Homemaker`s Hutch October Issue

October Magazine Edition Theme: Halloween/Harvest
Articles
Editorial...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Let’s Go To The Pumpkin Patch ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
How To Carve A Pumpkin ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 3
Don’t Carve Your Pumpkin – Paint It! ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Fall Favorites – Family, Festivals and Falling Leaves .........................................................................................................................................................7
What Apple To Use For What – Apple Varieties..................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Fall Produce Guide - Food In Season In Your Region ......................................................................................................................................................11
Midwest ...........................................................................................................................................11
Northeast .........................................................................................................................................11
Northwest ........................................................................................................................................12
Southeast .........................................................................................................................................12
Homemade Halloween Costumes ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 13
Ask Who, When, And How, Much Before You Begin ....................................................................13
Halloween Costumes For Kids............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 15
Create Simple Frugal Costumes ......................................................................................................15
Craft Box
Candy Corn Candle Holders ............................................................................................................17
Easy Candy Corn Turkey Cookies Kids Can Make ..........................................................................17
Easy Kid Crafts for Halloween .........................................................................................................18
Ghost Hand Puppet .....................................................................................................................18
Ghost Lollipops ............................................................................................................................18
Spider Webs .................................................................................................................................18
Cauldron Candy Dish ...................................................................................................................18
Pumpkin Painting .........................................................................................................................18
Witch Broom Pencil .....................................................................................................................19
Halloween Wreath Craft .................................................................................................................20
for Pre-School and Kindergarten Students ................................................................................20
Halloween Pillows ...........................................................................................................................22
Recipe Box
Cheesenstein ...................................................................................................................................24
Curried Pork Stew From The Slowcooker ......................................................................................25
Yummy Pumpkin Soup ....................................................................................................................27
Pumpkin Corn Chowder ..................................................................................................................28
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte ...................................................................................................29
Crockpot Baked Apples ...................................................................................................................31
What Do I Do With All This Harvest? ..............................................................................................32
Fresh Salsa ...................................................................................................................................32
Decorate Your Home with Squash & Gourds .............................................................................32
Hash It Out Over Hash of All Kinds .............................................................................................32
Zucchini Bread .............................................................................................................................33
Sweet Potato Dishes Galore........................................................................................................33
Apples, Apples, Apples ................................................................................................................33
Turning Everyday Dinners into Spooky Meals ...............................................................................34
Ghoulish Pasta .............................................................................................................................34
Worms! ........................................................................................................................................34
Mummy Meatloaf ........................................................................................................................35
Mashed Boo-Tatoes ....................................................................................................................35
Bat Wings .....................................................................................................................................35
Green Slime Soup ........................................................................................................................35
Kitty Litter Casserole ...................................................................................................................35
Halloween Themed Cupcakes.........................................................................................................36
Smoothie Of The Month............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 38
Medicine Box
10 Simple Steps to Treating Yourself Well .....................................................................................39
Sugar Soak ....................................................................................................................................41
Honey Lemon Sugar Scrub ..........................................................................................................41
Soap Box
Homemade All Purpose Cleaner.....................................................................................................42
Easing into the Holiday Season - Pre Planning for Thanksgiving
and Christmas
For The Cook....................................................................................................................................43
For The Crafter ................................................................................................................................44
For The Home Decorator ................................................................................................................44
For The Planner – Or Any Busy Mom, Really .................................................................................45
Get Ahead Of The Game .................................................................................................................45
Coming Next Month
Editorial
Let’s start with some introductions. We are Tracy Roberts from MomsInABlog.com and
Susanne Myers from HillbillyHousewife.com. We’ve been close friends for years and
both love homemaking, cooking, crafting and the likes (as we’re sure you know if you’ve
been reading our blogs for a while).
A few months ago we had this crazy idea to create a beautiful digital magazine. It took
us a little while to get all our ducks in a row (starting a big project like this over summer
break was not one of our most brilliant ideas), but it’s finally ready and this first edition
came out even better than we’d hoped.
We had a great time writing and creating this special Halloween and Harvest edition.
But we couldn’t’ have done it without the help of some amazing friends. Which brings up
a good point…
One of our big goals with this magazine is to introduce you to some wonderful people
that do amazing things in all things homemaking, cooking and crafting. We’re starting on
that this week with Liz Latham from HoosierHomemade.com, Natalie Collins from
TheNewRawYou.com and Erik Shipley from OddCrafts.com. Of course there are also
plenty of fun ideas and recipes from the two of us.
We both love fall and are ready to transition from busy (and hot) summer months into
the cooler and calmer fall season. We’re having fun with all things pumpkin, harvest and
Halloween and are starting to take a look at the upcoming Holiday season.
We hope you enjoy this first issue and look forward to not only create future magazine
editions, but make Homemaker’s Hutch so much more than that. Our vision is to have
an active and supportive community of homemakers that share our values and are fun
to hang out with.
Take a moment to stop by our Homemaker’s Hutch Facebook page and introduce
yourself. https://www.facebook.com/homemakershutch
Of course comments and suggestions
are always welcome. Email us at
[email protected]
Tracy Roberts and Susanne Myers
www.HomemakersHutch.com
Homemaker’s Hutch
1|Page
Let’s Go To The Pumpkin Patch
If you have the opportunity to choose your
Halloween pumpkins from a farm this fall, I
would encourage you to do so.
The last ten years I have taken my children
and grandchildren out to a local farm to
pick out our pumpkins. They have a hay
wagon loaded with hay bales that we sit
on. As the farmer pulls out very slowly, we
know that our fall journey has begun. We
are on our way to one of the finest times
we spend together every year.
The kids and I pick up gourds and squash
that we find to be “totally cool” and
everyone gets their fill. Some of these
special finds are used for home decoration,
end up at school in show and tell time and
some go home with daycare children that
we have. I pick up a few squash to cook,
which at first was not real popular at our
house with the kids, but now they find that
the squash they pick is not really so bad
(brown sugar and butter help a lot!)
At the farm we visit, they also have
pumpkins that are grown specifically for
making pumpkin pies. I can tell you that at
first I was not excited to make my very own
pumpkin pie from scratch but making it a
family project, we now find it is as fun as
wrapping Christmas presents. The
calendar alone told me that it was fall in
September, but my sense of smell and the
pumpkin pie baking in the oven is always
my way of welcoming fall again every year.
We travel over often slightly bumpy areas
of ground, past recently harvested
cornfields to our patch. This is a time
where we are all together with no other
sounds but that of the tractor and anxious
children. The country farm smells are
delightful and the kids laugh gleefully as
we near the fields of pumpkins lying ahead.
I’m not sure if it’s the fact that we can walk
all over, through the pumpkin fields or if it’s
the camaraderie of just being together and
having fun, but we always pick out far more
pumpkins than we need.
Homemaker’s Hutch
Often times we set the pumpkins out as a
display for harvest or Halloween
decorations because we don’t like to carve
them too early. We find that in the last
week before Halloween we carve the
pumpkins and the children take them
home.
We are so glad that we discovered this
way to spend a great time together with the
family. Choosing pumpkins from a pumpkin
patch is much better than picking them
from your local store market. Check around
and see if you can’t find a patch and start
your own family tradition.
2|Page
How To Carve A Pumpkin
So you’re ready to carve your first
pumpkin? Congratulations in joining the
ranks of many who rank pumpkin carving
as one of their favorite Halloween
activities. To avoid a huge mess you’ll
have to clean up later, the first thing you’ll
need to do is prepare your workspace.
Gather Your Supplies
•
•
•
•
Choosing Your Pumpkin Carving Space
Select a flat work area. Lay down several
layers of newspaper being sure to overlap
them.
Homemaker’s Hutch
•
Pumpkin
Pumpkin Carving Kit or Butcher Knife
& Serrated Paring Knife
Semi-Permanent Marker or Pencil
Container lined with a garbage bag to
deposit your waste
Lighting Source of Your Choice
(Candle, glow sticks, etc.)
3|Page
Preparing Your Pumpkin for Carving
Turn your pumpkin on its side. Using your
permanent marker, draw a large circle on
the bottom of the pumpkin. Be sure it’s
large enough to fit a large spoon and your
hand inside. By cutting out the bottom
(instead of the top) you’ll make it easier to
place your light source in it. Using your
large butcher knife carefully cut out the
circle. Make note of the best side for
carving your chosen design or face.
Let the Fun Begin
It’s time to clean out your pumpkin. Using
your hands, scoop out the seeds and put
them in the garbage bag, unless you want
to put them in a bowl for later roasting.
