Choclate Marshmallow Cupcakes

Start with a regular Devils Food Cake Mix and a Milk Chocolate pre made frosting jar.. I know I know... not from scratch, but trust me will be worth it.

You will also need 7 oz of marshmallow Cream (Fluff) 3/4 cup of powdered confectioners sugar, 1/4 cup of vegetable shortening, 1/2 tsp vanilla & 1/2 tsp salt.



Mix & bake cupcakes as directed on box.
When finished baking, allow to cool 5 minutes.

While cooling mix the marshmallow cream, powdered sugar, shortening, vanilla and salt. Then spoon into a pastry bag fitted with a large open tip.

Mix the chocolate frosting and also spoon into a pastry bag fitted
with a large open tip.

Using a wooden spoon, puncture the center of each cupcake to make a hole.

Fill with the marshmallow frosting.

Creatively decorate the tops with the marshmallow and chocolate frosting in a pattern of your choice. I chose spirals.




I also piped some white chocolate letters for to nite and placed them on top.

Serve leftovers loosely covered.

Happy New Year all, no matter what you do, be safe.

Congrats to My Ghoul Friday

not only is she a very talented artisian, but her work has been showcased on page 14 of the January/February issue of Rue Morgue Magazine in their Needful Things section. You can visit Ghoul Friday on her blog or browse her items for sale in her Etsy Shop... But act fast if you see something in her shop that belongs in your own personal needful things collection get it now before she is bombarded with orders.

Congrats again.. wickedly excited for you!

Image borrowed from My Ghoul Friday

Formation

even without a sleigh my version of reindeer hold their positions.. even in sleep.


Meet the boxer trio in our family.

Voodoo

Lola

Dempsy

The smell of Christmas Morning

in our house is almost always a Sausage Braid. My family requests this recipe every year, and usually I pair it with a nice crab quiche, or peach stuffed baked french toast, but this year Elaina got to choose the sidekick... see below...

SAUSAGE BRAID RECIPE

2- 8 oz cans of crescent rolls pressed together to form a pastry sheet on a parchment lined baking pan.
2 rolls bulk sausage
1/2 cup diced green pepper (can also mix it up using orange, red and yellow if you like)
1/2 cup diced celery
2 cloves garlic minced
1 cup sweet onion diced.
6 oz cubed cream cheese
1 beaten egg
handful of shredded cheddar cheese.

Preheat oven to 375

line pan with parchment

unroll and press crescent rolls to form pastry sheet

using a sharp knife cut slits along the long sides of the sheet towards the middle about 2 inches long to create the "braid" pieces

meanwhile in a large skillet cook the sausage, peppers, onion, celery and garlic until meat no longer pink

drain well

mix in the cream cheese and stir until melted.

spoon down center of pastry

bring "braid" slits up and over the top

brush with egg and sprinkle with cheddar
(you will notice mine went on the inside this year... I had a 9 yr old helper)

bake 20-25 minutes or until top browned.

Use a Pizza Slicer to slice, Serve warm



This Elaina Mae requested Mrs. Claus's Blueberry Muffins.


Ok so I wimped out. But I must say they were not all that bad. I would make a couple of changes to the recipe such as add the milk a little at a time, we used Fresh blue's this am, and the batter was a bit too runny for my liking so the muffins didn't hold their puffy form when removed from the oven they sunk back down into their cups as they cooled.

Merry Christmas Eve

the first photo with Santa with both of my children since Elaina was born... PRICELESS

Christmas Eve confections.

Lemon Cheesecake with Fresh Raspberries and a Vanilla Custard Topping.

Butter Peacan cuppy's with Apricot Filling

Triple Stuffed Pumpkin Roll

Ambrosia Cheese Ball with Vanilla Nips.

It's official

Dempsey has outgrown his bed....

No not really, this is NOT Dempsey's bed.. It is the Kitty Kup...
Apparently Dempsey thought he needed to warm it up for master Oliver first.
Or else he just has a "little dog trapped in a big dog body" issue going on...


either way, I thought it would give you a giggle...

All of the Usual Suspects

Were rounded up today for this time of the year....

The eggs were not happy they had to be so close to the cocoa powder,
and the brown and powdered sugars were in constant disagreement as to which one was more popular...

at the end, everyone's personalities blended well-
even Peanut got into the brawl and we had a very productive snow day.

A Cheep Date

Under $10 this Merlot was a little bitey at first, but after a little air and the companionshiop of my witch stocking spider web stems... it panned out just nicely...Found it at the Big Bird... aka Giant Eagle for any of you wondering where to pick up a bottle or two or three...VOGA Italian Wine.

Dedication

Vendell has not abandoned his post.

Even with the 8 plus inches of snow, he stands vigil guarding my 9 year old's froggie pond.

Only in the mind of...

my child...


