Party supplies - http://www.kekkonparty.com

Recent updates in Wilton Halloween Spider Mix Sprinkles Cake Decorating - Halloween

Guest Post: Fun Food Ideas For Fall And A Little History Too

• Sep 26, 2010 from KeriSchneider(Keri) in Technology
  The History of Samhain
  
  Samhain marks the beginning of Winter and the end of Summer in the British calendar. It is the time of the Pagan New Year celebration as the bountiful growing season ends and Winter begins. The days are getting shorter and colder as the earth moves further from the sun. Cattle and sheep are brought in from pasture to spend the winter in the barns.
  
  Across the land long ago, farmers would be making decisions on how many of the herd or flock could survive the winter with what food had been stored for them. How many needed to be slaughtered to provide food. And how many would be needed to make sure the herd could be bred the following year. A wrong decision at any level could spell disaster for the farmer, his herd, and his family.
  
  Families would carve faces into turnips or large swedes (no pumpkins in the British Isles back then) on Samhain night then they would carry these from place to place. Candles would be placed in windows. People would dress up in ghoulish costumes. Not to scare away the spirits of the dead, but to welcome and guide them. On Samhain night, the veil between the worlds was at its thinnest and those who had died could return to see family and loved ones. Places would be laid at tables to welcome them. When they returned once more to the land of the dead, the spirits of those who had died in the previous year would travel with them. These traditions are very similar to those practiced in Latin American countries today at Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).
  
  Samhain traditions continue in mutated form today in the childhood festival of Halloween. Original traditions, which started in the British Isles, were carried over to America where they transformed over time into the customs we know today. The focus and the reasons for lighting candles, carving Jack-o-lanterns, and wearing costumes have changed over the centuries. These days, the spirits are seen as entities to be feared and avoided rather than welcomed. They are seen as demons and creatures of evil rather than welcomed as ancestors.
  
  Each year, the God experiences three deaths during the harvest season. The first occurs at Lammas, the second at Mabon, the final at Samhain. The God, born to the Mother Goddess at Yule, dies a final death at Samhain and is taken to the Underworld to rest before he is born once again at Yule. Thus the circle of life continues. This same cycle of birth, death, and rebirth can be seen in many cultures both ancient and modern around the world.
  
  Whether you call it Samhain or Halloween, if you're planning a celebration for this night, you'll need to decide what foods to serve. These seasonal treats will be just the thing for adults and children on Halloween night.
  
  Seasonal Foods
  
  When looking for appropriate foods to serve for the Pagan Sabbats, a good place to start is with what is in season for your own local area. Ideas for what might be in season locally can be found at Eat the Seasons - US/Canada or Eat the Seasons - UK/Ireland.
  
  
  Snacks and starters
  
  Roast Chestnuts
  
  
  
  Roast Chestnuts
  
  
  
  
  
  To roast 2kg /2 1/4 pound chestnuts:
  Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6
  Using a small, sharp knife cut a cross into the skin of each nut. Put in a roasting tin and bake in the oven until the skin opens and the nut inside is tender. This takes about 30 minutes.
  To eat, peel away the tough outer skin and the white inner layer. I have found that it is much easier to peel away this outer skin if you do it while the chestnuts are still quite warm.
  
  Note- If you try to roast the chestnut without cutting the skin, it will try to burst open anyway. But the chestnut is likely to burst open quite explosively. Save the mess in the oven and the risk of injuring yourself and make sure the skin has been cut on each nut.
  
  Swede Chips
  
  
  
  swede chips
  
  
  
  
  
  Swede, or rutabaga as it is called in America, can be mashed, roasted, or fried. We like turning it into chips.
  Peel the swede and cut it into wedges about 1/2 inch thick and 3 inches long. Sprinkle it with olive oil and a bit of paprika. Place it in on a baking tray and stick it in the oven 400F/200C/Gas 6 for about 35 minutes.
  