Using either a wooden spatula or serving
spoon, scrape out the meat. Hopefully you
have already decided on which side you
will be carving the face, as this will need
extra removal of the flesh.
needle, push pin or nail, start poking small
holes through the paper and into the
pumpkin. Make sure you do them close
enough as this is the pattern from which
you will carve.
It’s Finally Time to Carve
Preparation pays off. Now, let’s get
carving this pumpkin. Be particular in your
carving as any little slip with the knife is
likely to ruin your design and may cause
injury. With your paring knife or other
preferred choice of carving tool, carve
along the pattern lines cutting all the way
through the rind. Cut away from yourself
and into the pumpkin. After each feature
has been cut out slowly push out the cut
pieces from inside the pumpkin.
Hint: Keep your blades as sharp as
possible to ensure accuracy and ease of
carving.
Clean Up
Draw Your Design
After the pumpkin has been cleaned out, it
is time to draw the design of your choice.
Use a semi-permanent marker or a pencil
and draw your design on the pumpkin.
If you don’t have an artistic mind it’s ok.
You can use a stencil available on several
Internet sites or one that may have came
in your tool kit. (www.hersheys.com is a
good site for designs.) Take a copy of the
design and place it over the pumpkin.
Secure this with masking tape. With a
Homemaker’s Hutch
Take your newspaper and fold it over on
all sides, keeping your pumpkin “gunk” on
the inside. Once folded, throw it in the
trash can or garbage bag.
Congratulations! You’ve now carved your
first pumpkin. Once you’ve finished and
cleaned up the mess, place that baby out
on the front porch and add your lighting.
Show it off for the entire neighborhood to
see. Don’t forget to take a picture too –
after all you only have a first carved
pumpkin once. Enjoy!
4|Page
Don’t Carve Your Pumpkin – Paint It!
We love heading out to the pumpkin patch
in late September or early October to pick
out some pumpkins. Of course the kids
are ready to carve them as soon as we get
back home. Sadly this means that our
pumpkins don’t make it all the way to
Halloween (let alone Thanksgiving) before
they start to rot and fall apart.
A few years ago we started painting some
of our pumpkins and saving the rest for
carving later in October. This works out
great and if you paint a face or scene on
only one side of your pumpkin, you can
turn it around after Halloween so the
unpainted side faces outward and
Homemaker’s Hutch
continue to use it as a fall or Thanksgiving
decoration.
Painting With Markers
The easiest way to paint a pumpkin is with
permanent markers. Get out your sharpies
and get creative. You can keep it monochromatic and use only a black pen, or get
creative and colorful like the pumpkins in
the example below.
And speaking of examples… if you need
some ideas, just google “painted
pumpkins” for lots of inspiration. But more
on that in a bit…
5|Page
Painting With Paint
You can also paint on your pumpkins with
paint. Acrylic paint works really well. Use a
fine tipped brush to paint with a lot of
detail.
I like this approach if I have a stencil or
template to work from and can just fill in
the lines with my brush. The
pumpkins below are a great
example. But note that it would be
just as easy to color them in using
a marker.
Most importantly just have fun with it. Start
with some pumpkins and gourds in
different sizes and colors and get creative.
Get the kids involved and come up with
some unique painted pumpkins that you
can use throughout fall to decorate your
kitchen table or front porch.
You could even use a paper
template and some spray paint to
create some fun pumpkins for our
house and porch.
Getting Ideas and Help Figuring
Out What To Paint
I already hinted at this earlier. My
favorite way to find fun ideas for
painting pumpkins is to do a quick
Google search. You can draw free
hand on your pumpkin (doing a
light outline in very gently in pencil
or a washable marker) or use a
template.
There are thousands of free
printable templates out there for
carving pumpkins and as you can
see in the image above those are
easily adapted to painting
pumpkins.
I found a great collection of
printable templates on the HGTV
website. They include anything
from fall scenes and cats to fun
jack-o-lantern faces.
Homemaker’s Hutch
6|Page
Fall Favorites – Family, Festivals and Falling Leaves
events are available in your area. Find a
few fun things to do and plan some
family outings.
We have quite a few farms that have
heritage / harvest festivals complete
with hayrides, food, local crafts and
music. They are lots of fun and a great
way to connect with the farmers in your
community. Who knows, you may just
come across someone you can
purchase eggs and produce from
throughout the year.
As crafters we also love all sorts of
crafting and fiber festivals. If you’re a
knitter, crocheter, spinner, weaver,
potter, scrapbooker and the likes,
there’s sure to be a fun event within
driving distance this fall.
On a side note, these types of crafty
festivals are a great place to start your
Christmas shopping. You can find all
sorts of unique gifts for friends and
family.
Fall is our favorite season. We both live in
the South (Florida and South Carolina in
case you’re curious) and by the time late
August or early September roll around, we
are ready for fall.
There’s just something about the cooler
temperatures, the changing colors in the
leaves and of course all the fun fall food.
Fall is a time of the year when harvests
are plenty and it’s traditionally a time for
gatherings and festivals.
Take a look at a local calendar of events
and see what fall / harvest and Halloween
Homemaker’s Hutch
Another fun outing is to head to the
pumpkin patch and pick a few pumpkins to
carve or just use as decorations around
the house and yard. We’ll share some
great carving and painting tips with you
later on. For now look for a good pumpkin
patch in your area and have fun heading
out there with the family. Pick some
pumpkins, taste some cider and enjoy
yourself.
Living at the coast, we love to plan a trip to
the mountains in the fall. The leaves are
absolutely gorgeous and the weather is
cool enough to make camping and hiking
fun.
7|Page
Speaking of leaves, they can be a lot of
fun as well. You may think of raking them
as a fall chore, but why not turn it into a
fun family activity. Rake the leaves into big
piles and jump around before bagging
them or shredding them for composting.
As you are out walking and hiking, keep
an eye out for beautiful leaves to collect.
Press them in heavy books and then use
them to make pretty collages, cards and
Homemaker’s Hutch
the likes. This is a fun activity to do with
the kids.
Last but not least, don’t forget to stop by
an apple orchard while you’re out and
about to pick some apples. Not only is the
apple picking itself a lot of fun, you can
then turn around and make all sorts of
delicious things from apple butter to pie
from your harvest.
8|Page
What Apple To Use For
What – Apple Varieties
There are so many different types of
apples, it makes it hard to choose. If
you’re at the store, the farmers market or
picking your own apples at an orchard, it’s
good to have a basic idea of what apple
works well for what. Not every kind is good
for eating plain or baking into a pie. The
list below has some of the most commonly
found apples in the US. It is by no means
an extensive list, but a great place to start.
Cortland
This is a great baking apple with bright red
skin and juice white flesh. They are slightly
tart and don’t tend to discolor too quickly.
Great addition to pies and cobblers.
Crispin
These are large apples with a yellowgreen skin. They are juicy and crisp with a
sweet flavor that lends itself to baking and
making apple sauce.
Empire
Empire apples are a cross between
McIntosh and Red Delicious. This is a
great apple that works for just about
anything including baking. They are also
delicious for slicing and eating and even
freeze well.
Gala
Gala apples are one of my favorite eating
apples. They also make great apple
sauce. I don’t recommend using them in
Homemaker’s Hutch
baking. They tend to fall apart very
quickly. They have a yellow skin with red
striping.
Golden Delicious
If you are only going to keep one type of
apple around, make it golden delicious.
They have a mild but sweet flavor that
tastes great if the apple is eaten fresh or
baked. These apples also keep their
shape well during baking, making them
perfect for pies.
Granny Smith
This is one of the most popular apples
around and for good reason. They are
bright green and have a nice sour flavor.
They are perfect for eating raw and hold
up well in pies and crisps. I recommend
9|Page
combining them with some other apples
(like golden delicious) for baking pies.
be very sweet so adjust sugar as needed
in baking.
Honeycrisp
Macoun
This is a fairly new apple variety that’s
crisp and juicy. I love the honey-sweet
flavor and use them quite a bit in pies and
apple sauce.
I have a bit of a hard time finding these
apples at the grocery store. They are best
eaten raw and have a pretty white flesh
that pairs very well with sharp cheeses.
Ida Red
McIntosh
This is a very old apple variety. Ida Reds
keep their shape during baking and even
freeze well. I use them for baking and in
apple sauce.
My favorite way to eat a good McIntosh
apple is right from the tree. Since they
break up easily when cooked, they are
perfect for apple sauces but won’t hold up
in a cake or pie.