I downloaded photos today from the craft fair that I worked yesterday for my Scentsy Business. In the middle of the photos.. I found this one.. a single photo.. of party of my daughters breakfast... When I asked her about it, her response was.. "these were some of the prettiest blueberries I have ever eaten, I wanted to remember them forever" I heart her.

I think I am on...

some kind of crazy energy boost. Call it a fire lit underneath my broom or an internal panic that if I don't get it done another holiday is going to be gone before I know it. I managed to get a second tree up in the mud room last night.

If you look closely you will notice that all of the stemware hanging all have signature Halloween tags on them... And my prized possessions my hand painted web and witch stocking glasses. They stay out all year. And yes, I use them all year too!

This one, to appease the sprog-lets and my co-maker of the sprog-lets is much more "traditional". In color, style and decoration choice. I wasn't going for a theme other than ice blue and white, but I realized after it was done, it in fact has a wee bit of a theme.

Yes I am sadly aware that the bottom of the wine cabinet is empty. I am all out of reds at the moment. Hold on let me rephrase, I am all out of reds that I am willing to have on display to share at the moment...( I know that is very stingy of me)
Nothing my trip to my favorite winery in the area will not cure over the weekend.

A not so flattering night shot. I really couldn't get a good shot as my current "it must have more lights than the Times Square ball that drops on New Year's Eve" syndrome.

Stars, Sticks & Sparkle adorn the top of this little treasure.

Here is the heart of this tree. Not tucked in the middle, not on the right side, but none the less she is the focus. Her gown is made from thick paper that has been folded, wrinkled, pressed, and repeated over and over again to give the feel of fabric. Nestled in her grasp our my first daughters Tiny 20 weeker footprints.
Miss Gabrielle Elizabeth is celebrating her 12th Christmas in Heaven this year.
Angel wings for a tiny Angel Baby.

A partridge without her pear tree.

There are a lot of "wings" in this tree. Hummingbirds, Doves, Angel Wings, Dragonflies, and this lovely Feathered Swan. Very graceful and dainty.. Every year I pull her out of her resting box I am delightfully tickled that she has weathered another year.

No tree would be complete without a hooter or two. This little guy is only about 2 inches tall and perched with a watchful set of eyes. Might I just add too that I LOVED owls long before the Potter series elevated their appeal. I guess I could convince myself this is a Halloween decoration on a Christmas Tree. Even if him is snow white and not pitch black with red eyes.

A sprinkling of Blown glass Dragonfly's dance playfully through the tree. I have always had a fascination with them, and they have a new special meaning now that my daughter attends Dragonfly Academy.

Not sure what project I will get into next. I really really wanted to paint the powder room now that I have finally picked out a set of colors, only to find out that colors I selected are no longer stock colors and would need to be computer matched to mix... Apparently someone in the paint department had no clue that it was going to take me 2 months to decide on two shades of gray.

Reluctantly

I finally managed to put away the few Halloween decorations that I had scattered around the new house this year making way for the erection of "the tree". Everything about it seems totally wrong. I know I need to just suck it up and move on, but my internal clock is all catywompus. I think I am in mourning. There was just total unfinished this year for me. I am grieving the loss of Halloween.

Now don't get me wrong I lived vicariously through my Halloween Blog guru's Bean, Rot & Chris just to name a few. I oooe'd and awwww'd over the vast updated blogs, and posts by friends old and new. I squealed with delight as the projects came to completion all the while working on my visions of grandeur. But then to pack it all up and move it without using it, has crushed me.

My business has kept me semi occupied, but it is days like today choosing not to venture out in the first "real snow" when I have downtime that it hits the most. Wrapping up the wooden pumpkins and placing them in their crypts for the next 200 or so days was very difficult but needed to be done.. after all it is December already.




So I was half tempted to decorate the tree with all Halloween decor.. but I lost the vote 3:1. I realized that while I share an amazing love for Halloween with my spouse and my children, that somewhere I went terribly wrong on the path that they have chosen anything other than Halloween to decorate their Christmas tree.

However, I lost the war but not the battle. I might not have gotten Halloween decor, but I got Halloween color! Thats right! I went with an exotic theme to match the family room. Tones of copper and Black. It isn't quite finished, but it is a good start.

While scouring blogs looking for

a quick pick me up fall recipe I came across a new blog Katie Grace Designs. Back in September she threw a wonderful Pumpkin themed get together..

I LOVE the attention to detail, the simple touches that make such a bold impact... I hope she shares the recipe for her Pumpkin Trifle !!!



and I am now off to cut out little tiny pumpkin shaped pie crusts out of my Pillsbury pre- made crust in the fridge and whip up a no bake pumpkin mouse to fill them with...

Thank you for the inspiration Miss Katie!

