PLEASANT NIGHTMARES

Happy Monday, everyone! Hope you all had a great weekend..... and  now it's back to work. Ugh! And believe me, I know what it feels like when that alarm goes off on a Monday morning! Aaaaaggggghhhhhhh......

Well, if you want something to bring a smile to your face, first thing in the morning.... check out these sheets and bedding from Sin In Linen! They have a whole line of super-fun bedding that will make your mornings so much more pleasant.

I love the "Skull Bedding", and I'm thinking it may be a good time to finally redecorate the guest rooms in the Manor. You can log on to Sin In Linen.com, and sign up for their newsletter too....  and if you check out their map of store locations, you can even find some of their products at Bed Bath & Beyond!!!

So if you're just setting up housekeeping, and you need some new towels.... maybe a shower curtain for the dungeon, they've got you covered! They also have everything from aprons and dishtowels, to curtains and throw pillows, too!

It's what all the spookiest Halloween homemakers are into this season!

MONSTER CAKE

If you know you're gonna be Homeroom Mom again this year for the little monster's annual Halloween party, and this time, you know you really want to wow 'em.... how about checking out this cake, from one of my favorite sites... Makoodle.com!

Makoodle founder, Camille....has really come up with a fun idea for a cake that will win you "oohhhhs" and "aaaahhhhhs" from your little goblins. These directions are failry simple, and I also included a larger picture at the bottom, so you could see more of the detail. Here are the quick instructions from Camille herself.....

The Cake
1.I made three 9″ round cakes a couple of days before the party.
2.I made my frosting and used the orange gel food coloring to make the frosting a vibrant orange.
3.After the cakes had cooled, I leveled off the top of the cake and attached the layers with the frosting. If you ever need to know how to level and frost cakes, Wilton has some good tutorials on their site.
4.I covered the outside and top of the cake with a thin layer of frosting.
5.I piped the frosting with a tip that I could make the frosting look like fur.

The Eyeballs
1.I used the baby cakes cake pop maker to make my cake calls. I read some mixed reviews online about it, but I loved it. It was really easy to use and allowed me to make exactly how many cake balls I wanted.
2.Once the cake balls had cooled, I dipped them in orange candy melts.
3.Once the orange dried, I used a Wilton candy squeeze bottle to create the white eyeball shape on the cake pop using white candy melts.
4.Before the white chocolate setup, I added a chocolate chip to finish off the eyeball.

The Mouth
1.To make the teeth, I used a Wilton candy squeeze bottle to make triangle teeth shapes on a piece of wax paper.
2.I used some Wilton black frosting to create the mouth.

I have a feeling this guy will be the hit of any kid's party..... Birthday, Halloween, or otherwise! Be sure to checkout Camille's site for more pictures and step-by-step instructions. Just log on to Makoodle.com

PUMPKIN SKULLS

Let's keep going with the "wicked white" theme, shall we?

Here's another easy idea, if you're looking for something to carve, besides the traditional Jack-O-Lantern, how about a pumpkin skull?

Just hallow out the pumpkin, and using a pencil, trace on the simple design. Now, don't fret.... if you can draw something close to a circle, and some squiggly lines... you can do this!

If you don't feel so confident in your artistic abilities, just use the picture as your guide.

Once you've traced a design you're happy with, go over it again, with a black Sharpie marker. Then carefully hallow-out the eyes, nose and mouth.

Then the final touch.... white spray paint! Again, just as in the previous post.... be sure to do this outside or in a well ventilated area..... Let dry, then add some votive candles or string lights inside.... and you've got a fantastic pumpkin that any front porch would be proud of!

WICKED WHITE

Hello to all the Halloweenies out there! The Queen is back from vacation and the cauldrons are over flowing with lots of new ideas!!!

As I've scoured castles and cemeteries far and wide, it seems that the color white, has really become quite chic for decorating, this season. And here's a great example from Fresh home.com..... it's not only quite simple, but very classy too. If you're one of those who may only want to dip their toe in the Halloween decorating swamp, this may be perfect for you!

Classic lines, very simple, and use black as the accent color.... all you need is a few cans of spray paint! Trust me, it's really not that hard to do, and the results will be fantastic! But keep it simple, a few items work best for this look.... you don't want it to be crowed or too busy. My suggestion is, find a few items, like a pumpkin, old candle stick, a bird... and maybe even a few flowers... and spray paint them black.

Then using a few more accessories, like smaller pumpkins or gourds.... some  old books or vases,  and maybe a few picture frames... spray paint them all white. Now if you've never used spray paint before, keep in mind that you want to do this project outside or in a well ventilated area. (and you may want to use a small drop cloth or cover your workspace in newspapers before you paint)

Also, when applying the paint, follow the instructions on the label. I find that it's best to apply the paint in thin layers, until you get it the look that you want. Once all the items have been painted to your satisfaction..... let them all dry (usually a few hours) and place them on the mantel or table, grouping together similar items... to give it a more refined look.

Who says creepy can't be classy???? For more great ideas to spook out your home, check out Fresh home.com!

WISH YOU WERE HERE!

It's that time of year, once again, when the Count and I take a little trip, back to the old country.... to dig up a few old relatives, and reminisce where we spent our honeymoon.

But don't worry, the Halloween Queen will be back in a few days, and I'll be sure to have tales of our wicked vacation....

