Happy Halloween -- Creepy Pizza Cookies



Zoulah wants to wish you the most wonderful Halloween and has so enjoyed being in her Bewitchen Kitchen this Halloween.  Zoulah wanted to bring you one more treat that we served at our Halloween parties -- Creepy Pizza Cookies.  Zoulah and I have been Halloweening and partying it up.  We have hosted two Halloween parties and attended another.  We went to a Missionary Welcome Home Party and a baby shower.  Not a lot of blogging was going on last week.

For the Creepy Pizza Cookies, just take a sugar cookie, frost with red frosting for the tomato sauce, add green and orange sprinkles for moldy cheese and then add eyes and worms.  So easy and fun.

This will be Zoulah's last post until next year.  She thanks you for all of your kind words of support and encouragement.  She hopes you had a wonderful Halloween with all your ghosties, goblins, and witchies.

Jolly Jack-O-Lantern Table

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Zoulah and I welcome you to Red Couch Recipes and to Tablescape Thursday.  Zoulah and I set our Jolly Jack-O-Lantern table on the deck.  Sadly, I think it will be the last table set on our deck this year.  The weather here has snapped cold.

The stars of the table are these Jolly Pumpkin Scarecrow plates.  They make me smile looking a them :).

The napkin rings were on clearance at Wal-Mart two years ago.

I have stuffed the table and the little table behind with lots of Jolly Jack-O-Lanterns.  I go crazy over pumpkins at this time and love to carve them with my family.

It's a pretty view through the bubble glasses.

Just a long view of the table and the little table behind.

An angle shot.  I am loving all the orange and all the Jolly Jack-O-Lanterns.

I have had this terra cotta Jack-O-Lantern for at least 15 years.

I hope you enjoyed our Jolly Jack-O-Lantern table.

Zoulah's New Halloween Home

Much to Zoulah's horror, last year after Halloween, the Red Couch Children ate Zoulah's home!  This year, Zoulah forced the Red Couch Children to help decorate her home.  It is very similar, structurally, to her last year's home, but the decorating is a tad bit different.  You can see Zoulah's home from last year on the sidebar.

Zoulah welcomes you to the tour of her home.

A frightening gooing eyeball greets you on the side of the home, as well as a scary green Frankenstein.

Zoulah is particularly enamored with the green scary witch that is on the front of the house and the sign that say "Caution:  Enter If You Dare. "  For the Red Couch Children, it should say "Caution:  Don't Eat Zoulah's Home! '

We have been making these gingerbread homes for years at Halloween and decorating the gingerbread home each year is a fun part of our Halloween celebration.  The mold is a large John Wright metal mold that is available on E-Bay.  We used royal icing for decorating and melted sugar to hold the home together.

Zoulah thanks you for dropping by her home today.

Posted with Wow Us Wednesdays

Rainy the Water Witch

Zoulah welcomes you to Red Couch Recipes today with a warm witchy hug!  She made "Rainy the Water Witch" for our front porch.  She bought some "witch shoes" at a thrift store for $3.00 and stuffed some Halloween tights.

She already had this sign and she felt it fit perfectly.

Just attach the legs of the witch to an umbrella and anchor the umbrella to a chair.

Zoulah feels that this is such a fun and easy way to welcome your guests for Halloween.  Thanks for dropping by and "sitting for a spell" on our Red Couch.

 Posted with the following:  Weekend Wrapup, Metamorphasis Monday, Wow Us Wednesdays

Spider Webby Pumpkin Cheesecake

Zoulah warmly greets you to Red Couch Recipes and says, "EEEK", the spiders have invaded her pumpkin cheesecake and have spun WEBS!  Zoulah had a little fun in her BEWITCHEN KITCHEN today.  She made Pumpkin Cheesecake and added some webby spider fun to the presentation.  Zoulah is a huge fan of spiders.

Zoulah used Paula Deen's  recipe for Pumpkin Cheesecake which she has printed below.  Her recipe, of course made a good cheesecake.  Of course Zoulah recommends topping your cheese cake with some whipping cream.  Zoulah made individual cheesecakes; that was the only change she made to Paula's recipe. Her ramekins are a little over 3 ounces in capacity  She put about 2 tablespoons of graham cracker crumb mixture in each ramekin and about 6-7 tablespoons of pumpkin cheesecake mixture on top.

Pumpkin Cheese Cake Recipe

Crust:

1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs

3 tablespoons light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 stick melted salted butter

Filling:

3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature

1 (15-ounce) can pureed pumpkin

3 eggs plus 1 egg yolk

1/4 cup sour cream

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

2 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

For crust:

In medium bowl, combine crumbs, sugar and cinnamon. Add melted butter. Press down flat into a 9-inch springform pan. Set aside.