Picking out Paint

Is one of my least favorite things... but none the less... it has to be done....I think I am spending way too much time in the Powder Room right now... However, notice the scroll in the corner? It is one of those adheasive decoration kits. This one is a 46" Skeleton from Target, Clearance price $3.48 yesterday regular $14.99
RUN to Target... RUN.

As far as the paint goes I know I want a light smokey gray on the top and a charcoal to black on the bottom... the problem, do I want earth tones, navy tones, or no tones in the coloring? Not fun picking out the paint but fun names like "Black Magic" , "Essence", "Tombstone". Names on the short list, color... not so much... looks like Mark Twain Historic colors are the front runners... WHAT a shame....

those would be the 3 tier swatches closest to the toilet.... The top one on the back sheet and the top one on the front sheet.... I don't know... What do you think?

Back to the Powder Room to Ponder....At least I will have company in there with "Bones" to talk to... maybe I will get lucky and he will choose the color.

Eternal Embrace

Thinking about this print for the new house powder room that will be AllTogetherDead all year long.

image from Tumblr

More than Just Halloween

October 31st that is.

For most of us the best thing about October 31st is Halloween of course but the day is also significant to other events too for instance:

475 Romulus Augustus is proclaimed Western Roman Emperor
1517 Martin Luther posts his 95 theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg.
1864 Nevada becomes the 36th State
1940 The United Kingdom prevents a German invasion in the Battle of Britain during WWII.
1941 Drilling is completed on Mount Rushmore after 14 years in the works.
1959 Lee Harvey Oswald attempts to renounce his American citizenship at the U.S. embassy in Moscow
1961 Josef Stalin's body is removed from Lenin's tomb in the Soviet Union.
1984 India Prime Minister Indira Gahndi is assassinated by security guards, setting off a chain of riots that lead to the deaths of nearly 10,000 Sikhs.
2002 Former Enron CFO Andrew Fastow is indicted by federal grand jury on 78 counts, including wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy, related to the collapse of his former company.
2010 For the first time in almost 2 decades the All Together Dead house is not hosting a Halloween get together, there is no yard haunt, and while the family has a brand new house, things just seem too array.....

If you are looking for

some creative graphics Might I suggest The Graphics Fairy with over 1400 images to choose from I am sure you will find the right "something" for your projects. I have about 8 images right now that I am working on matting and framing now.

Images from The Graphics Fairy Website.

We interrupt this Halloween Season

For a completely brand new kitchen, attached to a completely brand new house...

WHAT was I thinking and in OCTOBER TOO?????

My head is splitting... the stress and anxiety is getting the best of me...
I am so far behind on EVERYTHING.... almost ready to waive my pirate flag in the air climb on my broom and run away.....yes crackling all the way

My new favorite Halloween bite

Thank you to Kevin and Gillian for posting this quick little recipe for my new favorite Halloween Pick Me Up treat for the kiddies... Of all ages of course. When you just couldn't think of anything better than chocolate covered pretzels... WALA.... as suggested I substituted some fall colored M&M's and even broke open a bag of Reese Pieces to top some of them so I had a little assortment of wonder... I cannot however show you an original photo because my family descended upon the tiny treasures of tooth decay like vultures... I was lucky, I got 2 of them.

You can find the RECIPE HERE
Image original from Kevin & Gillian Site

At last....

I have finally scored a single box of Pumpkin Pie Pop Tarts.. yes just a single box was all I could find at my Target. The spot on the shelf labeled was empty, but I was fortunate to find my box mixed in with the Capri Suns.... lucky for me I was in the market for those too for the 9 year olds lunch... Notice by the photo I didn't wait to get home, I popped a package open on the drive home... YUMMY.

Can't wait until morning to try the warm too.....

You can never have to many.....

Silver Bullets this time of year

First Gather your supplies. I used a Brite touch basic primer and purchased a $2 can of Metallic silver spray paint from the Dollar General Store.

Next get everyone standing at attention on top of some cardboard (if you want you can even dab a drop of hot glue to hold them in place if you have a lightweight).
First

Give them all a quick coat of primer. Then let them dry for about 30 minutes.

Then give them a good coat all the way around with your metallic spray.

Now Bring on the Werewolves

Teeny Tiny Nail Dremmel at the Dollar Tree

Found this wee treasure last night at the Dollar Tree.. yes that is right $1

I haven't had a chance to really work with it yet, it is not the strongest little tool in the box, as it runs off of just one AA battery but I think for smaller foam projects or fine detailing tombstone art it will work just nicely for $1.

I may just go back and get a few more, knowing my luck I will get used to using it for certain projects and then it will poop out on me and I will be devastated because I will not find another one because I in fact found it originally for only $1 at yes, of course.. the Dollar Tree.

It is really supposed to be for your finger nails...so I guess you could actually use it for something other than Halloween too if you like... but seriously? who does that sort of thing this time of year?