Trick or Treat, Smell my Feet!!!

Happy Halloween!

Yesterday was our Trick or Treat Day b/c of the HUGE Halloween Parade here in Toms River.   The Parade is 3 hours long!!!

In OUR Halloween Tradition, the meal last night was given SPOOKY NAMES....Spaghetti was called worms and blood, the Meatballs were Monkey Brains, and the Chicken Parm was Fried Rats!!!   LOL!  G loves telling everyone we ate Fried Rats and Monkey Brains!!!!

I made a lot, b/c we had company and of course for leftovers!  Here is the recipe for Monkey Brains.

MONKEY BRAINS

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees

2 lbs. of Ground Beef

1 lb. of Ground Pork

Tastefully Simple's Tomato Garlic Pesto about 1 1/2 Tbsp.

Lots of Onion Powder

2 cups of Fresh Seasoned Bread Crumbs

1/4 cups of Milk

2 Eggs

Seasonings: Dried Whole Oregeno,  Salt, Pepper,

FOR BREADCRUMBS:

Get out your Handy Dandy Food Processor.....Grab 8 slices of white Bread, add Dried Whole Oregano 1 1/2 Tbsp., Processs,  add Salt, Process, Pepper, Process until bread crumb consistancy.

Mix into MEAT, Pesto, Onion Powder, MILK, and Eggs

Shape into Balls, I used 1 Tbsp. Scoop

Line on a cookie sheet with Parchment Paper.   (Parchment Paper is the best stuff of earth!!!)

Bake for 30 mins.

See one was missing b/c I couldn't resist tasting it!

Throw Meatballs into the Pot where you are heating up the Sauce....let simmer for about 20 mins. 

G Vants to Eat Monkey Brains and worms!

I was an Old Lady....G kept yelling, Hurry UP Grandma!!!

This was our Party spread for the Giants Football Game!!!  

Have a Safe Halloween Night!!!

Halloween Memories.....

G's first Halloween.   She was the perfect little Honey Bee!!!

Now my little Honey Bee wants to be a Ballerina Zombie!!!

Posing with her Pumpkin and favorite black cat....

I made these ghosts 2 years ago.   I traced our hands....awwww such memories.   That little fish is RockStar our Beta Fish.   We are on RockStar #2 but this last one has been alive over a year!!

G and her Best Friends!!!   Aren't they the Bee's Knees?!!!

Have a Safe and Happy Halloween Weekend!!!

It's Friday!!!!   Yes, the best day of the week!!!    

And it begins.....

I am soooo sorry that I haven't blogged anything yet.    I'm busy making bows!!!!

Here are a few that I have made so far.   You should see all the ribbon that I have, now I can't wait to go into the Fashion District to go ribbon shopping!!!!

The Purple is a Soccer Bow for G...her team is named the Sparkles

The Orange and Black one is for A., G's friend.

A Bow for G to wear to Ballet.

Ahhhh.....my first bow I made.    it's so cute, I think I'll keep it forever!

Don't Hate, make Wacky Cake......

When I think of elementary cafeteria food my mind always goes to Wacky Cake!   In a small town our daily lunch was homecooked, those ladies would make the best rolls, cinnamon rolls, and wacky cake!   (I wonder if they still serve that beloved chocolate cake??)   It was a chocolate cake with just a hint of cinnamon.....talk about YUMMY!!! 

For years and years I looked for the Wacky Cake recipe on the internet and just recently I found it!!  Yay Me!!! I even went as far as buying my perfect Wacky Cake Pan a year ago because I knew I was going to get this recipe.   

So here we go!    Of course I tweaked it a bit to fit my family's needs....meaning, gluten-free!!!

I doubled the recipe in order to fit my Wacky Cake pan but here is the original recipe. 