Jonagold
Red Delicious
These apples are a blend of Jonathan and
Golden Delicious apples. They are best
eaten fresh or used in apple sauce.
Don’t try to cook or bake with these. They
are meant for eating as is.
Jonathan
Winesap
These apples are perfect for baking pies
and cakes. They hold their shape well and
have a nice crisp flavor. They don’t tend to
This is a firm but sweet apple that holds
up well in baking and makes a great
addition to your apple sauce as well.
Homemaker’s Hutch
10 | P a g e
Fall Produce Guide - Food In Season In Your Region
There's certain times of the year that seem to bring out the inner-gardener in all of us,
even when we don't have a plot of land to dig around in. If you are lucky enough to live
close to a farmers market, you don't have to plant your own garden to enjoy the bounty
of the land. Let's take a look at what foods you will find in the different areas of the
United States during the Autumn season.
Midwest
Northeast
When you think of wide-open spaces,
rolling hills, fall colors, woods, rivers,
lakes, and streams, you are probably
thinking of the Midwest. The climate in this
region is perfect for the fall produce that
you see most often featured in pictures
depicting a bountiful Autumn. During the
fall season in the Midwest, depending on
which area you find yourself in, you can
buy fruits and veggies like apples,
celery, cauliflower, broccoli, leeks,
pumpkins, beets, and turnips at the local
markets.
The Northeast areas are generally
surrounded by masses of water so they
are typically known for their seafood and
other types of game. However, this region
also has farms that are busy producing
some of the best produce to ever hit your
table. These regions give us beets,
Brussels sprouts, cranberries, grapes,
onions, nectarines, and even rutabaga.
You may not be as familiar with some of
the other produce harvested during the
cool fall season, such as parsnips, kale,
rutabaga, and eggplant. Some of your
favorite hearty staples are also found in
the Midwest regions during the fall;
bountiful crops such as potatoes,
squash, onions, and carrots. Probably
the oddest piece of produce that you will
see come out of the Midwest during the
fall months is the persimmon, which is a
tart little bite that will have you craving
more. And don't forget the cranberry.
Where would we be without our
cranberry on the Autumn table! Look for
all of these fall favorites anytime before
the first hard frost in the coldest regions
of the Midwest.
Homemaker’s Hutch
11 | P a g e
Looking to try something different, but still
fresh in the Northeast region? Perhaps
you can give chicory, escarole, pluots or
some radicchio a try this fall. Pluots are
amazing hybrids between a plum and an
apricot, and they should definitely be on
your list of foods to try this year.
So, when you think of the northeast, don't
just think about lobster; think about all the
wonderful produce that region has to offer,
as well.
Northwest
The Northwest region of the United States
tends to have a more consistent climate
throughout the year which makes it a
prime growing region for some of the more
delicate fruits and veggies. With a
temperate climate that has a considerable
amount of rainfall, you can expect produce
that likes to stay cool and shaded to grow
in this region. Not much sun loving
produce here.
During the fall months you will find
boysenberries, huckleberries, artichokes,
kiwi, mint, sage, basil, watercress, and
rosemary in fresh abundance. Other
produce you will find in this region
includes chard, beets, Brussels sprouts,
celery, and arugula. If it doesn't like direct
sun, and loves lots of moisture, you'll find
it in the Northeast. But, wait. I almost
forgot one of the biggest crops you'll find
in the northwest; apples. Along with
pears, apples are a very abundant crop in
the northwest. If you want to buy a variety
of apples and learn a million ways to eat
Homemaker’s Hutch
them, go to a farmers market in the
northwest. You will not be disappointed.
Southeast
Known for its 'down home' style of
cooking, many of the ingredients you find
in the recipes have their roots right in the
area. For instance, during the cooler
months, you can find sweet potatoes,
tomatillos, collard greens, figs, okra,
pecans, mustard greens, kale greens, and
green beans. And we mustn't forget the
fruit. Citrus is a welcome addition to any
table as the fall months move into winter.
The crops in the South during the fall often
dictate the menu for many a meal during
holidays and family get-togethers. Pecan
pie just screams Southern comfort food.
Sweet potato casserole and a pot of
collard greens is on every southern table
during the fall season. Fall may come a
little later in this region, but the produce is
perfectly timed to make Southerners giddy
over big piles of greens and baskets of
brightly colored sweet citrus at their local
farmers markets.
No matter what your appetite during the
fall months, there is some region of the
United States that is bound to have the
fresh produce you are looking for. Now the
trick is trying to figure out how to get there
and back in time for dinner!
Ready for more tips and some delicious
recipes that center around fall farmers
market finds? Check out Exploring Fall
Farmers Markets.
12 | P a g e
Homemade Halloween Costumes
Ask Who, When, And How, Much Before You Begin
What makes Halloween such a fun
holiday? Is it creating the Jack
O’Lanterns, the neighborhood raids for
candy, the decorations, the parties, or is it
something else? For many kids and
grownups alike, the thing that makes
Halloween the most fun is the costumes!
Many folks want to make their own
costumes at home in order to create
lasting memories with their
children. However, this is not the only
reason. More and more families are trying
to watch their budget. Making their own
fun costumes for Halloween is an easy
and fun way to save money, as well as
making memories.
When you decide to make Halloween
costumes at home, you need to ask
yourself a few questions, like, will the
costume be suitable for my child’s age; will
it work for the games planned at the party;
how much time do I have to make the
costume; and of course, how much money
can I spend on a costume. Let’s attempt to
answer some of these questions here:
Who? – The appropriateness of a
costume for a 10 year old is totally
different than for a 2 year
old. Complicated closures and busy
embellishments can pose some safety
issues for a little one and cause
frustration, too. If the costume is mainly
used for Trick-or-Treat night you’ll want
something that is warm enough for a cold
climate and light colored for safety
Homemaker’s Hutch
sake. Of course there should never be a
mask worn by a child who is old enough to
walk from door to door, as the child needs
to have unrestricted vision to watch out for
traffic.
13 | P a g e
Time? – Say you receive an invitation to a
special party weeks in advance of
Halloween. You can go to the fabric store
and have fun buying just the right stuff to
create great costumes for your
family. That’s definitely family fun!
But, if you find out about a party just days
or hours beforehand, can you still have
fun creating costumes? Of course you
can. If you accept your time constraints
and get creative, you can still laugh with
your family and have a good time making
those last-minute costumes.
Money? – Even if you have all the time in
the world to create Halloween costumes
for your family, it won’t do you any good if
you ruin your budget in the
process. Over-spending on costumes will
certainly not create a very happy
memory. Instead of robbing your grocery
money for the week to pay for your little
one’s lavish costume, look for fabulously
bejeweled cast-offs either in your closet or
at the local thrift store. That’s what all
those old bridesmaids dresses are made
for!
What Next? – Once you’ve answered
those three questions, you’re ready for
some basic costume construction
Homemaker’s Hutch
ideas. You’ll need a few elements to help
you create something that’s fun, frugal,
and fast. With a little cardboard or
posterboard, you can build a classic
sandwich board style costume and create
any number of costumes, like a playing
card or box of cereal. Cut a couple wing
shapes out, spray them with different paint
colors, and you’ve got yourself a
butterfly. With a cardboard box and some
paint you can turn your child into a car or a
Christmas present.
There’s also the costume creation method
called “rummaging through Mom and
Dad’s closet.” This is perfect for very
short time notice and very limited funds. If
possible, Grandma and Grandpa’s closet
will yield even greater finds for your little
ones. Grandma’s long flannel nightgown
and some curlers in a hair-net will have
your neighborhood laughing hysterically
as your family goes out on Trick-orTreating night. One of Dad’s shirts, a tie,
hat, and a briefcase turns your little freshfaced toddler into a busy executive. Keep
an open mind and you are bound to find
lots of stuff to create all sorts of fun!
Have you asked yourself those three
questions:
•
•
•
Who is this costume for?
How much time do I have?
What’s my budget?
If so, then you have the basics to start
looking for ideas to create your own
special Halloween costumes for your
family. It’s time now to get ready for that
all important question that we hear our
children ask every year – “What should I
be for Halloween?”
14 | P a g e
Halloween Costumes For Kids
Create Simple Frugal Costumes
I love Halloween, but I don’t love the
expensive “designer” costumes that I see
in all the stores. Even the discount stores
have racks filled with expensive character
costumes that kids know and want.
Pick up a witches hat at a costume or
dollar store and you’re done.
