Mummy Cake Pops

We try to have a Halloween party every year. The kids really enjoy the games. We have mummy races. Each adult has a roll of unused toilet paper. When time, the adults wrap their designated child with the paper into a mummy. The kids race down the yard and back. The first kid back wins. This year the winner was the first to bob for apples after. 

The other best part of the Halloween party is the food. This year I made mummy pops since it appears mummies were my theme. I have made the cake pops before and the kids really like them.

If you plan on making theses, I have several suggestions. First, I made sure the pops were in the freezer for a little while to harden. I took out only a few at a time out of the freezer. If you take them out, the first ones come out great but the next ones will start to slide down the stick. If this happens, you can refreeze but the top of the chocolate will be flat. I did make some flat top mummies but didn't take any photos. Another suggestion, I learned not to keep the pop in the chocolate for long or it will start to slide. I had to dip the pop quickly then work the pop over the cooler counter. The pop didn't work well over the steam. Enjoy!

Mummy Cake Pops
1 cake or 12 cupcakes
1 1/2 to 2 cups of frosting
1 package of candy melts
12 lollipop sticks
1 Styrofoam block/ other way to hold the cake pops to dry
candy eyes

Directions

1. Crumble the cake and cupcakes in a bowl.
2. Stir in the cup of frosting until well mixed.
3. Roll the cake into 1 to 1 1/2 inch balls.
4. Place the balls on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer.
5. Add water to pot with a heat proof bowl on top of the pot to make a double boiler.
6. Place the candy melts in the heat proof bowl and stir until melted.
7. Take a few of the cake balls from the freezer.
8. Dip the lollipop sticks into the melted candy and place into the cake balls.
9. Dip the cake balls into the melted candy to coat. 
10. Remove the cake balls and place through some Styrofoam to hold the pops.
11. Once the cake pops harden a little, take a fork and dip in the melted candy.
12. Dab or draw lines with the fork onto the cake pop to make the mummy wrapping lines.
13. On the back of each candy eye, brush a little candy melt then stick the eye onto the cake pop.
14. Stir the candy melts occasionally to prevent burning or hardening. 

Recipe adapted from Bakerella.

Did you already know.....................
-In November 1922, the Tomb of Tutankhamun was discovered by Howard Carter in the Valley of the Kings at Luxor.
-To the Egyptians, people were mummified to ensure safe passage to the afterlife. 
-It took about seventy days for the mummification process.
-The heart is never removed from the body.

Happy Halloween

My children are going to be: Alice in Wonderland, Jasmine, and a Ninja.

Are you dressing up or your little ones?

Vanilla Buttermilk Cupcakes

My mother-in-law has told me that her father's favorite cake was vanilla with chocolate frosting. So when my husband's maternal uncles came to visit from out of state, I thought these cupcakes would be the ideal dessert to serve. I am glad I made them.

This recipe is perfect if you have buttermilk you need to use. The cupcakes came out moist and delicious. I think it was a good choice for any party. The frosting is the fastest homemade frosting I have ever made.

Vanilla Buttermilk Cupcakes

Makes 30 cupcakes

4 whole eggs

2 egg yolks

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups buttermilk

3 cups cake flour

2 cups sugar

4 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line the cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
2. In a mixing bowl, whisk, the eggs. Add the vanilla and ¼ cup of buttermilk to the eggs. Whisk well.
3. In another bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the butter and 1 cup of buttermilk to the flour mixture. Whisk together until fluffy about 2 minutes.
4. Slowly add the egg mixture to the flour mixture. Combine well.
5. Fill the cupcake liners about slightly over ½ full.
6. Bake in the oven for about 18-21 minutes. Test the cupcakes with a toothpick for doneness. Let cool before frosting.
7. Makes 30 cupcakes

Chocolate Fudge Frosting

4 oz. unsweetened chocolate

2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature

3 cups powder sugar

3 Tbsp half and half milk

1 Tbsp vanilla extract

Directions:

1. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate for about a minute in the microwave. Mix well and set aside to cool.
2. In a food processor, pulse the butter and add the powder sugar.  Add the milk and vanilla. Pulse a few times.
3. Refrigerate the cupcakes until ready to serve to set the frosting.

Recipe adapted from Sweetapolita.

Did you already know............
-Chocolate means bitter water in Aztec.
-The oldest and largest chocolate company in the U. S. is Hershey.
-Ancient Aztecs believed chocolate had magical powers like improve a person's strength.
-Fudge is a soft candy made from sugar, butter, and milk or cream.

Onion Dip

Since it is football season, we invited several friends over to watch the game. My husband loves chips and dips. He thinks it is a food group.

So, we were at the store purchasing the necessities for our guest like chips, beer, and soda when my husband asked about making an onion dip.  I said it sounded good except for chopping all the onions.On this day, my husband offered to chop up the onions for me. He informed me that he wouldn't cry since he was so tough. I didn't argue with him. If you are going to make this dip, find a tough man to chop the onions.

Tough men

I will not show you any photos of whether or not my husband cried. I will assure you that I didn't cry at all.  It is hard work. I have heard if you wear goggle you will not cry. My husband is too cool to wear goggles. He would rather cry.

Warning: even the tough will cry while making this dish.

I seem to always cry when I chop onions, While I'm crying, I say loudly, "Why me? Why?" Instead of feeling sad for me, the kids find this very amusing.
 

