Homemade Halloween Peppermint Patties

Courtesy of Hani Bacova

Happy Halloween Friends,

From dinner parties to spooky soirees, your Halloween guests will love these mint and chocolate treats for their colorful surprise inside.

Materials Needed:

• 3 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar, plus more for dusting
• 2 1/4 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 2 1/4 tablespoons water
• 3/4 teaspoon pure peppermint extract (use more if you like)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable shortening (preferably trans-fat free)
• salt
• food coloring
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 15 ounces dipping chocolate wafers, such as Mercken’s

Prepare Filling

Beat sugar with corn syrup, water, peppermint extract, shortening and a pinch of salt using an electric mixer (with paddle attachment if using a stand mixer) at medium speed until just combined. Knead on a work surface dusted with confectioners' sugar until smooth. Divide minty filling into three equal parts. Add yellow to one part, orange to another and leave the last white.

Roll Out Fillings

Roll out each filling individually, like a pie crust, between two pieces of parchment paper. Layers should be fairly thin. If filling is too sticky to work with, dust on a bit of powdered sugar. Make sure filling layers are similar in thickness.

Stack Layers

Stack all three layers on top of each other, starting with yellow, following with orange and ending with white. Cover the assembled layers with parchment paper and chill for 10 minutes.

Cut Out Rounds

Once chilled, use a small round cookie cutter to cut rounds; mine was 1 inch in diameter. Place cut outs onto a tray lined with wax paper and chill until firm.

Dip in Chocolate

Melt the chocolate wafers and dip each 3-layer round into the chocolate, using a large dipping fork or a meat fork (works great!): Submerge a chilled minty round into the melted chocolate, lift it gently with the fork. Shake off excess and place freshly coated patties onto the tray lined with wax paper. Cool tray in the fridge for 10 minutes to harden the chocolate. Store mint patties in a cool place in an airtight container, layered with wax paper between each layer.

A little treat to the trick...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Pumpkin Spice Halloween Punch Recipe

Courtesy of Liz Gray

Happy Halloween Friends,

Pumpkin pie spice and apple cider lend autumnal flavor to this Halloween take on classic sangria. Serve in a hollowed-out pumpkin for a dramatic presentation.

Here's how...

Ingredients

• 2 honeycrisp apples
• 2 pears
• 1 orange
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, or more to taste
• 1 cup bourbon
• 3 cups apple cider
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 2 bottles pinot grigio, chilled
• 1 pumpkin, for serving (optional)

Directions
Thinly slice apples, pears and oranges lengthwise, then place in a large bowl. Coat with lemon juice to prevent browning. Add honey, brown sugar, bourbon, apple cider and pumpkin pie spice, stirring gently to combine. Cover and refrigerate for 2-4 hours, or overnight. Top with chilled pinot grigio and serve.

For Serving
Serve in a pitcher or punch bowl, or give the punch extra Halloween flavor by serving inside a Jack O' Lantern. Cut a circle in the top of a large pumpkin, then completely remove seeds and pulp. Fill with fruit and punch, then enjoy!

TIP: Decorate the exterior of pumpkin using a silver paint marker. Here, the cocktail name lets guests know what's inside.





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Live well,
Yvonne

Happy Columbus Day!

Hi Friends,

Columbus Day is a celebration of discovery and adventure. Hopefully, we have given you great ideas to discover the interior designer in you and the spirit of adventure to create your perfect space.

Happy Columbus Day from your friends at Interior Design!

Your kind contribution will allow us to continue sharing great, no cost and cost saving ideas for your space. Click the "Donate" button below to make a contribution. Thank you!

Live well,
Yvonne

Halloween Sips: Casa Crawler Cocktail

Recipe courtesy of Casamigos Tequila

Happy Halloween Friends,

It's the Attack of the Killer Gummy Worms!

Ingredients

• 2 oz blanco tequila (we used Casamigos Blanco)
• 1 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1 oz real blueberry puree
• 8-10 mint leaves
• Pop Rocks, for garnish
• 2-3 sour gummy worms, for garnish

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker.
2. Add ice, then shake vigorously for 8 to 10 seconds.
3. Strain into a collins glass.
4. Add ice.
5. Garnish with Pop Rocks, a mint sprig and sour gummy worms.

Cheers!

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Live well,
Yvonne

Halloween Snack: Scream Cheese Sandwiches

Courtesy of Sam Henderson

Happy Halloween Friends,

Delight Halloween party guests of all ages with these fun-to-make savory mini sandwiches. Healthy and vegetarian-friendly, these spooky snacks are sure to be a hit with even the pickiest of palettes.