Wacky Chocolate Cake

1 1/2 c. sifted all purpose flour

(I used Gluten free All Purpose Flour)

1 c. Sugar

(I used 1/2  c. of Nevella and organic sugar)

3 Tbsp. Cocoa

1 tsp. Baking Soda

1/2 tsp. Salt

A good dash of Cinnamon

1/4 c. plus 2 Tbsp. Oil (Canola or Vegetable)

1 Tbsp. Vinegar

1 tsp. Vanilla

1 c. Cold Water

Sift Dry ingredients-es (As Theresa from NJ Housewives would say) into ungreased 9 Inch Pan.   Make 3 holes in flour.   Measure oil into first hole, Measure Vinegar in second, Vanilla into the last hole.   Pour Cold Water over all.   Mix until blended (DO NOT BEAT).   Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 mins.    More towards the 25 mins. zone.   I like mine more brownie like. 

Now let's talk FROSTING!!!

I ran out of Cocoa powder (oh NO!) but luckily I had Baker's Chocolate Squares

3 Tbsp. Butter softened

1 1/3 c. confectioner's sugar

1/3 c. Cocoa 

Dash of Cinnamon 

1/6 c. Milk

1/2 tsp. Vanilla

Beat well and put over cake in pan while slightly warm

I next added rows of Pecans!   

Look at this deliciousness!!!  

E loved it as much as I did! 

With every bite it took me back to my childhood....I was ready to go play 2 square or Kick to the Crowd!!!!

Since I used Gluten-Free Flour I also had to use 1/2 tsp (per cup of flour) of Xanthan Gum.   It helps thicken the flour when baking.  

So my Wacky Cake turned out semi-healthy, but the frosting blew the healthy part out of the water!!!    Maybe I'll name it my Even Steven Cake!!!

If you have a recipe you'd like me to try, please post it in the comments.   I'll try it and post about it!

"The Bows"

I finally did it...I went out and bought a Bow Maker.   I've been buying G bows since she was born.   I swear I have spent HUNDREDS on bows and hair accessories and in this recession maybe I should start making my own!

So after my morning walk I went to Michael's Craft Store and giddily skipped down the rows of ribbon!  As I bust out in song (as if I was in a musical) I picked up my Bowdabra and started spinning like THE SOUND OF MUSIC!!!

I am probably the happiest Gal in NEW JERSEY!!!!

I cannot wait to open and use it!!! 

I'm going to make bows for everything and in every color!

A HUGE BOW for my Car at Christmas, Bows around our trees, Bows around our Pool Fence and Bows here, there, and everywhere!!!

OF The BOWS, bows, Bows, bows, bows, bows, bows!!!

(I wonder how Edgar Allan Poe would've written about bows?) 

You need a bow for your hair...I've got you covered! 

Need a bow for a present....give me a ring!

Put a bow on it and call it wrapped!

Also it was G's Hip Hop Halloween!  She dressed as Little Red Riding Hood. 

 "What big eyes yous got."   The better to watch you dance my dear!

There are no small parts, only small actors......

With Over Two Pieces of Luggage

G has a snippit of a scene in this new Play that will be showed at the Greek Cultural Center between Oct. 28th Until Dec. 11th.  

 GREEK CULTURAL CENTER
ΚΕΝΤΡΟ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΟΥ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΜΟΥ
26-80 30th Street.,
Astoria, NY 11102
Tel: 718-726-7329
www.greekculturalcenter.org

The play is an autobiographical tale of a young man, Alexandros, growing up in Cyprus and coming to New York in pursuit of a dream. Overprotected yet insecure, Alexandros is brought up in the conservative, tight-knit familial society of Lefkosia before arriving to a land of new opportunities, new relationships, and new values…
After 10 years of residency in New York, the play refers to the hero’s experiences in a big city, and how his upbringing, mentors, friends, family, military training and Cypriot principles have positively or negatively influenced the way in which he handles himself in the city of opportunities and isolation.
Airline regulations allow for a maximum of two pieces of luggage when travelling to the United States. At the heart of the play lies the additional baggage that all Cypriots carry upon moving to New York; success, love, money, health, and the sense of obligation towards our family, all building up to the grand final decision: Should I stay or should I go?

She already filmed her part and we are excited to go see her first little performance!!!!

Sweater Weather.....

It's my favorite time of year, time to break out Cardigans and Sweatshirts!  

