Getting in the mood for Halloween

It doesn't take much to get me in the mood for Halloween. I do like to savor this time of year by doing as many Halloween themed activities/crafts/recipes as possible. I was determined to make a pumpkin stew this year. Emma agreed to try it happily. (She is still super picky but she is getting much much better about trying things) That was all the encouragement I needed.

(Andrew just walked in a looked over my shoulder and said "Is that that pumpkin gross stew?")

I made it last week and it was sick. I'm big on texture and the texture on this was terrible. I made a regular beef stew and added in the chunks of pumpkin the last 10-20 minutes to let it soften. It got soft alright. I had bought a different type of meat (it was on a great sale) and it was mushy. How can beef be mushy? The flavor was just normal stew flavor. Nothing great. 

It was a big disappointment. I wanted to love pumpkin stew and start a new tradition of cooking it after we carve pumpkins. (Most people said that is where they got their chunks of pumpkin from. Instead I sacrificed one of my home grown darlings. Sad.)

This is the poor little pumpkin that got the knife. 

Today the kids and I made Candy Men. I found the idea on a blog that I have in my reader. 

Click here to see her post

As soon as I saw her post I knew we had to make them. WinCo has great bulk candy. That is where we got our monster heads and all the pieces to their bodies. I love these guys. Too bad they have already been consumed. 

Aren't they the cutest!?! 

We were totally shocked to find this under the wrapper. Even the candy was cute! 

I love Halloween!!!