to make vanilla sugar for another use.
Heat oven to 325 degrees. Line two cupcake tins with paper liners In a saucepan, melt the
butter over medium-low heat and continue to cook, swirling occasionally, until butter turns
golden brown. Skim foam from top. Remove butter from heat, pour into bowl and let cool.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. In another bowl,
whisk together the pumpkin puree, both sugars, eggs, vanilla seeds, vanilla and
brown-butter mixture, Add the flour mixture, and whisk until just combined. Divide batter
evenly among lined cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through,
until a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer tins to wire
racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes. Frost with Vanilla Bean Buttercream.
Makes 24 cupcakes.

To make frosting: Cream butter and cream cheese together. Add vanilla seeds and vanilla
and mix thoroughly. Add confectioners’ sugar one cup at a time and whisk until fluffy.

Per serving: 288 calories (47 percent from fat), 15.3 g fat, (9.3 g saturated fat, 3.9 g monounsaturated fat), 56 mg cholesterol, 2.4 g protein, 36 g carbohydrates, 0.6 g fiber, 130 mg sodium.


Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/11/10/2493945/perfect-pumpkin-cupcake-with-vanilla.html#ixzz1dM5NBjzq
 
I made these today and they are soo good.
If you like pumpkin try out Linda's Recipe

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Paper Pumpkin

Paper Pumpkin
This fun paper mache pumpkin is not difficult to make but does require adult help.


Materials
Paper Mache Paste
Balloons (any size)
Newspaper
String
Paint
Construction paper
Googly eyes (optional)

General Instructions
Make Paper Mache Paste.

Paper Mache Paste

1 cup water
1/4 cup flour
5 cups lightly boiling water
Mix flour into one cup water until mixture is thin and runny, stir into boiling water. Gently boil and stir for 3 minutes. Cool before using. (Use with newspaper/newsprint strips for Paper mache).

Cut newspaper or newsprint into 2" wide strips.
Blow up balloons (as many as you like) and tie off. Attach string to tied end of balloon.
Once paper mache paste is cool, dip individual strips of newsprint into paste.
Apply strips to balloon one at a time. Repeat process until balloon is completely covered. The more layers the firmer your finished work will be.
Hang balloon by string in warm, dry area for at least 24 hours or until completely dry. Be sure to us a drip cloth to protect area.
**if you are making pumpkins - take a 1-2" piece of a paper towel or toilet paper roll. Hold on top of balloon and attach with newspaper strips to form stalk for pumpkin.

Paper Pumpkin

Once paper mached balloon is dry:
Gently insert sharp needle into base of balloon - you should hear a pop and balloon pull away from sides of hardened shell.
Gently push in bottom of shell to form a dent - or base for the pumpkin to sit.
Do not force. If dent will not form, use a cardboard strip, about 1" wide, stapled into a circle as a base.
Paint body of pumpkin orange. Paint stalk green.
To decorate paint eyes, nose and mouth on pumpkin in desired "look". You can use googly eyes if you wish. You can cut out green leaves from construction paper and use green floral wire to form vines.

You can also cut out eyes, nose and mouth using a sharp bladed knife. Then cut a circle in the back and shine a flashlight inside. Do NOT use a candle or flame. These pumpkins are paper and will immediately burn.

From visitors to Kids' Turn Central: "My kids and I made the paper mache jack o'lantern a few years back, but what we did with it was cut the top

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Simple Prim Pumpkins


This was the brainchild of franklin over on the forum board.
The great Prim Pumpkin collection.
She gives simple instructions on how to make these little cuties.
HERE

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

The Paper Shoe

This is a great shoe pattern and set of instructions.
Yes it's a witch shoe, but with a few Color modifications it becomes a clever gift for mothers day .
Found at SkiptomyLou HERE
Be sure to check out her other paper ideas on the left hand side of the blog.