Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Best Dressed

I have a rule in my house, no Halloween until October 1st. I hate how stores push holidays so early, it takes the fun out of it for me to see Halloween costumes already out in August. But it’s October so at my house we have finally made it to Halloween season, my favorite baking season. Halloween is all about playing with foods for me, but there’s so much more as well. I love to decorate my house, and I’m living vicariously through all of my friends’ posts about costumes.

The way I see it, there’s a whole progression in the costume timeline. It starts when the children are little and this is one of my favorite times. I get to pick what they wear and take adorable pictures.

Then the kids get a little older and they get to pick insist on picking their own costumes. This is about the time that moms start frantically shopping and designing and working night and day to live up to their child’s vision. But there’s nothing like the look on their face when you do.

During these years the parents get to dress up too, for school parties, for handing out candy and, for us, adult costume parties; different treats but lots of fun.

Following those years there’s a bit of a lull for the kids. Many hit the age where they don’t dress up. During these years I host tons of teens for a party in my basement on Halloween. I make Halloween treats but most of the kids don’t dress up. This is the stage that we’re in now. I know eventually the kids will find dressing up fun again, but for now here we are.

Snake Sandwich | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #halloween

Snake Sandwich

Snake Sandwich | recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #Halloween



And during this lull I find myself looking back at some of the costumes I made we wore through the years. The best ones are easy to remember. I loved this butterfly one because it’s the first one I ever really made myself.

Butterfly Costume | picture property of www.BakingInATornado.com



The worst Halloween costume I’ve ever worn was also the scariest. And the sad thing is that I wasn’t even wearing a costume.

It was the day of Halloween and I was just putting the candy into a bowl when I had an itch on my eyelid. I’m not sure how i did it but I ended up scratching my eye. It didn’t hurt but it bled. Since there was no pain involved I just forgot all about it. That night, dressed in my normal clothes, I happily went to answer the door, big bowl of candy in my hand. The neighborhood children took one look at me and, deciding to forgo the candy, went screaming from the house. Parents even gave me nasty looks. Wimps.
But that’s OK, I was perfectly happy drowning my sorrows in candy. And I have it on good authority that chocolate has healing powers. Bet my eye got better much faster once I started making my way through that candy bowl.


Bloody Eyeball | graphic designed by and property of www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics



The worst Halloween costume my children ever wore is a matter of perspective.

I happen to think that this picture of my boys is the cutest thing ever. Yet now that they’re teens, when I take this adorable picture out to show to their friends each Halloween, my boys (who agree on absolutely nothing) will both tell me that these are the worst costumes EVER. In fact, they claim that it’s possible that if I don’t lose this picture they’ll require therapy for life.

Bee and Cow Costumes | picture property of www.BakingInATornado.com



Once they got a little older and could choose their own costumes, my boys showed me what a Halloween costume is really all about. They actually had me make these for them:



Freddie and Jason costumes | picture property of www.BakingInATornado.com


Anyone wondering why I’M in therapy for life?

 

Baking In A Tornado signature | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics





Snake Sandwich
                                         ©www.BakingInATornado.com
                                                                                                                                                

 
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients:
1 (1 #) loaf of frozen bread dough, thawed
2 TBSP sweet hot mustard
6 - 8 slices deli ham
6 - 8  slices deli turkey
Approximately 20 slices pepperoni
6  slices provolone cheese
¼ cup black olive slices
3 different colors of food coloring
3 tsp water
3 egg whites
1 thin slice red pepper about 2 inches long
*You will need 2 toothpicks
 
Directions:
*Grease a baking sheet. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
*Flour a working surface and roll out the dough to approximately 24 inches by 8 inches.
*Gently spread mustard onto the dough, leaving a ½ inch border.
*Layer on the cold cuts, cheese and all but 2 of the black olive slices.
*Roll the dough up, rolling from the long side. Pinch the ends of the snake so the meat is enclosed and the back one comes to a point. Fold the front dough under to form a face.
*Move to the baking sheet, seam down and manipulate so the entire sandwich looks like an “S”.
*Mix each food coloring separately with an egg white and a tsp cold water. Using a pastry brushes, “paint” stripes onto the snake.
*Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the bread is golden.
*While it’s baking, cut a 2 inch long strip of red pepper and cut a “v” out of the end to look like a tongue.
*When the “snake” comes out of the oven, cut a small slit in the front where it comes to a point and insert the flat side of the red pepper inside so it sticks out and looks like a tongue. Insert toothpicks where the eyes would be and put black olive slices onto each toothpick.



