Fat Frog Diary

  Fall Harvest Bread  I've used this recipe since I first got a bread machine and I love it.  Notes: 1. Please note there are two sizes. If your bread machine normally needs 3 cups of flour, use the larger size. If you're unsure, make the smaller size first.  Sources: Electric Bread (ISBN 735342931523)  Bread Electric: Suzan Nightingale, Art & International Productions: 9780962983115: Amazon.com: Books ************************ Disclaimer: I am not a chef, nor a licensed food service professional of any kind. I'm a grandmother who loves to cook and loves efficient cooking. Anything I post has been checked out by me, but in no way do I guarantee that my suggestions will work for you. YMMV (Your mileage may vary.) Some links may give the original poster a small commission on products sold via the link. I personally am not an affiliate, nor do I earn commissions on products. The links provided are examples of what's available online.  ...

Gruesome Green Toes Cookies   Intro:  Easy and no cooking! Wilton Candy Melts to the rescue again! And they already have green shades. My church family loved them. Notes: 1. The correct shape for "toes" are found in cookies like Nutter Butter. If you have a guest with a peanut allergy, use a homemade sugar cookie dough and roll out some nice thick toe-shaped cookies for them to enjoy. Just be sure to keep the peanut cookies very separate from non-peanut cookies during all stages.  2. Crows licorice candies are already in the correct shape, once you halve them. Dots also have a licorice black inside, though you may have to search a few boxes. I'm also told black gumdrops work but can be difficult to get enough black.  Sources 1. Crows licorice candies:  Amazon.com : Crows Licorice Flavored Gumdrops : Gummy Candy : Grocery & Gourmet Food Disclaimer: I am not a chef, nor a licensed food service professional of any kind. I'm a grandmother who loves ...

Wiggly-Worm Baked Apples Baked apples made spooky. Notes: 1. Gummy Worms are easy to find on Amazon. I'm too lazy to make up the Jello Jigglers recipe and pour it into straws to make my own worms, but you could if you need a sugar-free alternative. Allow one extra day to make the worms if making homemade. 2. Use scissors to cut up the apricots. It's faster than gumming up your knives.  Sources 1. How to make Jello Jiggler worms:  Bowl of Worms: How to Make Jello Worms (onelittleproject.com) Disclaimer: I am not a chef, nor a licensed food service professional of any kind. I'm a grandmother who loves to cook and loves efficient cooking. Anything I post has been checked out by me, but in no way do I guarantee that my suggestions will work for you. YMMV (Your mileage may vary.) Some links may give the original poster a small commission on products sold via the link. I personally am not an affiliate, nor do I earn commissions on products. The links provided are examp...

I'm inspired.  This is a classic beef stew, but I'm inspired by cutting the carrots into pumpkin shapes and putting eyes on the mushrooms. How fun is this?  I wonder if I have the gumption to add to it with turnip or rutabaga carvings? It bears thinking about. 

Pumpkin Mousse Pumpkin everything for the next two months! This is a delicious creamy cool dessert that's perfect if the weather is warm, but you are still in the pumpkin mood.  Notes: 1. Whip the whipping cream up first and set aside in the fridge, or at least whip it up while the pumpkin is baking.  2.  The pumpkin itself is cooked mainly to provide a safe vessel for the mousse to be served from. It's not cooked thoroughly, so it will hold its shape but still be safe. You can do without the pumpkin serving vessel and just use any food safe bowl you might have that works with your Halloween theme.  ************** Disclaimer: I am not a chef, nor a licensed food service professional of any kind. I'm a grandmother who loves to cook and loves efficient cooking. Anything I post has been checked out by me, but in no way do I guarantee that my suggestions will work for you. YMMV (Your mileage may vary.) Some links may give the original poster a small com...

Gooey Caramel Apple Bars Intro: For the church fellowship hour, or feeding the kids after decorating for Halloween, these are great. This recipe yields 2 dozen, so be prepared to share.  Notes: 1. This recipe hearkens back to Ye Olden Days when many desserts were served as a two-crust "pie" that literally stood on its own.  2. Cool the 15x10 baking dish thoroughly to allow all that gooey caramel apple filling to soak in and firm up a bit or you'll have a lava-hot gooey mess. This is a safety concern, since many of us have a "Sneaky Pete" who will try to abscond with a cookie without permission.  Disclaimer: I am not a chef, nor a licensed food service professional of any kind. I'm a grandmother who loves to cook and loves efficient cooking. Anything I post has been checked out by me, but in no way do I guarantee that my suggestions will work for you. YMMV (Your mileage may vary.) Some links may give the original poster a small com...

Yogurt Filled Chocolate Cauldrons These are not as difficult as they look! Use foil muffin cup liners because the paper ones won't stand up to the challenge. Make the chocolate cauldrons thick so they're easier to handle.  Notes: 1. Make the cups in advance. You can either use the method above or use Wilton Candy Melts.  2. The candy sticks mentioned above can sometimes be found under the name Pocky. 3. There are many sources of paste food coloring including Wilton, Michaels, and Amazon. I'm a Wilton snob, but that's my experience. YMMV!  Sources 1. Pocky Sticks-  Glico Pocky Chocolate Covered Biscuit Sticks 2.47oz : Target 2. Wilton Candy Melts:  Candy Melts (wilton.com) Disclaimer: I am not a chef, nor a licensed food service professional of any kind. I'm a grandmother who loves to cook and loves efficient cooking. Anything I post has been checked out by me, but in no way do I guarantee that my suggestions will work for you. YMMV (Your mileage m...