I’m appalled at the prices of these much
sought after costumes and can’t bring
myself to fork-over my hard earned money
to purchase them. If I purchase even one
of these costumes, it means I don’t put
gas in my car this week, I can’t buy a
present for a birthday party, we eat beans
for two weeks, and the dog doesn’t get his
vaccinations. Life will go on without a
“designer” costume.
It’s time to get creative and skip the whole
designer costume idea. Here are a few
wonderfully fun ideas for simple
Halloween costumes for all ages:
Little Witch
Pile of Leaves
Start with a black long sleeve shirt and
leggings or tights. Next, pick up some
black tulle fabric and either ribbon or wide
elastic band.
Make a simple little tutu out of the tulle
and ribbon either by creating a hem on the
tulle and threading the elastic through it or
by cutting the ribbon long enough to fit
around your child’s waist and can be tied.
Then cut the tulle into 6 inch wide strips.
Tie those strips all around the ribbon to
create a little skirt.
Homemaker’s Hutch
Take a big, old, dark brown T-Shirt that
hangs down to your little one’s knees.
Then take fabric glue and a sack of fall
color leaves (you can buy at a craft store),
and just glue the leaves all over the
shirt. Then, take an old bandana scarf or
hat and glue more leaves all over it and tie
it on her head. Dress your child in a
turtleneck shirt and tights and you’ll have
the cutest little pile of leaves you’ve ever
raked!
15 | P a g e
Hello My Name Is
Take a big rectangular piece of poster
board, poster paint, and an “Hello My
Name Is” name tag, and proceed to copy
the design of the name tag onto the poster
board. Then write her name or even a
favorite rock star’s name, or business
tycoon’s name on the line. Punch two
holes in the top of the name tag and use
big safety pins to pin the tag on the
shoulders of a big bright colored sweat
shirt. Dress your child underneath in a
dark turtleneck and black tights or pants
and the look is complete. The name tag is
certainly an icon that’s recognizable, and
humorous.
Fairy Costume
Start with a Shirt and tight in pastel colors.
Pick up some tulle fabric in coordinating
colors and create an easy skirt or tutu the
same way as for the little witch costume.
Pick up a couple of silk flowers and leaves
at your local craft store. Use fabric glue or
safety pins to attach them to the skirt and
shirt.
Add a couple of flowers in your child’s hair
and the costume is done.
Last but not least, have your child craft a
simple little fairy wand out of a stick, dowel
or even a plastic straw, construction paper
and lots of glitter glue.
Climbing Rose Trellis
When looking around the house and
garden, you may discover a lot of stuff
piling up just waiting to be used for
costumes. An old wooden rose trellis that
isn’t being used can be cleaned up and
put to work. With a few bits of
miscellaneous silk flowers left over from
crafts, you can string together a bunch of
flowers and attach them to the trellis as if
they were climbing.
Then take a paper bag, cut it in the shape
of a clay pot, and staple it to the bottom of
the trellis. Attach the trellis to your
youngster’s body with a couple lengths of
big elastic and tie each length over the top
of the trellis, making a loop to slip the
arms through. To complete the look, pin
some of the flowers on the top of a
baseball cap.
Telling children “No” isn’t easy. You want
them to have everything their little hearts
desire. But, part of the fun of Halloween is
being creative. Buying designer costumes
off a rack isn’t very creative, but putting
your mind to work on these fun costumes
is.
Let your imagination run wild!
Homemaker’s Hutch
16 | P a g e
Craft Box
Candy Corn Candle Holders
Show your love of candy corn with some
colorful and easy-to-make décor.
Simply take a small glass candle holder or
container, fill it with candy corn and top it
with a tea light. It’s a perfect, yet simply
centerpiece to a Fall dinner table.
Easy Candy Corn Turkey Cookies
Kids Can Make
This is always a fun project for kids and
adults alike. Make sure you have:
•
•
•
•
•
Double-Stuff Oreos
White frosting
Pretzel sticks
Candy eyes
Candy corns
Just follow the picture below to make
your awesome creation.
Break a pretzel stick in half and carefully
push the sticks inside the cookie to form
the legs.
Do the same with 5 candy corns up top
to form the feathers.
Use 3 small dollops of icing on the top of
the cookie and add the candy eyes and
a candy corn for a nose.
If you don’t have candy eyes, do a
dollop of white frosting with a black icing
dot in the middle.
Homemaker’s Hutch
17 | P a g e
Easy Kid Crafts for Halloween
Are your kids excited about Halloween
yet? We don’t have a day go by where my
daughter doesn’t ask me if it’s time to go
trick-or-treating yet. Keep them busy while
they wait with these easy kids craft ideas
you can do together.
Ghost Hand Puppet
Kids love playing with puppets and there’s
hardly an easier puppet to make than a
ghost. All you need is a white paper towel,
or a white handkerchief, a rubber band
and a black marker.
Ask your child to spread out her thumb
and pinky, but keep the 3 other fingers
together. Drape the paper towel over her
hand and secure the rubber band around
the three fingers. This will be the ghost’s
head; the thumb and pinkie form the arms.
Draw eyes and a mouth on the paper
towel and the little ghost puppet is
finished.
Ghost Lollipops
Dress up the lollipops you are giving away
for Halloween by wrapping a white tissue
or small piece of
fabric over them.
Secure it with a
piece of string or
a rubber band.
Take a black
marker and draw
eyes and a round
mouth on the
ghost’s face.
Homemaker’s Hutch
Spider Webs
What would Halloween be without spiders
and spider webs? Make these cute little
spider webs with the kids and hang them
in the window. All you need are 3 craft or
clean popsicle sticks and some white or
black yarn. Take two of the craft sticks and
glue them together to form a cross. Glue
the 3rd one right in the middle, forming a
star shape. Tie one end of the yarn
around one of the craft sticks in the center.
Start weaving it over one craft stick and
under the other. Keep going around,
forming your spider web. Make sure you
leave at least 1/4th inch of the craft sticks
sticking out and secure the loose end by
tying it to one of the craft sticks. Glue a
small plastic spider in the center and hang
your spider web up.
Cauldron Candy Dish
To make this cute cauldron candy dish,
start with an empty round plastic container
(like a cool-whip container). Clean it, dry it,
and then paint it black. Paint three small
wooden balls black as well. After the paint
is dry, glue them to the bottom of your
plastic container. Add a handle made out
of wire if you’d like and your candy dish
cauldron is done. Just add some of your
favorite Halloween candy.
Pumpkin Painting
Carving funny or scary faces into a
pumpkin is a lot of fun, but it also gets
quite messy and small kids can’t really do
18 | P a g e
much since there’s a knife involved. Buy a
few small pumpkins instead, or in addition
to the big carving pumpkin. Use
permanent pens or acrylic paint to draw
funny faces on your mini-pumpkins.
Witch Broom Pencil
Witch broom pencils make a cute
Halloween gift that doesn’t involve candy.
You can turn any pencil into a witch’s
broom with a handful of household items.
Homemaker’s Hutch
All you need is a regular pencil, some
small twigs out of the yard, some string
and a little glue.
Break the twigs into equal lengths pieces
and line them up around the unsharpened
end of a pencil. Make it look like an old
fashioned broom. Secure the wigs with
string, and then apply a thick layer of glue
to keep it all in place.
19 | P a g e
Halloween Wreath Craft
for Pre-School and Kindergarten Students
This is a fun project that you may want to
break up across a couple of days, so be
sure to start a few days before Halloween.
you prefer. Once you’ve glued the leaves
to the paper plate, leave the plates to dry
for 24 hours or at least overnight.
Mom, be sure to join in the fun as well and
make a Halloween wreath of your own too!
Material List
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Paper Plate (One per child/adult)
Scissors
Leaves
Glue Sticks
Orange Construction Papers
White Construction Paper
Black Construction Paper
Washable Black Marker
Black Yarn (optional)
Adult Preparation: (To Be Done Prior to
Actual Wreath Making)
Cut the center from each paper plate prior
to giving one to each child. These will be
the base for the homemade wreaths.
Day 1: Grab the kids and head
outdoors.
Gather as many fallen leaves of different
shapes and colors as you can find. Once
you’ve collected enough leaves to cover
each paper plate, head back inside and
glue them to the paper plates. You can
glue the leaves to cover the entire plate,
randomly around the plate or even as a
border around only the edge, whichever
Homemaker’s Hutch
Day 2: Creativity
Depending on how much time you have to
complete this project you can have the
children do the next step after the leaves
have been glued on, while you’re waiting
for them to dry or you can make another
day of it.
Let the children draw Halloween images
on the construction paper. Here are some
ideas for each color of paper:
20 | P a g e
Orange – Pumpkins (Use the black
marker to draw the face on their
pumpkins)
will look like once it is all glued together.
