Candy Corn Rice Krispie Treats {Happy Halloween}

Happy Halloween to all my readers!
Tonight's the night for tricks and treats and Halloween eats. Yes folks the big night has finally arrived and my kiddos cannot wait to go trick or treating.

They're so excited because we live in a new neighborhood, so all in all it should be a fun night. Before we head out we will be celebrating with some Mummy Dogs and french fries for dinner and then a few Spooktacular Treats for dessert.

Speaking of treats I had every intention yesterday of posting those cute little Candy Corn Rice Krispie Treats pictured above. Well, time got away from me and not to mention it was a gorgeous day weather wise here in North Texas.

I had to take advantage of the day and do some much needed outdoor chores. So cleaning out the garage and lawn work was how we spent most of our Sunday. At least those two chores are finally done.

Yesterday was National Candy Corn Day, so these treat would of been perfect. Oh well they are still very post worthy since today is officially Halloween! These yummy little treats are a perfect last minute treat idea and take hardly no time to throw together.

Who doesn't love rice krispie treat? They 're a huge hit in our house, so I wanted to spook them up just a bit LOL. I added orange food coloring, candy corns and Halloween sprinkles. Just use your favorite Halloween cookie cutters to create these fun, festive shapes.

I think they turned out really cute especially the cat ones. Well there you have it my last Halloween treat to be posted. Before I go in usual fashion I have added some step by step photos for y'all. I hope everyone has a safe and fun Halloween.

Place the candy corns in the freezer for at least 15 minutes (this way they won't melt when being mixed). In a large sauce pan, melt the butter over low-medium heat. Add the marshmallows. Continue stirring until all the marshmallows are melted. Add in the orange food coloring (no rule here just add as much as you like)

Stir in the rice cereal until well-coated. Spray an 9×13″ or larger baking dish. I used a cookie sheet. Make sure to spray the rubber spatula with cooking spray as well. Using the spatula, press the cereal mixture into the pan. Add some festive sprinkles and let cool in the refrigerator 15-20 minutes. Spray Halloween cookie cutters with cooking spray, and then cut out shapes from the pan.

Enjoy!!!!

Candy Corn Rice Krispie Treats

1/4 - cup butter
6 - cups miniature marshmallows (10.5 oz package)
6 - cups rice krispies cereal
1 1/2 - cups candy corns, frozen
orange food or icing color
Halloween Sprinkles

Place the candy corns in the freezer for at least 20 minutes. In a large sauce pan, melt the butter over low-medium heat. Add the marshmallows. Continue stirring until all the marshmallows are melted.

Add in the orange food coloring. Stir in the rice cereal until well-coated. Spray an 9×13″ or larger baking dish and a rubber spatula with cooking spray. Using the spatula, press the cereal mixture into the pan.

Add some festive sprinkles and let cool in the refrigerator 15-20 minutes. Spray a Halloween cookie cutter with cooking spray, and then cut out shapes from the pan.

adapted from: kraft foods

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Halloween Ghost Peep S'mores

Only 4 more days left until Halloween, so I have another Halloween recipe to post. I saw these cute little Halloween Ghost S'mores posted on Pinterest a couple months back. I knew as soon as I saw these that I had to make them. I'm so glad I pinned these to my pin board so I wouldn't forget.

I was thinking these would make a cute addition to the Halloween Treats that I'm putting together for some of the neighborhood kids. Since we will be out trick or treating and not giving out candy I wanted to make sure to have some fun treat bags to give the kids before we head out.

I also plan on making two kinds of cookies and adding some candy as well. I think everyone will love these spooky little s'more treats. If you're looking for a class treat or teacher gift I think these would be perfect.

These s'mores literally cost me next to nothing to make. The box of graham crackers were under $2, ghost peeps were .98 a package, and the small Hershey bars were $1 for a package of 8. All in all it cost me under $4 to make enough for 8 kiddos.

I got the idea for the bag tags from Christy at Southern Plate. I just adapted them into a Halloween theme. I have included a link to a printable version of the Halloween S'mores Tags in case you want to print off a few. You will need two tags per package. One for the front and one for the back.

Walmart use to sell these neat little clear cellophane party favor bags, but have since discontinued them. I don't know why they did that because they were so useful and inexpensive.

I just used zip lock sandwich bags instead and folded over the zip part so it was under the tag. Then just stapled the tags together and you're done. If you don't want to mess with the tags you can always just tie some Halloween ribbon around the gift sacks instead. It's all up to you.