  Root Vegetable Crisps
  
  
  
  Veggie crisps
  
  
  
  
  
  Peel and thinly slice a selection of root vegetables. Toss them in a bowl with olive oil and place in a single layer on a baking tray.
  Bake in the oven at 180C/350F/Gas 4 for about 10 minutes. Check and turn them every few minutes.
  When they are lightly browned, take them from the oven and season with sea salt. They'll crisp up as they cool.
  Serve warm, or let them cool and store in an airtight container.
  
  
  
  
  Exploding Warts
  
  Red and green seedless grapes. All ready to be squeezed into your mouth.
  
  
  Soups
  
  Harvest Vegetable Soup
  Serves 6
  Prep: 15 minutes
  Cook: 30 minutes
  
  Ingredients:
  1 oz butter
  1 leek, trimmed and sliced into 1/2 rings
  1 onion, finely chopped
  1 courgette (zucchini), chopped
  8 oz swede or turnip, diced
  1 large carrot, diced
  1 medium potato, diced
  1.5 pints vegetable...

Wilton Jumbo Hearts Sprinkles

• Jan 06, 2011 from rswebsols(RS Web Solutions) in Lifestyle
  Wilton Jumbo Hearts Sprinkles
  
  
  3.25 oz. bottle
  Certified Kosher
  
  Give your cupcakes a big finish! These big and bold decorations are perfect for cupcakes, mini cakes, jumbo and king-size cupcakes, brownies and cookies. 3.25 oz. bottle.
  
  List Price: $ 9.99
  Price: $ 2.99
  Related Products:December 29, 2010 -- Wilton Jumbo Daisies SprinklesNovember 29, 2010 -- Wilton Jumbo Sprinkles, TreesNovember 17, 2010 -- Wilton Jumbo Sprinkles, Gingerbread BoysSeptember 23, 2010 -- Wilton Chocolate Hearts Mix 3.75 Ounce SprinklesDecember 26, 2010 -- Wilton Bunny/Duck Sprinkles 2.5oz

Halloween: History, Fun Facts, and Resources to Plan Parties and Make Decorations

• Sep 16, 2010 from thefreeresource(The Free Resource) in *
  
  
  