When the children are happy with the way
the decorations are placed, it’s time to
glue them to the leaves.
White – Ghosts, Mummies, Bones
Black – Cats, Witch Hats (You can use
the yarn to put a tail on the cat and hair on
the witches head if you’d like to put that
under the hat)
Once the children have picked out and
drawn which decorations they’ll be using,
carefully cut them out and paste them to
the wreath.
Again, allow the decorations to dry
completely.
Day 3: Decorating Time
Congratulations! You’ve made your very
own homemade Halloween wreath. Enjoy
your child’s creation by hanging it on the
front door or his or her bedroom door for
all your friends and family to see and
admire.
Tip: Pre-placement (before gluing) will
give the child an idea of what the wreath
Homemaker’s Hutch
21 | P a g e
Halloween Pillows
We first came across this fun idea on VeryHalloween.com and contacted Erik to see if
he would let us share this fun project with you. What we love best is that while this is a
fun way to create some Halloween throw pillows, the technique can easily be adapted to
work for pillow projects throughout the year.
By Erik Shipley from OddCrafts.com
Supplies you will need:
Inkjet Printer*
Freezer Paper*
Iron*
Muslin Fabric*
Backing Fabric
Fiberfill
Sewing Skills (sewing pillow and
embroidery if you wish to embellish)
* you can skip over these supplies by
purchasing printed fabrics here: Ships
Manor
I’ve always been a huge fan of Autumn
and especially Halloween. Ever since I
was a child Halloween crafts were a big
deal in my family. So, here I am, 30 years
later sharing my love of the craft with you.
Recently, I came across a great article
online about printing images on fabric.
These panels could be used for a variety
of things. You could attach them to a nice
fall hoodie, embellish with embroidery and
hang on the wall or… make some pillows!
I love making pillows. They are so
versatile. Great for decorations and great
for snuggling with.
Homemaker’s Hutch
You can find many great images online
that are free to use. They are either free
for personal use (meaning you can’t make
things with the image to sell and/or you
can’t sell the image) or they are in the
public domain and can be used in any way
you like. “Public Domain” does not
necessarily mean the image is
automatically yours to do what you wish.
The picture or scan was made by
someone and just by a click of a camera it
gives the rights to the person who clicked.
They don’t hold the rights to the original
image but the picture they made with the
image. So, make sure you always read the
rights attached to the image. Now, that
that is out of the way let’s make some
pillows!
22 | P a g e
First, find some images. Google is a great
tool. You can type in various things like
“Antique medicals tool images in the
public domain”. Another good search for
some cute old-fashioned pictures would
be “Ellen Clapsaddle Halloween
Postcards”. Once you have found an
image you like, and have checked the
rights, then save the image.
Second, you will need to prepare your
muslin for printing. The instructions can be
found here:Inkjet Printing
Third, cut your backing fabric the same
size as your printed muslin. I have used a
fabric I purchased at a local craft store.
The fabric looks like a really odd
newspaper print that I would definitely
subscribe to.
Next…or fourth, you will want to add
embellishments to the muslin. You could
outline the print with thread, add beads,
use fabric paint to fill in areas or just leave
it the way it is. I have decided to just leave
it. I like the basic look of it and it will look
great in my oddities cabinet.
Fifth, it is time to sew. You can use a
sewing machine or do it by hand. You
could even use fabric glue. If you are just
going to be displaying the pillows then
fabric glue is great. If they will get a lot of
snuggling time then it’s best to sew them.
Place the muslin and the backing fabric
face to face. You will sew them inside out.
Make sure, if the backing fabric has a print
on it, that they are both facing the same
direction. Next, sew around the edge of
the two fabrics leaving a small opening in
the bottom. Turn inside out and fill with
fiberfill making sure to push the corners in
(you can use a pencil or other tool for
that). After filling, close the hole by folding
over the edges of the fabrics and stitch it
up.
It’s still possible to embellish after this
step. You can sew buttons in the corners,
or paint with fabric paints. It’s your craft do
whatever you want! Have fun!
Check out Erik on Facebook @Odd Crafts
Homemaker’s Hutch
23 | P a g e
Recipe Box
Cheesenstein
A Fun Cheese Ball
Appetizer
This creamy,
fun cheese ball will be
the hit of your
Halloween party! It’s
worth the work to see
the look on your guests’
faces!
When I made this
cheese ball for a
Halloween party I had to
encourage our guests to
cut into it and begin
eating. No one wanted
to disturb the face!
I found this delightful Frankenstein decorative cheese ball at Taste of Home.com. Based
on the comments of people who had made this recipe I adapted it for additional flavor.
Ingredients:
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream
cheese, softened
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar
cheese
6 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
3 green onions, thinly sliced
2 cartons (4 ounces each whipped cream
cheese)
1/2 teaspoon Watkins Onion Powder
1/2 teaspoon Watkins Garlic Powder
Homemaker’s Hutch
Moss-green paste food coloring
Black paste food coloring
1 can (4-1/4 ounces) chopped ripe olives,
drained
2 pepperoncinis
3 collossal or large ripe olives
1 slice Swiss, Jack, or American white
cheese
1 pretzel rod
1 small cucumber or pickle
Assorted fresh vegetables and whole
grain crackers
24 | P a g e
Directions:
Beat the cream cheese, mayonnaise,
Worcestershire sauce and pepper sauce
until smooth. Stir in the shredded cheddar
cheese, bacon and green onions. Shape
into a rectangle approximately 5-inch x 4inch x 3-inch. Wrap in plastic wrap
and refrigerate until chilled.
Unwrap cheese rectangle and place on a
serving platter with a 3-inch side on
top. Tint two tablespoons of whipped
cream cheese with black paste food
coloring and set aside. Mix onion powder
and garlic powder in the larger portion of
whipped cream cheese and tint green;
spread over top and sides of rectangle.
Break pretzel rod in half; add a large olive
to each end. Press into sides of headshaped cheese for bolts. Cut a small piece
from the end of the cucumber or pickle for
a nose. Serve with vegetables and
crackers. This recipes makes
approximately 3 cups (one Frankensteinshaped cheese ball).
Arrange chopped ripe olives on top for
hair and use pepperoncinis for ears. Cut
one large olive in half; use half-moons
cut from a thick slice of cheese and olive
halves for eyes. Use the black tinted
cream cheese to pipe the brow, mouth
and stitches.
You may substitute chopped pecans for
bacon in this recipe.
Tips and Variations
Pepperoncinis (pickled peppers) can be
found in the pickle and olive section of
your grocery store or supermarket.
Use a pepperoncini (pickled pepper)
instead of part of a cucumber for the nose.
Curried Pork Stew From The Slowcooker
The recipe is from Tracy’s new cookbook “Simple Crockpot Dishes For Busy Moms“. It’s
a great book with lots of tips and yummy recipes.
We loved the fact that we can cook it in the slowcooker, which is important on those
busy days when we’re not sure if we’ll have time to cook a healthy dinner.
The apple gives it just the right amount of sweetness that pairs so well with the pork.
And of course it has plenty of curry powder. Make sure you get a curry powder with
flavors that your family will like. We prefer certain brands over others, or you can of
course make your own blend.
The best part about using curry is that it has plenty of turmeric powder in it. This is a
very healthy spice that’s been shown to reduce inflammation. All in all a very healthy
dish. Just add some veggies or a salad along with some rice and you have a filling meal
for the whole family.
Homemaker’s Hutch
25 | P a g e
Crockpot Curried Pork Stew
Prep time
15 mins
Cook time
8 hours
Total time
8 hours 15 mins
Serves:4-6
In
Ingredients
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
2 lbs pork stew meat cut in cubes
1 cup water
3 TBSP curry powder
1 Granny Smith apple, cut into 8
wedges
1 medium sweet onion, cut into 8
wedges
salt and pepper to taste
Approx. 2 TBSP oil for browning
Instructions
On stovetop in heavy skillet, heat oil on
medium high.
Brown pork and transfer to crockpot.
small bowl, mix water and curry powder.
Once pork is removed from skillet, pour
curry mix into that skillet and whisk to
loosen brown bits from bottom and sides
of pan for flavor. Stir mixture well.
Sprinkle salt and pepper over pork in
crockpot.
Add apple and onion to meat.
Pour curry mixture from skillet over all of
the ingredients.
Cover, cooking on low temperature setting
for 7 to 9 hours until pork is tender.
Serve over hot cooked rice.