Of course we had to try a few out to make sure they were edible LOL. We did find out one thing...... S'mores always taste better when bunny ears are involved.

Halloween Ghost Peep S'mores

Graham Crackers
Ghost or Pumpkin Peeps
Small Hershey's Chocolate Bars
Clear Gift Sacks or Sandwich Size Zip lock Bags
Halloween Ribbon or Printable Tags

Add one ghost peep, two graham cracker squares and one Hershey bar package to each gift sack. Attach s'mores tag with directions and staple shut.

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Better Homes & Gardens Scented Wax Warmer {Review}

I'm not a Scentsy user only because they're not that affordable for me. If you knew me than you would understand. I'm pretty much a tightwad so anything that cost a great deal usually doesn't get purchased. I always tell people I'm so tight that I squeak when I walk LOL. I can't help it that is just how I have always been.

I usually use regular jar candles from Kirkland's or my old school tart warmer. Really it's mostly out of habit, but I have to admit constantly replacing those tea lights can be nerve racking.

I have always wanted a Scentsy, but I just couldn't justify spending $30 for a warmer and having to order them through someone versus jut buying everything at the store. I am one of those people that has to smell the scents of the candles before I actually buy them.

As part of the Walmart Mom's program I was asked to sample the new Scented Wax Warmer Systems from Better Homes and Gardens. I was so excited because finally there was a scented warmer system that even I could afford.

As soon as my box arrived I ripped it open. I was so excited because the choice of warmers that were chosen could not of been more perfect. I received an Everyday Expressions Warmer pictured above.

As well as a Pumpkin Warmer from their Fall/Harvest Collection. I really didn't know too much about these warmers, but I was excited that I no longer needed a flame to melt the wax. Yay!!! Instead there is a 25W light bulb that gives off a soft glow while acting as a safe heat source for the scented wax cubes.

Finally a safer and more stylish wax warming system. I always worried about the flame from the tart burners especially with little ones around. All of the warmers are easy to use. Place the tray on the warmer and add fragrance cubes and turn on the switch. As the tray heats, wax will melt and fragrance will release within minutes. Before I knew it my living room smelled like I was baking cookies.

What I really liked about these warmers is that you can remove the wax and pour it back into the storage trays. Then just wipe it clean with a paper towel and add a new scent. This is so much easier than placing my whole tart warmer in the freezer and then popping out the tart candle.

I received 4 different fragrance cube sets. Blueberry Muffin, Spiced Pumpkin Pie, Wild Berry Cheesecake and Sugared Vanilla Shortbread. The baking and fruit scented candles have always been a favorite of mine, so the wax cube choices were perfectly suited for me.

If you aren't into the food and fruity scents no worries because the Better Homes and Gardens Scented Wax Cubes come in 24 different Everyday Scents. (Line dried Linen, Country Sunflower, Shimmering Cherry Blossom, Lemongrass, Warm Crackling Fireplace and Fresh Ocean Flowers) just to name a few. BHG also has 14 additional Harvest scents. The wax cube packages come in a package of 6 for $2 each which is really reasonable.

Helpful Tips:

• Always store the fragrance wax cubes in a cool dry place.
• Turn your warmer on for 1 hour in the morning and one hour in the evening to fill your home with you favorite scent. The fragrance will linger most of the day and conserve the scent in the wax so it lasts longer. I noticed the next morning that I could still smell the fragrance and my warmer had been off all night.
  
• Be careful not to overfill your warmer (2 cubes is usually sufficient).
  
• You can also mix fragrance cubes together to customize your own scent.
  
  

My Thoughts:

Since I am not a Scentsy user I can't compare scent wise, but I can tell you that I am very impressed with the BHG Wax Warmers System. The price of the BHG warmers is $15 versus $30 for Scentsy this is more realistic and affordable for me. I can also purchase the wax fragrance cubes in store instead of ordering them. Each package is priced at $2 versus $5.

The whole system is so affordable that I think I will be purchasing a few for Christmas gifts this year. You can find the Better Homes and Gardens Scented Wax Warmers and the Fragrance Cubes at your local Walmart in the "Candle & Home Department.

For more information you can visit their Facebook page or online at the ScentSational Website.






Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I am a participant in the Walmart Moms Program. Walmart has provided me with a product sample and compensation for my time and efforts in creating this post. Participation in this program is voluntary and the opinions stated above are entirely my own.

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Wilton Helped Me Decorate Halloween Cupcakes Like a Rockstar!