So until then, I suggest maybe you relax a bit.... pick up a good, scary book.... and enjoy a few mugs of your favorite witches brew!

Now it's time to pack the coffins, and make sure the Manor has been properly dusted with cobwebs, before our departure. It's a busy day, but don't fret.... I'll be back before you know it!

Have a great week!

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

This week's recipe comes from Beth at the Hungry Happenings website, and it's a really fun one! Now, let me warn you, the recipe seems a bit lengthy, but it's not really difficult at all... trust me! Now, if you prefer, you can hop on the Hungry Happenings site and print the instructions or follow the directions step-by-step complete with diagrams and photos! But, here's what you'll need and how to do it.....

Witch Hat Appetizers (makes 5)

WITCH HATS INGREDIENTS:
a sprinkling of flour to dust work surface
1 tube Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations Crescent Seamless Dough Sheet
1 egg (whisked with 1 teaspoon of water to make an egg wash)
poppy seeds (1/4-1/3 cup)
5 long slices of cheese (white or orange, 1/2"-3/4" wide by 6" long)

FILLING INGREDIENTS:
pesto chicken salad
(2 cups of diced chicken breast, 1/3 cup pesto, 1/3 cup mayo mixed together)
OR tuna salad, shrimp salad, ham salad, lobster salad, crab salad, chicken salad,
turkey salad, cream cheese, nut butter, cheese spread, spinach/artichoke dip, etc.

Special Equipment Needed:
template -create it out of paper or card stock
pizza cutter or knife
3" round cookie cutter
5 metal cream horn molds
pastry brush
parchment paper or foil
baking sheet

Instructions:
Dust your work surface very lightly with flour. Open and unroll the crescent dough. Use your hands or a rolling pin to flatten out and even out the thickness of the dough, stretching it out a bit. Use a piece of paper or card stock to make a template. Draw a 4" line. Then create a triangle with two 3 3/4" sides. Under the 4" line create a curved area. Set the template on the dough and cut out 5 triangles using a pizza wheel or knife. Then cut 5 circles using the 3" round cookie cutter.

Lay out your triangles of dough. Set the seam of the cream horn mold along one straight edge of the triangle. Roll the cream horn form over bringing the dough with it until both straight edges of dough meet up. Press the two edges of dough together, flattening it and smoothing it out so the seam wont puff when baked.

Place poppy seeds in a shallow dish (or lid.) Brush the cones of dough with egg wash then roll them in poppy seeds, being sure to completely cover the cone. If you have bare spots you may have to carefully drip on some more egg wash then press the poppy seeds onto the dough. Brush the rounds of dough on one side and all around the edge with egg wash. Set the egg washed side of the dough into the poppy seeds and press gently. Then be sure to press poppy seeds all around the edge of the dough as well. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Set poppy seed covered cones on baking sheet, seam side down. Place at least one of the poppy seed rounds with the dough facing up, so that you can easily see how the dough is browning in the oven. Set the others any way you like on the baking sheet. Refrigerate for 20-30 minutes.

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake for 6-8 minutes until deep golden brown.

Depending on how the dough baked, your cones may not sit perfectly straight on the rounds (see the first hat on the left which is leaning - it needs trimmed), so use kitchen shears or a knife to level off the bottoms of each cone.

Carefully fill each cone with your savory filling. Set each cone down in the center of a round. Cut thin slices of cheese into 1/2"-3/4" wide by 6" long strips. Wrap one strip of cheese around the base of each cone. Press the two edges of the cheese together gently. They are ready to serve. If you are making more than 5 hats, be sure to clean your cream horn forms before repeating the process to make more hats.

Tips:
You can refrigerate your hats for a few hours or up to a few days, depending on the filling. Mine kept well for several days - the hats didn't get soggy at all. If your filling is a bit wet, then you might not want them sitting around for more than a few hours. I think those filled with a cream cheese or cheese spread would also keep for several days. I was happy with how these hats looked, but do think they could have had a few embellishments. If you make them, you might want to add a buckle using orange cheese. To give the actual hat more character, you could allow the tip of the cone to bend over. Just form the triangle of dough on the cream horn mold allowing the very top point to hang over. After you cover it in poppy seeds, bend the tip over and set on your baking sheet. Add whatever you'd like or keep them as is.
~Beth

I think these little hats will be the perfect topper to your Halloween party, this year! Thanks Beth for this awesome recipe... and be sure to check out more great recipes at Hungry Happenings.com!

49 DAYS AND COUNTING!

No silly.... not until Halloween.... but my next most-favorite day, EVER! The Season Premiere of DEXTER!!!

The last and final season of Dexter is scheduled to begin on Sunday, June 30th! And I for one, can hardly wait. Now if for some reason you've been living under a rock, and haven't ever seen Dexter.... well now is your chance! Showtime is running all the episodes from Day 1, leading up to the season premiere on June 30th. (they're running at all different times, so check out your tv guide to see when they'll be on)

If you log on to the Dexter Daily site, there's lots of sneak peeks, cast interviews and photos.... and you can even see top secret pics and tweets from the set of Season 8! How cool is that? It's like being there hanging out with Dexter, Deb and the whole cast....

I just saw the new trailer and it's pretty cool. Click here to see the new trailer!