Ready for more of Tracy’s delicious
recipes?
Homemaker’s Hutch
26 | P a g e
Yummy Pumpkin Soup
This cold weather has me craving a nice bowl of hot soup to warm up. Tonight I'm going
to use up my last can of pumpkin to make up this simple but oh-so-delicious soup. With
a slice of homemade bread, it makes for a nice winter day supper ... and with a little
luck, there'll be enough left over for me for lunch tomorrow.
Ingredients:
1 Onion, chopped
1/4 C. Margarine or Butter
2 t. Brown Sugar
1 Garlic Clove, chopped finely
1 14 1/2 oz. Can Chicken Broth
1/t. Salt
1/4 t. Black Pepper
1/8 t. Ground Cinnamon
1/2 C. Water
1 15 oz. Can 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 12 oz. Can Evaporated Milk
Directions:
Place butter or margarine in a saucepan
and melt over medium heat.
Cook the onions, sugar and garlic until soft
(generally about 1-2 minutes).
Next, stir in the chicken broth followed by
the water, pepper and salt and continue
heating until it boils.
Once a boil is reached, reduce the heat
down to low and continue cooking for 15
minutes. Stir occasionally.
Homemaker’s Hutch
Then, add the pumpkin and stir until well
blended.
Stir in the evaporated milk and cinnamon
next.
Continue to cook for 5 more minutes;
stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat and transfer the
contents to a blender or food processor
and process it until it is smooth.
Place the smooth soup back in the
saucepan and warm it up. Serve and
enjoy!
27 | P a g e
Pumpkin Corn Chowder
Ingredients:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 leeks, cleaned and
chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely
chopped
2 medium bell peppers,
chopped
2 1/4 lb. cooking pumpkin
peeled, seeded, and cut into
1/2 inch pieces
1 1/2 tsp chopped fresh
marjoram
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
2 bay leaves
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
•
•
1 1/4 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
6 cups vegetable broth
Directions:
Remove the bay leaves and serve hot.
Put olive oil in a large soup pot or Dutch
oven over medium heat.
Add the leeks and cook until tender, about
4 or 5 minutes, stirring often.
Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more,
stirring constantly.
Will serve 4.
Ready for more tips and some delicious
recipes that center around fall farmers
market finds? Check out Exploring Fall
Farmers Markets.
Reduce the heat to medium-low, then stir
in the green peppers, and cook until the
peppers begin to soften, about 7 or 8
minutes.
Now add the rest of the ingredients, turn
the heat to low and simmer until the
pumpkin is tender, about 20 to 30
minutes. Make sure the soup doesn't boil,
just slowly simmers.
Homemaker’s Hutch
28 | P a g e
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte
Last fall I got addicted to all things
pumpkin spice, particularly Pumpkin Spice
Lattes. I don’t have to tell you that these
tasty drinks can eat quite a whole in your
purse if you head out and order them at
your local coffee place.
give you variations that include a sugarfree and dairy-free options.
Add to that the fact that I’m eating clean
and try to stay away from refined sugar
and dairy. But with chatter all around
about these tasty coffee concoctions, I
wanted my PSL fix.
What I love best about this recipe is the
fact that it includes actual pumpkin. You
can use either canned or freshly cooked
pumpkin puree. You can also roast a
whole pumpkin, process the flesh into
puree and then freeze it in ice cube trays.
When you’re ready for a Pumpkin Spice
Latte or a pumpkin flavored hot chocolate,
just thaw a cube and use. Yum!
Let’s start with a basic recipe that creates
a very tasty latte. Of course I’m using my
own pumpkin spice mix that I shared with
you a few days ago. Below the recipe I
Note - Since I’m the only PSL enthusiast
in my house, the recipe is for 1 latte. You
can easily double, triple or quadruple the
recipe if you need to make more than one.
Ingredients:
Finish with a dusting of spice or cocoa and
enjoy.
1 large tbsp. pumpkin puree
1/4 tsp pumpkin spice mix
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsps. sugar*
1 cup milk *
1 small cup of strong coffee (or a shot of
espresso)
Whipped cream (optional)
Cinnamon or pumpkin spice mix or cocoa
powder for dusting on top
Directions:
Combine the first 5 ingredients in a small
saucepan and whisk together. Heat until
the mixture is hot and bubbly.
Pour the hot coffee or espresso into a
large mug. Add the pumpkin milk mixture.
Top with either the foamy part of the milk
or some whipped cream.
Homemaker’s Hutch
* Variations
As promised, I have some variations for
you. Feel free to mix and match
depending on your own preference and
dietary restrictions.
Sugar Free Version
Replace the sugar with a sweetener of
your choice. For a natural sugar substitute
use honey, maple syrup or stevia. Stevia
is my preferred low calorie sweetener, but
this will also work with Splenda and the
likes. When using honey or maple syrup
add 1 tbsp to replace the sugar. With low
calorie sweeteners, leave out the sugar
and add the sweetener to the finished latte
to taste.
29 | P a g e
Dairy Free Version
Paleo Version
Replace the milk with an equal amount of
coconut milk, almond milk, soy milk or rice
milk. My personal favorite is coconut milk.
It makes for a nice thick latte.
Use honey or maple syrup as your
sweetener instead of sugar. Replace the
milk with coconut or almond milk.
Homemaker’s Hutch
30 | P a g e
Crockpot Baked Apples
This is the perfect time of the year to go apple picking. It’s a lot of fun and you end up
with a big box full of apples at a bargain price. Of course then you have to figure out
how to make the best use of all these delicious fall fruits.
Below is one of our favorite recipes from Susanne’s Apple Cookbook available on
Amazon Kindle.
I love baked apples and cooking them in the crockpot makes this easy enough for
weekdays. I start these right before picking my daughter up from school and they are
perfect and tender after
dinner.
Ingredients:
6 large cooking apples
1/2 cup walnuts or raisins
or a mixture of both, if
desired
3/4 cup orange juice
1 tsp. grated orange rind
1/2 cup apple cider
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup brown sugar
Directions:
Core the apples and peel only a strip of the apple
at the very top. Place apples in crockpot. If
desired, sprinkle the cores of the apples with
walnuts and/or raisins.
Get out a medium bowl and combine orange juice,
grated orange rind, apple cider, cinnamon and
brown sugar. Stir. Pour over apples. Cover
crockpot and cook on low for 3 - 4 hours.
For more delicious apple recipes, check out
Susanne’s Apple Cookbook.
Homemaker’s Hutch
31 | P a g e
What Do I Do With All This Harvest?
Gathering the last of the harvest in the fall months leaves windowsills, tables and
baskets full of tomatoes, squash, pumpkin, peppers, beets, apples and sweet potatoes.
These yummy foods sit waiting to be used up. You’re left with so much fresh, precious
food and so little time. The neighbors get to share in the excess and you send it home
with anyone who darkens your door. All your labor of the spring and long hot summer
has finally paid off, in rich dividends. Now, what do you do with everything you have
left?
Now is the time to save some money. So many dishes can be made from these
wonderful veggies and fruits. Here are some ideas for your next meal or two, or three or
more.
Fresh Salsa
Fresh salsa is a big hit for fall. You can
use the yellow, red or green peppers finely
sliced along with some fresh onion and
garlic to create your own salsa. Depending
on the peppers you have planted you can
make a Mexican salsa as well as a simple
tomato salsa.
Decorate Your Home with Squash &
Gourds
Squash and gourds can be used as
decoration in your home or yard. If you’ve
harvested them you will know that they are
everywhere in the fall. Take some fall
flowers (mums are particularly hardy),
squash and gourds and make table
decorations from them. Of course you can
prepare and freeze squash for winter use.
Hash It Out Over Hash of All Kinds
If you have harvested peaches or apple,
you can even make a salsa with these
items. If you choose to can salsa make
sure you follow a recipe that is tried and
sure to keep the acid out of your salsa.
Beets diced up finely with some fresh
potatoes and a little pot roast or corned
beef finely diced will make a tasty hash.
Don’t count this out in the fall. You can
make a hash with apples, sweet potatoes,
butternut squash or really anything you
desire. The word hash encompasses a lot
of different foods of your choice. If you
wanted to omit the meat you could make a
simple veggie and fruit hash. Search the
net for some recipes.
.