Spiderweb Trap Intro: A deliciously different way to have spaghetti squash and potato gnocchi.  Notes: 1. Warning: Do not use cheap gnocchi for this. Get the good stuff, not the dollar store variety.  Disclaimer: I am not a chef, nor a licensed food service professional of any kind. I'm a grandmother who loves to cook and loves efficient cooking. Anything I post has been checked out by me, but in no way do I guarantee that my suggestions will work for you. YMMV (Your mileage may vary.) Some links may give the original poster a small commission on products sold via the link. I personally am not an affiliate, nor do I earn commissions on products. The links provided are examples of what's available online.  Lena Austin www.fatfrogdiary.blogspot.com

Witch's Broomstick Bread Intro:  Easier than it looks to make, but there is an alternative for those who are uncomfortable with making their own bread dough.  Notes: 1. Intimidated? Don't worry! Just use refrigerated bread dough or, if you have one, the pizza dough recipe from your bread machine. Just follow your bread dough directions to thaw and/or rise and then start this recipe at Step 3.  2. Just any marinara sauce you want, not just meatless. Give everyone their own cup/mug of marinara sauce and let them dip away.  Sources Disclaimer: I am not a chef, nor a licensed food service professional of any kind. I'm a grandmother who loves to cook and loves efficient cooking. Anything I post has been checked out by me, but in no way do I guarantee that my suggestions will work for you. YMMV (Your mileage may vary.) Some links may give the original poster a small commission on products sold via the link. I personally am not an affiliate, nor do I earn comm...

Black Cat Dippers and Pumpkin Pie Dip Intro:  Refrigerator pie dough makes this easy.  Notes:  1. Watch the pie pastry dough cats carefully. I burned the edges of the first set. Have extra dippers like ladyfingers and other plain, non-crumbly cookies ready.  2. To avoid double-dipping and other sanitation sins, serve the dip in individual cups like 9-oz paper cups with a Halloween theme.  Paper cups make clean-up easier.  Sources: Taste of Home Halloween, October 5, 2010 Disclaimer: I am not a chef, nor a licensed food service professional of any kind. I'm a grandmother who loves to cook and loves efficient cooking. Anything I post has been checked out by me, but in no way do I guarantee that my suggestions will work for you. YMMV (Your mileage may vary.) Some links may give the original poster a small commission on products sold via the link. I personally am not an affiliate, nor do I earn commissions on products. The links provided are examp...

  Ingredients 1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef 1 large onion, chopped (1 cup) 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (4 oz) 1/2 cup Bisquick™ Original Pancake & Baking Mix 1 cup milk 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vegetable oil Optional: Cheese slices to make pumpkin faces.  Make With Bisquick Steps Hide Images 1 Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 9-inch glass pie plate with cooking spray. 2 In 10-inch skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown; drain. Stir in salt. Spread in pie plate. Sprinkle with cheese. 3 In medium bowl, stir remaining ingredients with fork or wire whisk until blended. Pour into pie plate. Tip: To add Pumpkin faces, use a pumpkin cookie cutter on cheese slices. Put them on the pie about 10 minutes before serving.  4 Bake 29 to 33 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens tip 1 This recipe has been on the...

Bubblin' Swamp Juice No chocolate hot chocolate? I'm in! Yes, I'm one of those individuals who doesn't like chocolate. However, I'm aware I'm in the minority and I'm happy to make chocolate for those do love it.  Notes: 1. I often have trouble finding the centipede gummies, but other creepy crawlies gummies are all over the place. One year I found gummy roaches, another gummy rats. Have fun with this!  2. Buy your food coloring bottles early this year. Every year, it's a fight to find green and black for Halloween, and even worse as the year progresses to the winter holiday season. By the time December rolls around, the baking section of the grocery store may look like a war zone. Better yet, buy online.  Sources: Ghirardelli White Premium Baking Chips - 11oz: Target   were listed as far superior in taste and meltability to other baking chips. I can believe this, because I buy Ghirardelli white beverage chocolate so I can have "hot chocolate...

OGRE AND PUMPKIN SLIDERS   I'm more of a purist and would prefer ground beef on my sliders. However, this year we ended up being given a package of ground turkey. So, original ingredients it is, this year.  Notes: 1. Dave doesn't like green olives stuffed with pimento, so I'll be substituting black olives. I'll add a tiny dollop of mayonnaise to make the eyeball effect. If I have the time, I'll cut pointed ovals out of red peppers for a red "pupil".  2. I have a cookie cutter that just happens to be the right size to create the cheese jack-o-lantern, so this is an easy one for me.  3. I'll pop them in the air fryer for a quick sizzle. Here in Florida, October is still hot. We avoid the oven until it cools down. However, I remember living in Denver where I planned Halloween costumes to fit over snowsuits!  Disclaimer: I am not a chef, nor a licensed food service professional of any kind. I'm a grandmother who loves to cook and loves efficient ...

  Grim Galette with Reduction Image Can you believe the skulls are pears? This recipe is so insanely good, I lifted it from Ghoul at Heart's website without a second thought. However, I want to give her full credit for the recipe, and I urge you to check out the site. Genius! The link is below, in Sources.  Equipment 1 pastry blender 1 apple corer 1 mini heart cookie cutter Ingredients Chocolate Galette dough 2   cups   all-purpose flour ¼   cup   cocoa powder 2   tbsp.   sugar 1   tsp.   salt 3   tbsp.   packed brown sugar ¾   cup   butter, cold and cut into ¼-inch slices 6-8   tbsp.   ice water Macerated Pears 3-4   pears, cored, peeled and halved 2   cups   Chambord Black Raspberry liqueur 1   cup   dry red wine (for color) Raspberry Jam filling 2½   cups   raspberries 1   cup   sugar ¼   cup   water 1   tbsp.   corn starch sliced...