  History and Fun Facts about Halloween
  Halloween wasnt always the silly child-centered holiday that it is today. It had some ritualistic, religious and serious roots, beginning as early as the 1st century AD. Read on to learn more about this increasingly less-spooky holiday including how it began, what it is today and how to make the most of Halloween this year.
  Who originally celebrated Halloween?
  It is thought that the Romans and the Druids were the original celebrators of Halloween. The Roman celebration took place on October 31, and was held in honor of the goddess of fruit trees, Pomona. An ancient gathering of Priests in England, the Druids, later added the lord of the dead, Samhain, to the list of honorees on October 31 and November 1. These groups of people believed that on October 31, there were hoards of ghosts, spirits, witches, goblins and evil apparitions surrounding them. The celebrations of Romans and Druids were centered around a day of sacrifice, while surrounding themselves with cats, which were believed to be holy animals.
  Why do we celebrate Halloween?
  In the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church decided to make the pagan holiday into a Christian holiday. It was at this time that the purpose of Halloween became a day to remember and pray for saints that had passed away. They renamed November 1 All Saint Day, and October 31st became the All Hallowed Evening.
  What year did Halloween start?
  Halloween first began around 10 AD, in the area that now belongs to the country of Ireland. As mentioned above, the Druids celebrated the holiday on October 31st because this date marked the end of the harvest season, which they considered to be the end of their year. The end of October for them was what New Years Eve is throughout the world today.
  Where did the name Halloween come from?
  The name Halloween was originally used long after the day had been celebrated as a pagan holiday. The Roman Catholic Church adopted the celebration as a Christian holiday in the 7th century, and from thereon called the day before All Saints Day (November 1), All Hallows Eve. The origin of the words All Hallows came from Middle English Alholowmesse (or All-hallowmas), which meant All Saints Day. This word was modified to All Hallows, and thus, the day before All Hallows, or All Saints Day became known as All Hallows Eve.
  How to make Halloween decorations?
  1. Halloween Ghosts Make the head of the ghost first by crunching up a ball of toilet paper. Cover the toilet paper with a tissue, gathering the tissue underneath the ball and tying it with a piece of string or a rubber band. Turn the ghost over and hang from the ceiling or rest on the table. Scary!
  2. Glowing Ghosts Place an activated mini glow stick inside a balloon and inflate the balloon. Cover the balloon with a white napkin or white pillowcase. Secure the white cloth to the balloon using string or double-sided tape. Hang outside somewhere so that the decoration eerily moves in the wind.
  How can I make an alcoholic punch for Halloween?
  1. Sewer Punch Mix 1 bottle vodka, 7 cups fresh orange juice with lots of pump, 2 liter bottle or dr. Pepper or Coca Cola, Ice. Serve with ice in a punch bowl. The mixture is a filthy shade of brown and will gross out all your guests!
  2. Bath Scum Punch Mix 1 can frozen lemonade concentrate (mixed with proper amount of water, 2 liters Sprite or 7 Up and 1 bottle vodka. Remove gallon of rainbow sherbet from the freezer. Thaw and stir the sherbet until the mixture turns brownish grey and disgusting. Return the gallon to the freezer to refreeze before the party. Just before the party, place the bowl in its location and add scoops of the sherbet so that they float in a grayish mass on the top of the punch. Serve while solid.
  What are some good Halloween games?
  1. Witch Hunt
  How to play Witch Hunt? Cut out paper witch hats and hide them around the house. Cut out enough hats so that each child can find between 3 and 6 hates. Color one of the hats a different color. The person that finds this hat wins the grand prize. Give out another prize for the person who finds the most hats. Give out small prizes to all the children playing the game.
  2. Icky Food Guessing Game
  How to play the Icky Food Guessing Game on Halloween? Prepare 5 paper bags by lining them with plastic bags inside. This will keep the food from seeping through the opaque paper bag. Put one food in each of the bags.
  Bag 1: mashed bananas (brains),
  Bag 2: peeled grapes (eyeballs),
  Bag 3: wet pretzel rods (soggy bones),
  Bag 4: spaghetti cooked (intestines),
  Bag 5: dried orange peels (dried/dead skin).
  Let children take turns guessing what is in each bag. For an extra challenge, make the children remember which bag contained which item. At the end of the taste, the child that has written down the correct foods in the correct order wins a prize.
  How to make Halloween treats?
  1. Witchcakes These scary treats are chocolate cupcakes with witch-like decorations on top!...

Guest Post: Fun Food Ideas For Fall And A Little History Too

• Sep 26, 2010 from KeriSchneider(Keri) in Technology
  The History of Samhain
  
  Samhain marks the beginning of Winter and the end of Summer in the British calendar. It is the time of the Pagan New Year celebration as the bountiful growing season ends and Winter begins. The days are getting shorter and colder as the earth moves further from the sun. Cattle and sheep are brought in from pasture to spend the winter in the barns.
  
  Across the land long ago, farmers would be making decisions on how many of the herd or flock could survive the winter with what food had been stored for them. How many needed to be slaughtered to provide food. And how many would be needed to make sure the herd could be bred the following year. A wrong decision at any level could spell disaster for the farmer, his herd, and his family.
  
  Families would carve faces into turnips or large swedes (no pumpkins in the British Isles back then) on Samhain night then they would carry these from place to place. Candles would be placed in windows. People would dress up in ghoulish costumes. Not to scare away the spirits of the dead, but to welcome and guide them. On Samhain night, the veil between the worlds was at its thinnest and those who had died could return to see family and loved ones. Places would be laid at tables to welcome them. When they returned once more to the land of the dead, the spirits of those who had died in the previous year would travel with them. These traditions are very similar to those practiced in Latin American countries today at Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).
  
