Pumkpin Party Preparation

Thank goodness for Pinterest.

Invitation & Party Pack 
http://www.etsy.com/listing/56775750/pumpkin-patch-birthday-party-diy-pack?image_id=175980347



Carrot Pumpkin 
http://www.tasteofhome.com/Simple---Delicious-Magazine/Fun-Halloween-Food 

 Pumpkin Playdough
http://bluebirdlucys.blogspot.com/ 

Hershey's Chocolate Cupcakes 

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water

 1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.
 2 Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.
3. CUPCAKES: Line muffin cups (2-1/2 inches in diameter) with paper bake cups. Heat oven to 350°F. Fill cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake 22 to 25 minutes. Cool completely. Frost. About 30 cupcakes.

Meatballs adapted from http://www.marthastewart.com/875683/turkey-meatballs

Ingredients

• 2 pounds lean ground beef
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup pureed carrots
• 1/4 cup pureed zucchini
• 1/4 cup pureed sweet potato
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
• 1 tablespoon coarse sea salt

Directions

1. In a large bowl, mix meat, bread crumbs, carrots, zucchini, sweet potato, onion, eggs, Italian seasoning, and salt until well combined; form into 1-inch balls.
   
2. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.  Turn and bake another 5-10 minutes.
   
   Meatball Sauce adapted from http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/real-meatballs-and-spaghetti-recipe/index.html 
   
   
   
   • 1 tablespoon  olive oil
   • 1/4 cup chopped yellow onion
   • 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
   • 1/2 cup chicken broth
   • 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes, or plum tomatoes in puree, chopped
   • 1 6-ounce can tomato paste
   • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
   • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
   • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
   • 1 cube pureed sweet potatoes 
   • 1 cube pureed carrots 
   This tasted too tomato like so I added... 
   a dash of each...
   oregano 
   basil 
   thyme 
   parsley 
   italian seasoning
   garlic powder
   onion powder
   sugar
   
   I actually added a few tablespoons of flour at the end to thicken the sauce.  It was very thin. 
   
   Heat the olive oil in the  pan. Add the onion and saute over medium heat until translucent, 5 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the chicken broth and cook on high heat, scraping up all the brown bits in the pan, until almost all the liquid evaporates, about 3 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, parsley, salt, and pepper and other spices.
   Return the meatballs to the sauce, cover, and simmer on the low for 30 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through and tomatoes are soft. Serve hot on cooked spaghetti and pass the grated Parmesan.

Much more to come with professional pictures by Lisa Johnson. So excited.