Dahlia DeWinters - Author

Quirky Heroines, Happy Endings

Blogtoberfest – Halloween Cat Craft

I have three little ones.  In an alternate life, I was a teacher.  I can sense when it’s time to put away the books and the science experiments and take out the construction paper, pipe cleaners and the googly eyes.

Crafts are a stress reliever.  Coloring, cutting, pasting and putting things together can be a welcome respite from sweating over a keyboard.  Especially where googly eyes are involved.

I couldn’t do this any better than this blogger, so here is a link to her page:

Halloween Cat Craft

http://jennwa.blogspot.com/2008/09/halloween-paper-plate-crafts-black-cat.html

 

Blogtoberfest – Maple Cinnamon Spider Webs

Total Time:  40 min  Prep:  10 min
Cook: 30 min  Yield:  about 30 webs

Ingredients

  • Vegetable oil, for frying
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon fine salt
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup, plus 1/4 cup for brushing
  • 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
  • Jelly spiders, orange or black nonpareils, for garnish, optional

Directions

Pour enough oil in a large skillet so it’s about 1 inch deep. Heat oil over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers between 280 to 300 degree F.

Meanwhile, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center; add the milk, egg, and 1 tablespoon maple syrup. Whisk the dry and wet ingredients together until smooth.

Transfer batter into a large size pastry bag with a # 3 or 4 open tip. Carefully squeeze batter in a circular pattern and then back and forth into the oil, to make a free form spider web-like design, about 3 to 4 inches in diameter. Cook until bottoms are golden, about 2 minutes. Using tongs or slotted spoon, turn fritters over and cook until golden on other side, about 1 minute more. Transfer the fritters to paper towels to drain briefly. Brush lightly with maple syrup and dust with confectioners’ sugar. Repeat with remaining batter. Serve warm or at room temperature alone or with the garnishes.

Copyright 2008 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved

*You may use a zip bag instead of a pastry bag.  Snip a corner to the appropriate size and you’re good.

Courtesy of the Food Network

Blogtoberfest – Vampire Bite Mocktail Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cranberry juice, chilled
  • 1/2 cup apple juice, chilled
  • 1/4 cup grenadine
  • 1 1/2 cups seltzer water, chilled
  • 1 tube red candy gel
  • 4 gummy vampire teeth

Directions

In a pitcher combine the cranberry juice, apple juice and grenadine. Stir together then add the seltzer water.

Squeeze the candy gel onto a small plate. Rim the edges of 4 low-ball glasses in the candy gel. Pour in the drink evenly into the glasses. Garnish each glass with the gummy vampire teeth and serve.

 

Courtesy of the Food Network.

Blogtoberfest – 31 blog posts

OCTOBER….OCTOBER…OCTOBER!!
Hang with me for …..

Blogtoberfest!

 

Terrible, isn’t it? But fun, right?

The month of October is special to me. It’s not because of Halloween, although that’s part of it. October marks the month in which I had my first e-book published with Evernight Publishing.

In honor of this occasion as well as a personal challenge, I will be posting something Halloween related every single day of the month. In addition, I will be posting snippets of “Kitty Wishes”, that aforementioned published book.

I certainly hope that you will join me for Blogtoberfest – keep me honest with these posts!

Dahlia