Happy Monday my friends. I can't believe Halloween is only a week away. October is sure flying by isn't it? That's OK because my kiddos and I are really excited about Halloween. Yep it is defiantly one of our favorite holidays. The kids have already had their Halloween costumes on more times than I can count.

Besides dressing up we also love the cooler weather, decorating the house, heading out to the pumpkin patch, carving jack o lanterns and all the yummy Halloween treats to be baked and eaten. So far we have made a Halloween Jell-O Poke Cake and Halloween Cookie Bars {Mommy's Favorite}. We still had a few other things on our list one being Halloween Cupcakes!

I can pretty much bake just about anything, but when it comes to decorating that's a whole different story. No matter how hard I try my cupcakes and cookies never look professional. Well that is until now! I am so excited my friends because I finally have some cupcakes that are post worthy. Just look at them don't you think they turned out cute? Well I have to admit I can't take all the credit on this one.

As a Walmart Mom I was recently sent a box of goodies to try out courtesy of Wilton. I was excited and nervous all at the same time because I knew decorating wasn't my strong point. So with a lot of help from Wilton I was able to pull of those fun Halloween cupcakes pictured above.

It was easy because Wilton has Festive Sprinkles, Edible Eyeballs, Icing Colors, Halloween Cupcake liners, and a variety of Holiday Cupcake Picks to top off your cupcakes.

All of these supplies can be found in the holiday & cake decorating section of your local Walmart. You can find combo packs of baking liners and picks in a variety of themes which make it really thrifty. (Boo theme, Fall, Pumpkins and more) all for just $1.88 a package.

Wilton also has these cute in store Free Tear Pad Instructional sheets that really helped me along. One side showed the finished product and the flip side gave all the directions needed.

I started off by baking up my favorite dream cupcakes. {recipe at the end of this post}. This is the one recipe that I can always depend on when I want my cupcakes to turn out like they were professionally baked.

I was also given a sample box of Wilton's Butter Cream Icing Mix. I wasn't sure if it would be enough to decorate all the cupcakes, so I made a batch of their Butter cream Frosting as well {recipe below}. If you want a homemade cupcake version Wilton's website has a ton of cupcake recipes.

I tinted up some frosting and used candy corns, candy pumpkins and pretty much all of the Halloween cupcake picks.

I played around with the frosting tips and edible eyeballs and came up with these cute mummy cupcakes

and Book Cakes! By the time I was finished it had looked like a Halloween bomb had went off in my kitchen LOL. It was all worth it in the end. Because when my kids got home from school and saw the cupcakes on the counter the first thing they said was................

Where did you buy those cupcakes????? Buy I said nope I made them! Trust me on this one the looks on their faces were of both shock and surprise. Mackenzie said mom ya did good!

Thank you Wilton ; ) because of your help I finally decorated cupcakes like a Rock Star!!!!

Halloween Dream Cupcakes

1 - white or french vanilla cake mix
1 - envelope dry dream whip
1 - small box vanilla or french vanilla cook n serve pudding mix
4 - large eggs, slightly beaten
1/4 - cup vegetable oil
1 - cup water

Beat all ingredients in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed just until moisten, scraping sides of bowl often. Beat on medium speed 4 minutes. Pour mixture into cupcake pans lined with cupcake liners.

Fill each cupcake about 2/3 full with batter. I use my ice cream scooper for even cupcakes. Bake for about 14-16 minutes or when a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack and frost.


Wilton's Butter Cream Icing

1/2 - cup solid vegetable shortening
1/2 - cup (1 stick) real butter
1 - teaspoon Wilton clear vanilla extract
4 - cups sifted confectioner's sugar (1 lb)
2 - tablespoons milk

In a large bowl cream shortening and butter together with electric mixer. Add vanilla. Gradually add sugar, one cup at a time beating well on medium speed. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl often.

When all the sugar has been mixed in, icing will appear dry. Add milk and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Keep bowl covered with a damp cloth until ready to use. Keep refrigerated when not in use.

Recipe yields: 3 cups icing.

Note: For pure white icing omit butter and substitute an additional 1/2 cup of shortening. Add 1/2 teaspoon Wilton non colored butter flavoring.

This is a sponsored post. I am participating in the Walmart Moms Program. Walmart & Wilton have provided me with samples and compensation for my time and efforts in creating this post. Participation in this program is voluntary and the opinions stated above are entirely my own.