30 comments:

  1. We've stopped buying costumes and let the kids have their input. This year, we will have a ballerina, a zombie football player and a made up version of a Monster High doll.

    The husband and I are going as tired parents....it's our go to. haha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's so funny, so many people I know have the same go-to. Used that one a few times myself over the years.

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  2. The snake sandwich is soooo cool. The eyeball story is soooo hilarious!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. I tortured my poor son all day by telling him we were having snake for dinner.

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  3. I love Halloween. I couldn't wait until I got old enough to wear my own costume too. BTW - you're a hot momma butterfly in that pic!

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  4. Stop traumatizing the kids Karen. You know they will make you pay for it in the long run, ha ha ha. Cute outfits though and I love the look of that snake sandwich. You can really wind the kids up with that one. If I'm ever invited to a kiddies party and going to unveil this one in a much bigger version. I'll have them running round like nutters, ha ha ha ha.

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  5. so going to try this nad hope it comes out halfway decent. LOL

    OMG...they look so cute...so save that pic for when they have kids of their own.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It will come out, it's really not hard, and kids love it. Enjoy!

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  6. Omg is it bad that I am laughing so hard at the visual of your eye and kids running and screaming? I love the pictures! I'm telling you most people don't get a glimpse into their future but you give me just that. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Honestly, once they start picking their own costumes, it really is fun to see what direction they'll go in. Of course my kids both went the serial killer route . . .

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  7. How cute!!!!!! I love those times. I am now in 2 stages. The older 3 kids want no part of Halloween, except to maybe steal candy from the younger 2. The younger 2 pick their own costumes. Last year was EASY! This year I have an easy and a VERY hard! LOL

    I can't believe I'm saying this but I LIKE that snake! ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't imagine having kids in all different stages all at once. You have to be one very busy lady!

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  8. WOW that snake sandwich really got my attention. Very creative.
    The costume issue...oh don't get me started! ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have to admit I just love seeing everyone's faces when I put that snake on the table!

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  9. Don't you listen to Dr. Phil? BE YOURSELF, Karen! Pop the eyball out of your socket if you think it'll get you some fun on Halloween. Oh, and don't listen to your boys, because those costumes are ADORABLE. Well, I suppose that's why they think nastily of them.

    Hell, give 'em some snake sandwich and tell them to GROW A PAIR... lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I'm going to have to admit that eye really wasn't pretty. But sheesh, it's not like I did it on purpose.

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  10. I love the picture of your boys when they were little, I don't think that they what they are talking about when they say they don't like the costumes that they are wearing, they looks so cute.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really do love that picture, it's one of my favorites.

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  11. Aw, my kids are at a stage of choosing their own costume. Well, the nine year old is. Chris has to dress up for a band performance and Alex has a Halloween party at college (cue trashy clothes)... I love the pic of your little boys. You need to copy it and staple it to their treat bags. Even young adults need treat bags.
    That snake is dang scary, woman. I must make it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you make the snake, it's really fun. And I think you better double check Alex's costume before she leaves, I remember those college Halloween parties . . .

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  12. Love the snake - such a fun idea, Karen! I'm the mean mom when it comes to Halloween - I just buy a bunch of candy for the kiddos and we forego trick or treating and costumes.

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    Replies
    1. I have to admit, the thinking about and putting together of the costumes, the anticipation of the night when they finally get to wear them, the whole process is just so much fun.

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  13. I LOVE that I you included a photo of yourself! I've been a reader forever (if only I had mad baking skillz like you) and now I have seen your lovely face! I also can't stand the early holidy-push in stores. I saw Christmas wreaths the other day ...can we get through Halloween first!!! I love the snake - you insanely creative lady!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I actually don't take pictures as I can't seem to take any where my eyes are open. But the one here is VERY old.

      And I cannot believe you're seeing Christmas wreaths in the stores. What are we doing, just skipping Thanksgiving this year?

      Delete
  14. I just loooooooooooove the snake sandwich - so cute!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, it's so much fun to see people's faces when I put it on the table.

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  15. What a fun sandwich! A little scary, but it's Halloween :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, Halloween's the perfect time for a Snake Sandwich!

      Delete

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