Halloween is my favorite holiday, next to Christmas. I prepare for it months in advance and just can't stop myself from making my kids' costumes every year (or piecing them together from thrift store finds). So, I'm a little disappointed in myself for not posting something for this spook-a-licious holiday.
If you are a soup connoisseur like I fancy myself to be, you'll love this recipe. I found it in a children's newspaper my kids brought home and tweaked it to my liking.
Butternut Squash Soup
1 large butternut squash
1/4 stick butter
1/3 c. brown sugar
1 T. olive oil
4 c. chicken broth or vegetable broth
4 cloves garlic
3 green onions
1/2 t. each of nutmeg, cinnamon, sea salt
1 pinch cayenne pepper (just a pinch)
1-2 c. plain soymilk, rice milk or milk (to desired consistency)
1 large butternut squash
1/4 stick butter
1/3 c. brown sugar
1 T. olive oil
4 c. chicken broth or vegetable broth
4 cloves garlic
3 green onions
1/2 t. each of nutmeg, cinnamon, sea salt
1 pinch cayenne pepper (just a pinch)
1-2 c. plain soymilk, rice milk or milk (to desired consistency)
2 splashes Frank's Redhot (hotsauce)
Cut squash in half and spread most of the butter across the top, then sprinkle with brown sugar. Place the two halves of the squash on a cookie sheet and bake for one hour or until you can stick a for in it and it is tender. Allow the squash to cool. Scoop out into a medium sized bowl and discard the seeds and skin. Set aside. Slice green onions and peel and press the three cloves of garlic. Place olive oil into a small to medium sized saute pan over medium heat. After warming the oil, place onions and garlic into the pan and stir them until slightly gold. Add broth and simmer 10 minutes. Transfer it carefully into a blender along with the squash. Add nutmeg, cinnamon, sea salt and cayenne pepper into the blender or use a hand held blender. Add the milk and blend until pureed. Transfer back to a medium sized pot and reheat. I usually taste it here and add more spices!
Cut squash in half and spread most of the butter across the top, then sprinkle with brown sugar. Place the two halves of the squash on a cookie sheet and bake for one hour or until you can stick a for in it and it is tender. Allow the squash to cool. Scoop out into a medium sized bowl and discard the seeds and skin. Set aside. Slice green onions and peel and press the three cloves of garlic. Place olive oil into a small to medium sized saute pan over medium heat. After warming the oil, place onions and garlic into the pan and stir them until slightly gold. Add broth and simmer 10 minutes. Transfer it carefully into a blender along with the squash. Add nutmeg, cinnamon, sea salt and cayenne pepper into the blender or use a hand held blender. Add the milk and blend until pureed. Transfer back to a medium sized pot and reheat. I usually taste it here and add more spices!
My kids know that October and December are the only months I make sugar cookies and this recipe is my absolute favorite. One of my dearest neighbors made these every Christmas and we were lucky enough to be on the receiving end. We love to make witches, pumpkins and this year, modified ghosts! (I should have taken a picture, but everyone loves a good sugar cookie).
Soft Sugar Cookies
1 c. butter or margarine
2 heaping c. powdered sugar
2 eggs
1 (8 oz. sour cream)
1 t. vanilla
1/2 t. baking soda
1.2 t. salt
4 t. baking powder
4 1/2 c. flour
Cream butter and powdered sugar. Add remaining ingredients. Mix and chill for at least 1 hour. Roll dough out and cut into shapes. Bake 10-12 minutes at 350 or until golden brown (I take them out before they get golden so they're not crispy, but that's just me).
Frosting:
1 to 2 t. vanilla
1 bag powdered sugar
1 cube margarine or butter
canned milk (just enough to make spreading consistency)
And last, but not least, I had to add a craft. This year I have failed in engaging my kids in any creative activities, but I found these cute Halloween Pals while I was drumming up ideas for my son's Halloween activity at school. The original post where I thought I saw them seems to have disappeared, but there are a ton of cute ideas at http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2009/10/frankenstein-craft.html
Basically, take a toilet paper roll (or cut a paper towel roll in half if you are a germ-a-phobe) and allow your child to paint it with craft paint (washable is a good idea here). Let it dry completely and add googly eyes, bat wings, mummy wrappings, spider legs (with pipe cleaners) or a pumpkin stem with tissue paper, etc. Your kids have great imaginations so let them be creative. Here's what we came up with!