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The Pioneer Woman's Peach-Whiskey Barbecue Chicken {Heavenly}

If you see a recipe post with "The Pioneer Woman" in the title than you know it's going to be good. A couple weeks back I made Ree's killer Peach-Whiskey Barbecue Chicken for Sunday dinner. I describe it as killer because everyone absolutely loved it!

I have wanted to make this recipe ever since she posted it back in August. But anyone who lives in Texas knows that August is one of the hottest months, so turning on the oven was the last thing I wanted to do

Well, now that October has arrived cooler weather is upon us, so I can crank up that oven again. I'm sure this recipe could be made in the crock pot, but I love using my Le Creuset Dutch Oven. It always makes me feel and look so professional LOL.

The aroma that lingered from the kitchen was too die for. I just knew this meal was going to taste as wonderful as it smelled. Ree mentions in her post that this is a recipe made to impress your guests. All I can say is it impressed my family so I can't wait to make it again.

The sauce was tangy, sweet and delicious. How could it not be with peach preserves, whiskey and barbecue sauce. Goodness it was a heavenly meal if I do say so myself. The meat just literally fell off the bone. I think next time I have family in town this will be the recipe I will impress them with.

In usual fashion I took some step by step photos of how this wonderful dish came together. Start off by heating the oil and butter in a heavy pot over medium-high heat. Place chicken thighs, four at a time, in the pot, skin side down (I cut the recipe in half and used 6).

Brown both sides, then remove to a plate and repeat until all chicken is browned. Pour off half the grease, then return pan to stove. Add onions to pan and stir, cooking for 2 minutes. Pour whiskey into the pot, being very careful if you’re using an open flame.

Stir and scrape the bottom of the pan, allowing whiskey to reduce for a minute or two. Pour in barbecue sauce, peach preserves, water, and Worcestershire sauce. Add the garlic cloves. Stir until combined, then return chicken to the pot, skin side up. Cover and put pot in oven. Cook for 1 1/2 hours, then remove from oven.

Serve with mashed potatoes on the side. I think white or brown rice would be another great choice since the sauce is sweet.

Peach - Whiskey Barbecue Chicken

12 - chicken thighs, bone-in, skin-on
2 - tablespoons olive oil
2 - tablespoons butter
1 - whole yellow onion, diced
1 1/2- cups whiskey
12 ounces, fluid barbecue sauce - (I used 18 oz bottle)
1 - jar peach preserves - (I used 16 oz jar)
1/2 - cup water
2 - tablespoons worcestershire sauce
4 - cloves garlic, peeled
green onions, sliced for garnish

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Heat oil and butter in a heavy pot over medium-high heat. Place chicken thighs, four at a time, in the pot, skin side down. Brown both sides, then remove to a plate and repeat until all chicken is browned.

Pour off half the grease, then return pan to stove. Add onions to pan and stir, cooking for 2 minutes. Pour whiskey into the pot, being very careful if you’re using an open flame. Stir and scrape the bottom of the pan, allowing whiskey to reduce for a minute or two.

Pour in barbecue sauce, peach preserves, water, and Worcestershire sauce. Add the garlic cloves. Stir until combined, then return chicken to the pot, skin side up. Cover and put pot in oven. Cook for 1 1/2 hours, then remove from oven. Garnish with green onions. Serve pieces of chicken over a big pile of smashed potatoes sprinkled with sliced green onions.

Note: I used the whole bottle of BBQ sauce and peach preserves even though I cut the recipe in half.

Recipe Source: The Pioneer Woman

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Halloween Cookie Bars {My Go To Cookie Recipe}

Let me share with you today one of my favorite cookie bars. I pretty much love just about any cookie, but by far these Halloween Cookie Bars are on the top of my list. They're super easy to make and utilize a biscuit mix instead of flour.

Anytime my kids have a school party or need to carry a sweet treat somewhere this is always my go to recipe. I saw these over at southern plate a couple years back and have been making them ever since.

I try and put a different spin on these when each holiday rolls around. For Halloween we used butterscotch chips and candy corns, but if you're not a fan of candy corn just substitute with Holiday Themed M & M's or Reese's Pieces candies.

One year I made some Valentine themed cookie bars for my daughters school and all the kids loved them. Next time I'm in Target I will try and remember to grab a couple bags of the new Candy Corn White Chocolate M & M's. I'm guessing those would make a mean cookie bar. Hopefully I can get some before they're all gone.

The best thing about this recipe is that everything is done in one bowl. Don't you just love those kinds of recipes? Start off by combining the first six ingredients in large mixing bowl. Mix until well blended. Add the butterscotch chips and mix to combine.