Homemaker’s Hutch
32 | P a g e
Zucchini Bread
Zucchini makes the best bread and is a
treat in the fall. You can freeze this
vegetable and use it all winter long in
breads and potato pancakes (try adding
zucchini to this.)
kept in dark
places. Once is
has become
woody, it is no
longer good for
use
Apples, Apples,
Apples
Apples not only
taste good but they
make the house
smell delicious as
well. Applesauce is a great way to use up
the apple leftovers and you can also
freeze this for later use. Apple pies, apple
cobblers (and peach too), apple crisp and
apple butter are just a few of the ways you
can use up your harvest.
Sweet Potato Dishes Galore
Sweet potatoes have huge nutritional
benefits. A sweet potato pie is just one of
the many yummy things you can make.
This root makes wonderful custards,
casseroles and stews. It keeps fairly well if
Homemaker’s Hutch
With winter fast approaching, you will want
to get as many of your goodies up in cans
tucked away or frozen. There’s nothing
like going to the pantry or freezer and
seeing your hard labor waiting for you.
Happy Harvest!
33 | P a g e
Turning Everyday Dinners into Spooky Meals
When it comes to holidays, the family cook may feel frustrated because they feel they
are in a rut. They want to offer their family something different but may not be able to
come up with ideas. Consider turning everyday dinners into spooky meals leading up to
Halloween.
Ghoulish Pasta
Start with your traditional
pasta and meatballs but
give it a ghoulish twist.
Instead of making normal
meatballs, make eerie
eyes with cheese, olives
and pimientos.
You can use either black or
green olives, depending
upon what your family likes
better.
Worms!
Dinner will never be the same
once you serve your family
worms.
Take your favorite hot dog and
slice it in half and then in half
again. Grill the hot dogs and
watch them twist and turn into
worms. You can use these as an
alternative to meatballs on
spaghetti or to top your favorite
salad.
Use your imagination and you will
likely come up with ideas of your
own.
Homemaker’s Hutch
34 | P a g e
Mummy Meatloaf
Bat Wings
Shape the meatloaf mixture into a body
and wrap it with one-inch strips of puff
pastry or pie dough. Bake the meatloaf
and then create eyes using olives. The
wrapping can be bloody by squirting a little
ketchup on the pastry.
Serve your family bat wings for Halloween
dinner. Of course, these are actually
chicken wings. You can prepare them in
any number of ways. Using soy sauce will
darken the skin of the wings so they look
different than normal chicken…or add a
little food coloring.
Do you need something to serve with your
mummy meatloaf?
Scare up some ghosts by making
Mashed Boo-Tatoes
Start by making mashed potatoes like you
normally would, but make them just a little
thinner. Place the potatoes in a plastic bag
and cut the corner off. Squeeze out the
potatoes to resemble ghosts. Add sesame
seeds or pieces of black olives for eyes.
Green Slime Soup
Pea soup can be renamed “green slime” in
keeping with the Halloween theme. You
can also make a green curry soup which
will pass for slime.
Kitty Litter Casserole
Finally, if your family enjoys one-dish
meals, try Kitty Litter Casserole. This is
made with ground beef, rice, shredded
cheese and Bisquick. This will be similar
to Shepherd’s Pie but without the
vegetables.
Use your imagination when it comes to
turning everyday dinners into spooky
meals. Your family will enjoy the change of
pace and you may even find something
they ask for each year at Halloween.
Homemaker’s Hutch
35 | P a g e
Halloween Themed Cupcakes
Bake up a batch of these fun Halloween Cupcakes for your little goblins! This recipe is
from Liz’s super-cute eBook “Cupcakes – 12 Months of Happiness”
Halloween Cupcake Supplies:
•
•
•
•
•
White Frosting
Frosting Colored Orange
Black Gum Drops
Green Gum Drops
Giant Round Decorator Tip {to use
Homemaker’s Hutch
•
•
•
for cutter}
Decorator Bag Fitted with Giant
Round Tip {for
ghost}
Ghost Eyes – Mini M&M’s
36 | P a g e
Jack O’ Lantern Assembly:
Face – Roll out black gum
drops using a little sugar
to help it from sticking.
Use the small end of the
Giant Round Tip {or other
large round Tip} to cut the
eyes and mouth.
Eyes – Using the Tip, cut
out a small moon shape.
Mouth – Cut the circles in
half.
Nose – Cut a triangle.
Stem – Roll out green
gum drops. Using a small
knife, cut out a small piece
for the stem.
Frost cupcake with orange
frosting. Using an offset spatula, run it
under hot water to smooth frosting.
Add face and stem.
Ghost Assembly:
Frost cupcake with orange frosting {you
can also add a little copper color to make
it a pumpkin color}.
Fit a decorator bag with a Giant Round Tip
and fill with white frosting.
Pipe on ghost, working in a circular motion
and creating a tip at the top.
Add mini M&M’s for eyes.
Liz Latham is the creator of Hoosier Homemade, a
national baking and lifestyle blog devoted to helping the
craft and cooking challenged - become domestic
goddesses. By providing easy to understand recipes and
step-by-step DIY craft and party-planning ideas, she
gives thousands of Moms more ways to be heroes to their
families.
Homemaker’s Hutch
37 | P a g e
Smoothie Of The Month
Eating healthy isn’t always easy and around the holidays we all struggle to get good
nutrition in. Why not start with something delicious and healthy in the morning. We
asked our good friend Natalie to share a
yummy green smoothie with us each
month. We’ve both tried the one below
(it’s part of Natalie’s 21 Day Smoothie
Challenge which we can highly
recommend) and absolutely delicious.
Perfect for fall mornings.
Apple Pie Green Smoothie
1 cup almond or cashew milk
1 cup water
2 bananas
1 apple
½ cup raisins or dates
2 cups spinach
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ tsp. allspice
Add everything to your blender and blend
until smooth.
Natalie Marie Collins is a lover of food and is a
Certified Raw Nutritionist. She has been living and
growing in this healthy way of living since early
2010. She has a degree in Horticulture and loves
art. She is passionate about weight loss and body
transformations through the power of raw foods that
tastes great (not like cardboard) and sharing her
own inspiring story with others.
Natalie invites you to join her 21 Day Green
Smoothie Challenge at
http://thenewrawyou.com/21-day-green-smoothiesfor-breakfast-challenge/
Homemaker’s Hutch
38 | P a g e
Medicine Box
10 Simple Steps to Treating Yourself Well
you are making for your family and not
yourself. You should be taking “self-care”
seriously.
Hopefully now, I’ve given even the most
strident disbeliever an out and you will do
something for yourself if it will benefit the
family, yes? Okay,now, what can you do
for yourself?
A Trip to the Library- Alone
I know you know where all the greatest
kids’ books are and when all the cool
programs for children are held each
week. Now it’s time to go to the library
and treat yourself to some adult time.
Eat Well
Balancing caring for others with caring for
ourselves seems to be a struggle for most
of us.
However, if you don’t do something for
yourself each and every day to take care
of your body, mind, and spirit, you won’t
be any good to anybody. Plain and
simple.
So, if you are the unselfish ever-giving
type person, consider this resolution one
Homemaker’s Hutch
Sometimes the family isn’t interested in
maintaining a healthy diet, but that doesn’t
mean you have to follow suit. Feed
yourself well and you’ll feel and look
better. The rest of the family may notice
the change and want to know how you did
it. But, if they don’t, you still have the
advantages of a nutritionally sound diet to
keep you fit and feeling good.
Day Spa at Home
It would be nice to spend the day at a
luxury spa, but who’s got the time or the
money? With just a few household and
food products you can create a spa
atmosphere in your own bathroom. Light
the candles, mix up some aromatic
39 | P a g e
potions, and enjoy some much deserved
moments to you. You’ll emerge a new
person… well, at least a more relaxed
person!
Roasted Almonds for a Nutritional
Boost
other ones. You deserve to peddle
around the neighborhood, too! I
guarantee when you climb on that bike
you’ll feel like a kid again. You may even
get addicted to riding your bike and want
to make it a healthy habit!
Take a Nap
If your day consists of snack attacks,
replace those chips with almonds and
enjoy the benefits of healthy
snacking. Not only will you satisfy your
hunger, but you’ll do so with healthy
nutrition. .
Read a Good Book
If you’ve been
missing your old
friend “a good book”
lately, it’s time to get
reacquainted. Find a
quiet corner and start turning some
pages.
Relax in Your Backyard Oasis
When the weather starts to get warmer,
and the nurseries start stocking flowering
plants, it’s time to start plotting out a spot
for you in the backyard. Pick a sunny or
shady spot, depending on your weather
and your temperament, and start raking,
sweeping, and arranging your
corner. Drag out a few chairs, tables, or
whatever it takes to make you cozy. Then
settle in and enjoy a few minutes each day
to yourself.
