Halloween Jack-O-Lantern Cookies

These giant cookies have been a Halloween tradition for generations in our family. They are a wonderful  spice and molasses cookie full of Fall flavors and decorated with candy to look like a jack-o-lantern. We always called them "FACE COOKIES". I still remember many Halloweens helping my mom bake, decorate and deliver these cookies to family and friends. Now the tradition continues... Enjoy!!

Halloween Molasses Cookies
FACE COOKIES
1 Cup sugar + a bowl of sugar to roll dough in
¾  Cup shortening
¼ Cup molasses
1 egg
2 ½ Cups flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp cloves
2 tsp baking soda
Cream sugar and shortening. Add molasses and egg. In a separate bowl mix dry ingredients. Add dry ingredients to sugar mixture. Blend well.

Roll dough into balls then roll in sugar. Place on greased cookie sheet and pat into a circle. (You want these big enough so that you can put a face on them when they are baked-- 4-6” around.)

Bake at 350 degrees for about 8-10 minutes.

Make icing to “glue” candy face on using powdered sugar and a little milk. Consistency should be pretty thick.
Dot cookies with icing for eyes, nose and mouth.
Then decorate with Lifesavers, candy corn, jelly beans, spice drops, or raisins; or use your imagination and whatever you may have in your pantry.

Go Ahead and Play With Your Food

Kids love playing with play dough and sometimes they want to not only play with their play dough but they also want to put it in their mouth too. Well here is a great recipe for edible play dough that actually tastes good. What's the secret?  It is made with peanut butter!

Peanut Butter Play Dough

1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup light corn syrup
1-1/4 cups dry milk
1-1/4 cups powdered sugar

Mix all ingredients together.  Knead slightly and it is ready for use.

Vegetable Prints

Vegetable Prints

 

I have fun memories of using potatoes, apples and other vegetables dipped in paint to make fun prints. I saw this on pinterest and loved it. Here is a creative way to make a beautiful flower print using celery. Cut the stalks off leaving about 2" pieces left connected together at the bottom. 

Dip this into acrylic paint and press on paper. With a paint brush, add leaves and stems. Continue stamping until you have created a beautiful bouquet.