Third Annual Pumpkin Carving Party

 On Saturday we hosted our 3rd Pumpkin Carving party since living in our house. I failed in the photo taking part, and the pumpkin carving part (our pumpkins are still whole!). But thrived in the food making. Steve and I didn't end up carving our pumpkins because I was helping a 2 year old paint hers and Steven was cleaning up the food. And, sadly, no pictures of anything were taken. I REALLY need to get better at that! But, we all had a great time. There were a lot of laughs, good food, loud playing children and a few pretty adorable pumpkins by the end of the night. 

 I made a plethora of things... 'Spider' Deviled Eggs, Nacho 'Pumpkin' Cheese Ball, 'Witches Broom' Hot Dogs, 'Spider' Shrimp Dip, my famous Macaroni and Cheese, Gma J's Chili, and 'Kitty Litter' Cake. I will post the recipes below but you will have to use your imagination because like I said I didn't take many pictures.



'Spider' Deviled Eggs
12 eggs
water
baking soda
mayo
mustard
salt
paprika
black olives

 Put eggs in a large pot, cover with cold water, and stir in some baking soda (this helps making the egg de-shelling easier). Cover and put on stove on high until the water comes to a boil. Once the water is boiled, turn off the heat and let sit for 15 minutes. Once the 15 minutes is up drain the eggs and let cool. When the eggs are cool peel off the shells and slice in half (long ways), scoop the yolks out into a bowl, mash with a fork, and add mayo and mustard to taste. You want them to be creamy but not runny. Remember, you can always add more but you can't ever remove stuff so add a little at a time until you reach a consistency that makes you happy. Add salt to taste. Spoon the yolk mixture back into the empty yolk holes. 
 Cut the black olives in half. Keep one half whole (which acts as the spiders body) and cut the other half into 8 little strips (which will act as the spiders legs). Once you have enough spiders cut arrange them on the eggs to look like spiders. It would work best to put the 'legs' down first then the 'body' on top of them. I didn't come to this realization until after I was finished. Oh well, you live and learn. 

This is today so they have been sitting in my fridge for a few days now. Don't worry- I threw them away right after I snapped this picture.

Nacho 'Pumpkin' Cheese Ball

16 oz. room-temperature cream cheese

1 1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

3 tbsp. minced onion

2 tbsp. salsa

2 tsp. ground cumin

With a mixer blend all of the ingredients until combined. Scoop onto plastic wrap and use the wrap to form into a 5 in. pumpkin shaped ball. Chill for at least 2 hours (I made mine the night before). When ready to serve, unwrap, and roll in Nacho flavored Doritos. Finish by pressing a bell pepper stem into the top and surrounding by chips.  

 The first photo is what it is supposed to look like and the 2nd photo is what our leftovers look like. I wish I would have taken pictures!

'Witches Broom' Hot Dogs

Hot Dogs

Packaged Crescent Rolls

 Wrap one end of hot dogs with a crescent roll. Slice the exposed ends of the hot dogs into slits. Bake in oven at 375 degrees for 11-15 minutes. 

Again, this is a picture of the left overs but enough for you to get the idea of what they look like.

'Spider' Shrimp Dip

8 oz. package cream cheese, softened

1/4 c. mayo

6 oz. can tiny shrimp, drained

1 c. cocktail sauce

2 tsp. mayo

1 tsp. milk

 In medium bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Stir in 1/4 cup of mayo until smooth. Stir in shrimp and spread in circle on serving plate. Spread cocktail sauce over cream cheese mixture leaving a 1 in. border around the outside. Combine 2 tsp. mayo and milk in a plastic bag, massage to mix, cut of tiny tip of the corner and pipe over cocktail sauce in circles. Go over with a knife dragging diagonal lines from center circle to outer circles forming a spider web. Then place a plastic spider in the center. 

 This I do not have a picture of at all unfortunately, but it looks as cool as it tastes. 

Here is the link for the kitty litter cake that I made for dessert. It was the most disgusting looking, yet delicious tasting thing that I have ever made. Seriously though, it looked COMPLETELY disgusting!