For filling:

Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add pumpkin puree, eggs, egg yolk, sour cream, sugar and the spices. Add flour and vanilla. Beat together until well combined.

Pour into crust. Spread out evenly and place oven for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and let sit for 15 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours.

Spun Sugar

Zoulah hasn't spun sugar for ages --- she usually just casts friendly spells.  She used a wire whisk with the bottom curves cut off with wire cutters.  Beaulah showed her this method years ago. 

1.  Just take about 1 cup of sugar, 1/2 cup of water, and about 1 tablespoon of white corn syrup and heat it until the boiling mixture turns a nice amber color. 

2,  Don't stir while it is cooking.  This takes several minutes.  When the color has turned, take off heat and then wait a little. 

3,  Test the sugar to see if it is ready by dipping your whisk in the sugar mixture and waving it quickly back and forth dropping sugar on a piece of parchment paper.  If it is ready, you should be able to have hairwidth strands of sugar.

4,  When the sugar cools (it cools quickly, you can break off pieces for your spider webs. 

Zoulah reminds you that this is fabuloso with other desserts.

Zoulah made thinner strands (hair width) of sugar for this dessert by directly applying the sugar to the ramekin.  When she did this, the sugar strands sunk down into the cheesecake She liked the thicker sugar strands better: she applied the strands directly to the parchment paper and then placed them on the cheesecakes when they were cool. 

Posted with the following:  I'm Lov'n It, Weekend Wrapup, Metamorphasis Monday, Wow Us Wednesdays

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Gone Batty Tablescape

Zoulah extends a warm witchy welcome to her Batty Tablescape!

Of course Zoulah would only bring you fun bats!

She's just that kind of witch.

Oops, look what one of those naughty bats brought to the table.  These are the wonderful, set of 8, napkin rings that I won in a giveaway at Cuisine Kathleen's.  They are beautiful beaded Waverly napkin rings.  Kathleeen is a favorite place of mine to visit.  She is witty and full of fun.  I would love to sit at her table!  Her tablescapes and her food are amazing.  Thanks Kathleen!

I love these napkins paired with the plates.

I love the little Halloween umbrellas.

How about some bat chips?

Boo!  I hope this didn't scare you!

Zoulah thanks you for dropping by!

Posted with the following: Tablescape Thursday

Hurray for Cross Country!

Last week was Regionals for my son's Cross Country Team.  It was held at the Golf Course in our area.  It was a beautiful day for running.  My son is a Senior and has run cross country all four years of high school

 We moved to this area when my son was in 8th grade.  I am so thankful for the guys that encouraged my son to run cross country.  They are such good boys, almost men, and they became his friends.

You have to love a team that prays together before a race!

There they go!

At Regionals, one of our runners pulled a calf muscle during the race.  He valiantly finished the race and because of it, the boys team made it to state.  My son's coach is no yeller, but that day she yelled and yelled at Skyler to get a move on -- she knew the other boy was injured.  Both girls and boys teams qualified for state -- one of our girls took first at Region.

Cross Country is not a sport for the faint-hearted.  My son somehow injured himself before regionals and was running with one leg one and one-half inches shorter than another.  Thankfully, he was adjusted just before Regionals by a physical therapist.

.A behind shot of their painted legs.

So this Wednesday is his final race.  It seemed like I blinked my eyes and it was over.  I have been so thankful for the ride!

Zoulah's Bat Chips

Zoulah welcomes you to her Bewitchen Kitchen.  Today she brings you a simple, yet fun, Halloween treat -- Bat Chips with Bat Venom Dip (Salsa).

Zoulah says this is so simple.  Just cut out tortillas with bat cookie cutters.  Zoulah and the Red Couch Clan liked flour tortillas best.  Then drizzle with olive oil and a bit of salt.  Bake at 350 for about 8 minutes.

Zoulah says sometimes you have to press on the bottom to get the shape out.

Zoulah says enjoy with some bat venom (salsa).

Posted with the following:  Weekend Wrapup, Metamorphasis Monday, Made By You Monday

Mummies With Moldy Dressing (Baked Southwestern Eggrolls with Cilantro Ranch Dressing)

Zoulah is so proud to bring you her latest creation in her Bewitchen Kitchen.  The Red Couch Food Critics loved Zoulah's Egg Rolls and clamored for more.  They happily dipped their mummies (egg rolls) in the addictive moldy dressing (Cilantro Ranch Dressing).  The Cilantro Ranch Dressing is not her creation but Zoulah adores it as well. 

She could use the Cilantro Ranch Dressing  as toothpaste -- hmmm looks like maybe she did! She could use the Cilantro Ranch Dressing  as a face mask --- hmmm looks like maybe she did -- is that why her face is green?  She dipped her warty, gnarled fingers in the dip cackling with delight!  She thought the dressing would be good for hand moisturizer .