Ingredients

• 1 large cucumber
• 16 ounces light cream cheese, softened (2 packages)
• 2 tablespoons grated onion
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon fresh dill
• 30 slices dark bread (like pumpernickel or whole wheat)
• gingerbread man cookie cutter
• piping bag and fine tip

Yield: 15 sandwiches

Instructions

1. Peel the cucumber and cut into 4 pieces lengthwise. Scrape away any seeds
   (Image 1).
   
   
2. Discard seeds and peel. Grate the cucumber using the small holes of a grater
   (Image 2).
   
   
3. Place the grated cucumber in a bowl lined with a cheesecloth or thin tea towel. Gather the edges of the cheesecloth or towel and squeeze to expel as much of the liquid from the cucumber pulp as possible (Image 3). Discard the liquid and set the cucumber pulp aside.
   
   
   
   
4. Finely chop the dill. Grate 2 tablespoons of onion with the small holes of the grater.
   
   
5. Add the dill, onion, cucumber pulp, 8 ounces of softened cream cheese (reserve the other cream cheese for the top of the sandwiches), mayonnaise and salt to a food processor and blend until smooth.
   
   
6. Spread mixture onto the center of a slice of bread in an area large enough to fit your cookie cutter. Top with another slice of bread.
   
   
   
   
7. Place the sandwiches on a baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the filling to become firm.
   
   
8. Remove the sandwiches from the refrigerator and cut out the shape with the gingerbread man cookie cutter.
   
   
9. Warm the remaining cream cheese in a small sauce pan or microwave to soften it enough to pipe. Place the cream cheese in a piping bag fit with a fine tip.
   
   
   
   
10. Begin making the skeletons on top of the sandwiches from the top down starting with the skull, leaving holes for the eyes and a few teeth (Image 1).
    
    
11. Next add the spine and arms (Image 2).
    
    
12. Finally, add ribs and hip bones, ending with the legs and feet (Image 3).
    
    
    
    
13. Place finished sandwiches on a baking sheet (Image 1), cover in plastic wrap and chill long enough for the cream cheese to become firm before serving (Image 2).
    
    
    
    

The perfect way to Cater to Your Smallest Guests...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Black Magic Halloween Cocktail Recipe

Courtesy of Andrea Correale

Happy Halloween Friends,

This deliciously layered cocktail blends together orange juice, triple sec and black vodka.

Here's the recipe...

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup ice
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1 1/2 ounces black vodka
• 1/2 ounce triple sec
• orange wedge, for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, add orange juice and triple sec over ice. Shake well, and strain into a glass.
   
2. Using the back of a spoon, pour black vodka slowly into a glass so that the vodka sits atop the orange juice and triple sec mix.
   
3. Carefully dip one edge of the orange wedge into the vodka for a spooky presentation, and sit the wedge on the rim of the glass.

Your family and friends will enjoy this little treat but don't be tricked...

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Live well,
Yvonne

FREE Printable Pumpkin-Carving Templates

Compliments of Sam Henderson

Hi Friends,

From printable party invites to cute cupcake, gift bag and party favor embellishments plus pumpkin-carving templates and props for a photo booth, we'll help you get your spook on this Halloween over the days leading to October 31st.

Halloween's almost here and it's time to get carving! We have 34 HGTV-exclusive pumpkin-carving patterns designed specifically for beginning pumpkin carvers.

Click the individual listings below to be redirected the FREE printable template:

Print the Friendly Robot pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Cute Owl pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Rocket pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Candy + Arrow pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Haunted House pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Candy Corn Duo pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Magic Wand pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Bats pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Candy pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Graveyard Ghosts pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Wolf + Full Moon pumpkin-carving template.

Print the EEK! pumpkin-carving template.

Print the BOO pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Candy Corn pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Scaredy Cat pumpkin-carving template.

Print the SPOOKY pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Boo Jack-O'-Lantern pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Candlestick pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Frankenstein pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Lantern pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Witch pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Cat and Moon pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Vampire pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Sinister Jack-O'-Lantern pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Happy Jack-O'-Lantern pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Grinning Jack-O'-Lantern pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Snaggletooth Jack-O'-Lantern pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Man in the Moon pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Spider pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Candelabra pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Dotted Jack-O'-Lantern pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Pumpkin Nightlight pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Flowers pumpkin-carving template.

Print the Pumpkin pumpkin-carving template.

What a treat to share on trick-or-treat...

Happy Halloween!

Check back for more great Halloween ideas from your friends at Interior Design!

Your kind contribution will allow us to continue sharing great, no cost and cost saving ideas for your space. Click the "Donate" button below to make a contribution. Thank you!

Live well,
Yvonne