Pat into greased 8×8 pan and bake at 350 for twenty five to thirty minutes. Remove from oven. Sprinkle the top with candy corns. Return to oven, watching carefully, for two to three minutes, just to allow the candy corn to warm enough to stick. Watch carefully so candy corn doesn’t melt. Remove from oven, let cool and add sprinkles.

When completely cool cut into bars and enjoy!

Halloween Cookie Bars

1/2 - cup old fashioned or quick oats
1 - cup brown sugar, packed
2 - cups biscuit baking mix
Jiffy, Bisquick, Pioneer or Homemade
1 - egg, beaten
1 - stick margarine, melted
1 - teaspoon vanilla extract
1 - cup butterscotch chips
1 - cup candy corns
Halloween Sprinkles for Garnish

Combine the first six ingredients in large mixing bowl. Mix until well blended. Add the butterscotch chips and mix to combine. Pat into greased 8×8 pan and bake at 350 for twenty five to thirty minutes. Remove from oven.

Sprinkle the top with candy corns. Return to oven, watching carefully, for two to three minutes, just to allow the candy corn to warm enough to stick. Watch carefully so candy corn doesn’t melt.Remove from oven, let cool and add sprinkles. When completely cool cut into bars.

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Halloween Poke Cake {Jell-O Poke Cake}

I'm sure everyone is familiar with those good old fashioned Jell- O Poke Cakes. If you're not then you sure are missing out. Over Memorial Day weekend I baked a Patriotic Poke Cake if you click on that link you can see what a Jell-O Poke Cake is all about. I was going to make this fun little Halloween Poke Cake on Halloween, but if I did that than y'all couldn't enjoy it in time for the holiday.

When I initially saw this recipe honestly I wondered how it would taste. A chocolate marble cake with orange jell-0. Hm now that was a strange combination to me. The photo of the cake looked so festive that I had to give it a try. I can say in the end that I'm glad I made it because everyone loved it! Carson said the orange tasted like sherbet, so I think the jell-0 complimented the chocolate cake really well.

We only have a couple slices left so that's always a good sign. I used candy corns and Halloween sprinkles to decorate our cake, but you can use whatever you like. The autumn mix that has candy corns and pumpkins is also a good choice. It's really up to you.

The kids can do the decorating part, but mom will need to bake the cake and pour the jell-O. I decided that since we already made a Halloween cake that we will be enjoying some festive cookies and bars on Halloween night. Hopefully I can get those posted the week of Halloween.

Dinner is usually pretty easy for us on Halloween.Last year we had Mummy Dogs and french fries, so that's what the kids requested again. All in all it should be a fun and yummy evening. I have included some step by step photos of how easy this festive cake is to make. I hope you will give it a try before or for Halloween.

Prepare and bake cake according to package directions, using a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour. In a small bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water; stir in cold water. With a meat fork or wooden skewer, poke holes in cake about 2 in. apart. Slowly pour gelatin over cake. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours.

For frosting, in a small bowl, cream butter until fluffy. Beat in the confectioners' sugar, cocoa, milk and vanilla until smooth. Spread over cake; top with candy pumpkins or candy corn. Cover and refrigerate until serving.

I love all the candy corns scattered around.

Enjoy!

Halloween Poke Cake

1 - 18 oz pkg fudge marble cake mix
1- 3 oz packages orange gelatin
1 - cup boiling water
1/2 - cup cold water
1/2 - cup butter, softened
3-1/2 - cups confectioners' sugar
1/3 - cup baking cocoa
1/4- cup milk
1 - teaspoon vanilla extract
12 to 15 pieces of pumpkin mix or or candy corns
Halloween Sprinkles

Prepare and bake cake according to package directions, using a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour. In a small bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water; stir in cold water.

With a meat fork or wooden skewer, poke holes in cake about 2 in. apart. Slowly pour gelatin over cake. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours.

For frosting, in a small bowl, cream butter until fluffy. Beat in the confectioners' sugar, cocoa, milk and vanilla until smooth. Spread over cake; top with candy pumpkins, candy corns and sprinkles. Cover and refrigerate until serving.

Note: the original recipe called for (2) packages of jell-o and 1 1/2 cups of water. I only had one package on hand and it turned out fine. If you don't want a strong orange flavor I recommend only using (1) package.

Yield: 12-15 servings.
Adapted from: Quick Cooking Magazine

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