She is so thankful to Our Family Favorites for recreating this dressing from one of her favorite restaurants, Cafe Rio,  Cafe Rio is a Utah institution.  They are famous for their Sweet Pork Barbacoa Salads served with this Cilantro Ranch Dressing. 

Zoulah included a "leeeetle" tutorial on making egg rolls and reminds everyone that they are simple to do.

The Egg Roll Recipe -- Inspired by Annie Eats

Yield -- About 24

Ingredients:

2 cups frozen corn, thawed
1 (15 oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend or Cheddar
1 (4 oz.) can diced green chiles, drained
Leaves from 1/2  bunch cilantro
4 green onions, chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
½ tsp. chili powder
½ tsp. pepper
¼ tsp. cayenne pepper

1 package egg roll wrappers (about 24 total)

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine everything but the egg roll wrappers. Mix well to blend.   See the tutorial for making egg rolls below.
Preheat the oven to 425˚ F. Lightly oil a baking sheet with cooking spray. Place the sealed egg rolls on the baking sheet seam side down and drizzle the tops with olive oil.   Bake for about 15 minutes, or until lightly brown, turning halfway through baking. Serve warm with Cilantro Ranch Dressing.

Egg Roll Wrapping Tutorial

Place about 2-3 tablespoons of the filling on top of the egg roll wrapper.  Have the egg rolls cornters pointing towards you.  It will be a diamond-shape.

Tuck the nearest eggroll corner near you underneath the filling and make it tight.

Put a little bit of water on the egg roll and fold the left corner in.

Put a little bit of water on the egg roll and then fold the right corner in.

Roll the eggroll and then seal the corner with water. Bake the egg roll with this top down on the pan.

The Cilantro Ranch Dressing is irresistible!

The Cilantro Ranch Dressing Recipe

1 packet TRADITIONAL Hidden Valley Ranch mix (not BUTTERMILK)
1 c. mayonnaise ( Zoulah hopes that you would never use Miracle Whip)
1 c. buttermilk
2 tomatillos, remove husk, diced
1/2 bunch of fresh cilantro -- washed, but you don't need to take the stems off.
1 clove garlic
Juice of 1 lime
1/2 to 1 jalepeno -- depending on your preference

Mix all ingredients together in the blender.

Zoulah hopes you enjoy these Egg Rolls!

Linked with the following:

Wow Us Wednesdays, Weekend Wrapup, Metamorphasis Monday, On the Menu Monday, Made By You Mondays

Halloween Yarn Spheres

ZOULAH welcomes you to Red Couch Recipes where today she shares a simple little craftie from her witchie childhood.  She is sure that some of you remember making yarn balls -- now that she is older and more sophisticated she calls them yarn spheres.  Zoulah has set several around the Red Couch Home. 

She used black ones in her Spider Tablescape.

Zoulah says that for this little craftie all you need are things that are readily available.  You will need yarn, balloons, flour, and water. 

Directions

1.  Make a wheat paste.  Mix 3 parts water with 2 parts flour in a pot.  Heat to a boil stirring occasionally to remove the lumps.  After the paste boils, allow it to cool.

2.  Cut yarn in lengths long enough to wind around the ball with excess, but not too long so that it is hard to dip the yard into the paste.  Prepare a large amount of them.

3.  Blow up a balloon of the appropriate size for each ball you want to make.  You can make them large or small.  For these Halloween spheres, I used water balloons.

4.  Dip string or yarn in the cooled paste and then wrap it around the balloons. Go around many times, in different directions, until you have covered the basic shape of the balloon, but be sure to leave gaps if you want to make a see-through string ball.  Also be sure that the ends of the string are firmly anchored, with wheat paste, on the balloon.  Zoulah's Note:  As you dip the string into the paste, make sure you try to smooth out the yarn with your finger, taking off excess paste.

5.  Allow the string to dry thoroughly; 24 hours should be enough, unless your string was extremely thick or wet.

6.  Pop the balloons if you want to get them out right away.   When the balloons are gone, you should be left with a see-through string ball.  Zoulah's Note:  Make sure the string is completely dry before you pop the balloon.  DO NOT allow them to dry in the sun -- the balloons will lose their shape and so will the yarn sphere.

7.  Using a toothpick or skewer, pick out excess dried paste from the yarn sphere.

A yarn sphere in process.

Zoulah encourages you to make some yarn spheres today.  They are easy enough for a young child to do.  Zoulah thinks these are great for parties or for events where you cannot find the right colors to do your decorating in.

Posted with the following:  Metamorphasis Monday, Craft-O-Maniac Monday, Falloween, Made By You Monday, Wow Us Wednesdays, Weekend Wrapup