  Samhain traditions continue in mutated form today in the childhood festival of Halloween. Original traditions, which started in the British Isles, were carried over to America where they transformed over time into the customs we know today. The focus and the reasons for lighting candles, carving Jack-o-lanterns, and wearing costumes have changed over the centuries. These days, the spirits are seen as entities to be feared and avoided rather than welcomed. They are seen as demons and creatures of evil rather than welcomed as ancestors.
  
  Each year, the God experiences three deaths during the harvest season. The first occurs at Lammas, the second at Mabon, the final at Samhain. The God, born to the Mother Goddess at Yule, dies a final death at Samhain and is taken to the Underworld to rest before he is born once again at Yule. Thus the circle of life continues. This same cycle of birth, death, and rebirth can be seen in many cultures both ancient and modern around the world.
  
  Whether you call it Samhain or Halloween, if you're planning a celebration for this night, you'll need to decide what foods to serve. These seasonal treats will be just the thing for adults and children on Halloween night.
  
  Seasonal Foods
  
  When looking for appropriate foods to serve for the Pagan Sabbats, a good place to start is with what is in season for your own local area. Ideas for what might be in season locally can be found at Eat the Seasons - US/Canada or Eat the Seasons - UK/Ireland.
  
  
  Snacks and starters
  
  Roast Chestnuts
  
  
  
  Roast Chestnuts
  
  
  
  
  
  To roast 2kg /2 1/4 pound chestnuts:
  Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6
  Using a small, sharp knife cut a cross into the skin of each nut. Put in a roasting tin and bake in the oven until the skin opens and the nut inside is tender. This takes about 30 minutes.
  To eat, peel away the tough outer skin and the white inner layer. I have found that it is much easier to peel away this outer skin if you do it while the chestnuts are still quite warm.
  
  Note- If you try to roast the chestnut without cutting the skin, it will try to burst open anyway. But the chestnut is likely to burst open quite explosively. Save the mess in the oven and the risk of injuring yourself and make sure the skin has been cut on each nut.
  
  Swede Chips
  
  
  
  swede chips
  
  
  
  
  
  Swede, or rutabaga as it is called in America, can be mashed, roasted, or fried. We like turning it into chips.
  Peel the swede and cut it into wedges about 1/2 inch thick and 3 inches long. Sprinkle it with olive oil and a bit of paprika. Place it in on a baking tray and stick it in the oven 400F/200C/Gas 6 for about 35 minutes.
  
  Root Vegetable Crisps
  
  
  
  Veggie crisps
  
  
  
  
  
  Peel and thinly slice a selection of root vegetables. Toss them in a bowl with olive oil and place in a single layer on a baking tray.
  Bake in the oven at 180C/350F/Gas 4 for about 10 minutes. Check and turn them every few minutes.
  When they are lightly browned, take them from the oven and season with sea salt. They'll crisp up as they cool.
  Serve warm, or let them cool and store in an airtight container.
  
  
  
  
  Exploding Warts
  
  Red and green seedless grapes. All ready to be squeezed into your mouth.
  
  
  Soups
  
  Harvest Vegetable Soup
  Serves 6
  Prep: 15 minutes
  Cook: 30 minutes
  
  Ingredients:
  1 oz butter
  1 leek, trimmed and sliced into 1/2 rings
  1 onion, finely chopped
  1 courgette (zucchini), chopped
  8 oz swede or turnip, diced
  1 large carrot, diced
  1 medium potato, diced
  1.5 pints vegetable...

Cupcakes, Cookies or Cake - Little Betsy Baker

• Aug 03, 2011 from mybetsybaker in Business
  Cupcakes, Cookies or Cake? Little Betsy Baker have got your baking and decorating needs covered! Our fabulous range includes cookie cutters, baking cups, cake tins, cupcake toppers, cupcake wrappers, icing colours, icing mixes, edible sprinkles, pearls, sugar shapes, sparkling sugar, icing & fondant, moulding paste, baking tools, aprons, candles & cupcake carriers. We stock brands such as Wilton, Meri Meri, Cake Art, Bakels, Belle de Sucre, Donna Hay, Paper Eskimo, Fox Run Delice Décor, Khun Rikon & many more!