The air is getting crisp, the leaves are starting to turn colors, the smell of cinnamon is inviting, and stews, soups and chilis are bubbling away on stoves.  

The only downfall is that it's getting darker sooner and sooner.  

I get drowsy as soon as it gets dark....like a chicken!

The Other night we bundled up in layers and went to Fright Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure.  (It seemed like it was 10 P.M. but it was only 7 P.M.)  We had so much fun!    G was a little scared of the ghouls walking around.   I was scared of the rides (I'm such a fraidy Cat!) Thank Heavens for J-Z and her little daughter A, b/c G or I wouldn't have made it!  

My Favorite Part was People Watching...does anyone else get a kick out of that I as much as I do?   

We got their Face Painted and whistles!  (Whistles are for the Ghouls, if you blow the whistle they know not to scare you.)

Perfect Chilly night to go to Six Flags!  There weren't any lines and the girls were able to win prizes!!!

I guess today I'll finally decorate for Halloween!   We only have a week left. 

Danced it's way into my pocketbook.....

 Yesterday after our walk, J-Z took me to the most fabulous place in Toms River! A little unknown secret to the outside Non-Dancer world.   Since G is in Hip Hop, Ballet and Tap where do we get cute dance wear??? 

ENCORE DANCEWEAR on Fischer Blvd.

http://www.encorenjdancewear.com/

To Look at this door you would think it was just a ordinary shop that sells Old Man shoes.....

TA-DA!!!!

Whoa....you just got blown away didn't you?   The picture doesn't do it justice.....

There is Dance Wear for every genre....Hip Hop, Ballet, Tap, Contemporary, Ballroom, You name it they got it!    

Leotards Galore!!!

J-Z asked, "Whatta you think?"

I think, PERFECT!!!

I got matching tutus for E and I....hahaha!

I love spoiling G, she makes it so easy though!!!

I would've bought this bumper sticker if only it said, "I LOVE JAZZ HANDS"

TUTU many tutus!!

I fell in love with these dance bags!

I am so glad I didn't bring G with me...oh my goodness....but I can't wait to take her.   She will literally faint! 

Pulled Pork you'll fall apart for....

For those of you who love PULLED PORK SANDWICHES but have never made it before here a super easy recipe that you MUST TRY!!!

Since I am married to "the Commissioner" for Fantasy Football I usually try to make something easy and Delicious for Sunday.  We never know where we are going to watch  the GAMES or if THE GUYS are coming over to our house.   

Let me tell you, there is nothing  better than eating a Pulled Pork Sandwich and watching a football game.....Could there be anything more American?   oh, well, maybe hot dogs and baseball!!!

What you will need is your Handy Dandy Crock Pot, a Pork Picnic Shoulder, your favorite rub (I use HEAD COUNTRY), overnight, and your favorite BBQ Sauce.

First Make Sure your Pork fits in the Crockpot....LOL!!!    

Apply your rub to all sides of the PORK...be generous!!!    When you think maybe you shouldn't add more....believe me  ADD MORE!!!

And DON'T cut off the fat on the bottom....in this case FAT MEANS FLAVOR!!!

Slap on the lid and set to LOW OVERNIGHT.

If you don't wake up to your stomach grumbling and hungry I will be very surprised!  

Test your pork...if it just falls apart once you touch it with a fork and if the bone just slides out.... Then you know You've done it right.   Get prepared mentally for all the praise you will get....maybe the Town will ask you to be the Parade Marshall in the Christmas Parade????  You never know!!!

Take it out piece by piece...that way you can seperate as much of the fat as possible.    Go Ahead and try a few pieces.   (This is Mine and G's favorite part!)

Let the PULLING BEGIN!    Just take out two forks and start shredding away!

Spoon a few ladels of the juice from the crockpot....it will add a bit of flavor and keep the pork moist!

Dry Pork is BAD!!!

My Brother once said, "Do pigs know they taste this GOOD???"

I don't think they do!!!!  

My Favorite way to eat it is with white bread and BBQ sauce!   

It turned out Delicious and BLOG worthy!!!!

Seriously this is the easiest dish to make and bring to a pot luck....Give it a try and you won't be sorry you did!!!