Onion Dip
2 Tbsp olive oil 
2 1/2 cups medium onions, diced
1/2 tsp  salt 
1 1/2 cups sour cream 
1 cup mayonnaise 
1/2 tsp garlic powder 
1/4 tsp ground white pepper 
1/2 tsp salt

Directions:

1. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add oil.
2. Add the onions and 1/4 tsp salt in the hot pan.
3. Cook the onions until caramelized, about 18 minutes. Make sure to stir over the onions may burn.
4. Remove from heat and allow the onions to cool.
5. In the serving bowl, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
6. Once the onions cool, add the onions to the sour cream bowl.
7. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
   

Recipe adapted from Alton Brown.

My three tough guys

Did you already know…………

-White pepper and black pepper are from the same berry.

-White pepper is from a fully ripe berry.

-It is milder in taste than black pepper.

-If making a white sauce or dip, use white pepper instead of black so no specks are detected.

Chicken Enchiladas

When I lived in Colorado, I would always order blue corn enchiladas. I thought the blue corn must be the reason why they are so good. (I still think it is true.) Since I couldn't find any blue corn tortillas, I settled for the flour ones.

Enchiladas are my favorite Mexican food. What is yours? My children's would be the taco. I prefer crunchy but the rest of the family prefers the soft taco. I guess (sometimes) majority rules.

Chicken Enchiladas
3/4 cup chopped roasted red bell peppers (I used the jar)
1 can (4.5 oz) chopped green chiles
1 cup light sour cream
1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tsp vegetable oil
3 boneless chicken breast
1 can (10 oz) enchilada sauce
6 flour tortillas

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spray 13x9 inch baking dish with PAM cooking spray.
3. Chop the roasted red bell peppers.
4. In a bowl, add the peppers, chiles, 3/4 cup of sour cream, 1 cup of cheddar, cumin, garlic salt, and oregano.
5. In a medium skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat.
6. Add the onion and chicken to the skillet. Cook for about 5 minutes.
7. Add the chicken and onion to the pepper mixture. Combine well.
8. Lay a tortilla flat and spread about 1 cup of the chicken mixture in the center of the tortilla.
9. Fold in the sides and roll the tortilla up.
10. Transfer the tortilla to the baking dish with the seam side down.
11. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.
12. Top the tortillas with the enchilada sauce.
13. Spread the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese on top of the rolled enchiladas.
14. Bake for 45 minutes.
15. Broil on high for 2 minutes if the cheese isn't nice and golden brown.
16. Let cool for about 5 minutes before serving.
17. Serve with sour cream, cheddar, onions, etc.

Adapted from Pillsbury Halloween October 2007 cookbook.

Did you already know..........
-Enchiladas are street vendor food in Mexico.
-Enchiladas have been around since the Mayan times.
-Enchilada means in chile.

Oh no, Mr. Bill

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

I will occasionally ask my youngest daughter to go downstairs and get her sibling. Instead, she will holler for them while she is next to me. Does anyone in your house do this? I want to make sure it isn't just mine. 

  I think she just likes to holler. One day, we were all downstairs and my youngest daughter started to holler for her dad. He would holler back, "yea." She wouldn't answer but she kept hollering for him. Since my husband was busy, he just kept hollering back up to her. After a few minutes of this exchange, the next time my daughter hollered for "Dad", my husband responded "There is no one here with that name." It was suddenly quiet since she didn't know how to respond back but my youngest son did. My son turns to his dad and said, "Hey, whoever you are, she wants you." Then he smiles at my husband and says, "Did you like that better?"

  Yum! Whoopie Pies! They remind me of a cupcake with the filling in the middle instead of on top.

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
Whoopie Pie Cake
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 Tbsp ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp ground ginger
1 1/2 tsp ground cloves
2 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup of apple sauce
3 cup pumpkin puree
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract

Whoopie Pie Filling:
4 oz of cream cheese, room temperature
1 stick of unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup powder sugar
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degree.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.
4. In another bowl, cream the brown sugar with the vegetable oil and applesauce.
5. Add the pumpkin to the sugar mixture and beat.
6. Add the eggs one at a time then the vanilla. Mix well.
7. Slowly, add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture.
8. Mix until incorporated.
9. Spoon about 1/4 cup of batter onto the baking sheet. Try to make the sizes.
10. Cook for about 15 minutes.**Prepare the filling while waiting**
11. Let cool on cookie rack for five minutes then transfer to a wire rack.
12. Prepare the next batch of cakes and place in the oven

**Whoopie Pie Filling:
Let cool completely about 30 minutes before frosting.

For the filling, combine the cream cheese, pumpkin, and the butter.
Add the powder sugar to the filling mixture.
Mix in the spices into the filling mixture until well incorporated. Refrigerate.

Whoopie Pie Cake recipe adapted from Bake at 350. Whoopie Pie Filling recipe adapted from Martha Stewart.

See the eyeball?

I highly recommend you to make these whoopie pies before someone hollers your name! My oldest daughter gave her best friend one and after each bite she would say, "I love your Mom." My husband doesn't like pumpkin (I guess he knows it is a vegetable) and he liked them.

The oldest daughter!

Did you already know.............
-The Maine State treat is the Maine Whoopie Pie.
-The Maine State dessert if the Blueberry Pie.
-The Whoopie Pie festival is held in Pennsylvania. 
-The Whoopie Pie has been argued to originated in Pennsylvania, Maine, or Massachusetts.