Dust Off Your Bike
Come summertime we all get our kids’
bikes ready to go, right? But, for some
reason yours is still collecting dust in the
corner of the garage. Drag that bike out
and get it ready to go right along with the
Homemaker’s Hutch
Many people deny
themselves a nap
when they most need
one. But, studies
prove that short naps
can help reduce
stress and illness. You’re not giving in to
a weakness by napping. Far from it. You
are listening to your body and taking care
of yourself.
Indulge In A Sweet Frothy Drink
After all that healthy food and exercise,
you deserve a totally decadent treat. Who
says taking care of yourself can’t include a
few sweets?
If you do each of these ten things at least
once or twice throughout the year, I
guarantee you’ll see the wisdom in
treating yourself as well as you treat
everyone else. Learn to take a moment
each and every day to pamper yourself
just a bit.
Tea for One
Sipping a cup of tea
is guaranteed to put
you in a better state
of mind. Depending
on the tea or herbs
involved, you’ll relax or invigorate your
mind and body to get on with your
day. Even the ritual, the preparation of
the tea has soothing properties.
40 | P a g e
Foot Spa Recipe
Treat your feet to a soak in this milk and water mixture and follow it with the sugar scrub
for incredibly soft feet.
Sugar Soak
Honey Lemon Sugar Scrub
Ingredients
Homemade Spa recipe for a honey and
lemon sugar scrub that gently exfoliates
your skin.
•
•
•
•
7 cups of water
2 cups of milk
1/2 cup of sugar
2 tablespoons of lotion
Ingredients:
•
•
•
•
•
2 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup sweet almond oil
4 teaspoons lemon juice
4 tablespoons honey
4 drops lemon essential oil
Directions
Mix the water and milk and heat on
stovetop or in the microwave. You want
the mixture to be as hot as your feet can
take. Mix the sugar and lotion in a
separate bowl.
Directions:
Put the milk mixture in large bowl and
soak your feet in it for at least 10 minutes.
Massage the sugar and lotion mixture in
your feet to exfoliate. Rinse with clear
water and pat dry. Apply some additional
lotion to your soft feet.
To make the sugar scrub, combine the
sugar and sweet almond oil in a large bowl
and stir well to combine. Add the lemon
juice and stir again. Finally, add the honey
and lemon essential oil and stir again to
mix.
Homemaker’s Hutch
41 | P a g e
Soap Box
Don’t worry, we’re not going to stand up on a soap box and preach to you. The idea
here is to share some of our favorite cleaning recipes and tools with you. We thought
we’d start out with something every single one of us can us – a super simple, but oh-soeffective all-purpose cleaner.
It’s made from ingredients that are
already sitting in your pantry, plus
your favorite essential oils. The
essential oil is of course optional,
but it makes this cleaner a lot
more fun to work with (and it
smells much better).
Our favorite is lemon, but feel free
to experiment with different oils
Orange would be nice this time of
the year as well.
Homemade All Purpose Cleaner
•
•
•
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
15 drops lemon oil
(optional)
Pour the water and vinegar into a
2 cup measuring cup (with a spout
and handle). Add the essential
lemon oil and mix it all up.
Pour into a spray bottle and use
as usual.
Give the bottle a good shake if
you haven't used the cleaner in a
while.
Homemaker’s Hutch
42 | P a g e
Easing into the Holiday Season - Pre
Planning for Thanksgiving and Christmas
As we move from summer into fall and the kids are headed back to school, it’s time to
start thinking about the upcoming holidays. Here in the US we’re talking Thanksgiving
and Christmas and I’m sure you’re already noticing all sorts of ware and fare at the
stores in town.
Let’s take a look at what we can start to think about in October to make our lives easier
in the coming weeks and months. The Holiday season can get quite stressful if we don’t
plan ahead. We want to make sure you have plenty of time to sit and visit with your
loved ones instead of running from store to store to get those last minute groceries, gifts
and decorations. We’ll talk more about all this in the next issue of the Homemaker’s
Hutch, but let’s get started with some ideas.
For The Cook
If you’re the one in charge of making the holiday
meals (or contributing to them), take a few
minutes one afternoon this month to look
through your spice cabinet. Toss anything that’s
expired or doesn’t look too great and then make
a list of the special spices you mostly just use
during the holiday season. For example, we
only use sage a few times a year (in our
Thanksgiving stuffing or dressing) and now is a
good time to stock up on that. You don’t want to
be stuck running from store to store the day
before Thanksgiving when everyone is out of
this spice (yep, that really happened to one of
us).
While you’re at it, you may also want to be on
the lookout for deals on things like chicken
broth, canned cranberry sauce, flour and other
non-perishables you’ll be using during the
Holiday season. If you have the space to store
it, go ahead and pick up a few things here and
there. Your grocery budget will thank you once
the holidays come around.
Homemaker’s Hutch
43 | P a g e
For The Crafter
As crafters and knitters we love making homemade
gifts. Isn’t it fun to make something special for the
people we love? One year Susanne decided to knit little
dolls for each of her five nieces. While the idea was
sweet she didn’t allow enough time to make all the dolls
and sat up half the night Christmas Eve finishing up her
gift knitting. Needless to say this made for a less than
relaxing Holiday season.
If you’re going to make something hand-made, give
yourself plenty of time. Sit down and figure out who is
really going to appreciate your hand-made gift and
whether or not you have enough time to finish it in a
relaxed and enjoyable manner. After all, this is a
hobby… the kind of stuff we do for fun. If you’re not sure
you have the time, buy a gift, and start a crafting project
for yourself just for fun.
Another great idea is to set up a gift box that you
contribute handmade gifts to throughout the year. As occasions come up (Christmas,
birthdays etc.) you can look through the box and see if there’s appropriate handmade
gift.
For The Home Decorator
Do you have big plans to decorate the house
for the holidays? Start by sorting through
your decorations and figuring out what you
have for where. As decorations come up for
sale, or you have time to make your own,
start to fill in what you know you’re missing.
Don’t forget to hunt down extra ribbons or
light bulbs you need to make everything
work.
Decorating the whole house from top to
bottom can be a lot of work. Consider doing
it in batches. Focus on the front door and
entry way the first weekend, the living room
the next etc. Breaking it into smaller chunks
allows you enough time to enjoy the beautiful
holiday spaces you’re creating.
If this sounds like a good idea, you’re going
to want to start with a calendar and a
Homemaker’s Hutch
44 | P a g e
weekly/daily to-do list. Plan back from the day you want to have everything completely
decorated. Start with the most important rooms and areas first so you can have the
most enjoyment.
Before you start decorating, spend some time organizing and cleaning each of the
areas and making sure you have everything you need on hand to transform your home
into a holiday
For The Planner – Or Any Busy Mom, Really
The planning doesn’t have to stop with decorating. Getting organized helps out
everyone, but it’s particularly essential when you’re a busy mom. Again, a calendar is
your best tool. Start by jotting down any commitments you already have. These will
include holiday events along with anything else that comes up (think soccer practice
and orthodontist appointments).
Next, block out some time for
holiday related activities. This
will include shopping,
wrapping, decorating,
cooking, baking cookies with
the kids etc., but also the less
fun chores like cleaning the
house before a holiday party
or getting guest rooms ready.
Plan for at least 50% more
time than what you think it will
take to accomplish each task
on your to-do lists. Work your
way through them and do
your best to stay on task. Don’t schedule much of anything right before the holiday to
make sure you have a little time to either catch up or relax before family arrives.
Get Ahead Of The Game
Here’s our biggest piece of advice for a happy and peaceful Holiday Season. Think
about stuff as you start to plan and prepare. If it’s something you can go ahead and do
now, do it.
Did you find the perfect present? Go ahead and buy it and wrap it when you get home.
Got your list of people you want to send Christmas cards to? Write them and address
the envelopes.
Homemaker’s Hutch
45 | P a g e
Is there a pie or casserole you make each year for the holidays? If you know it freezes
well, go ahead and make it on a quite weekend and store it in the freezer. Not only is it
one less thing you have to cook come Thanksgiving or Christmas day, you also don’t
have to think about shopping for ingredients or doing dishes.
We have quite a few more ideas and tips to share with you that will make the Holidays
more fun. Look for them in the next two issues of the
Homemaker’s Hutch Magazine.
Coming Next Month
Our November issue will be all
about Thanksgiving. You’ll be
ready for turkey day with our
favorite traditional recipes, turkey
carving tips, fun crafts and some great ideas for all
those leftovers.
Homemaker’s Hutch
46 | P a g e