Quick Halloween Treat!

So I found this idea on the Wilton website a few weeks ago, and I finally got around to trying it out.

Need:

- 2 boxes of any no-bake cheesecake packages (I used the Jell-o version)

- Yellow food coloring

- Red food coloring

- Wilton's checkerboard cake pan set (can be found at Michaels or Wilton.com)

*you're only going to be using one pan and the divider

1. Mix up the crust as directed on the box and press it into the bottom of the pan. Set the divider into the center of the pan. (the divider might be a little above the edge of the pan, it's okay)

2. Mix up the filling as directed on the box. Spoon batter into the center circle only. Try to make it as even as possible.

3. Color the remainder of the batter with yellow food coloring. Depending on the type of food coloring used, you may have to use a lot or a little. It's all about preference.

4. Spoon the yellow batter into the outside circle, again keeping it as even as possible to the edge of the pan.

5. Mix up the last of the batter with red food coloring for the orange. Again, this may take a lot or a little, depending on the type of coloring used.

6. Spoon the batter into the middle circle.

7. Smooth out the tops of the colors with a spatula.

8. I took a butterknife dipped in hot water and ran it around the edges of the divider to make it easier to remove. That's completely optional, but in my experience, I would have messed it up otherwise.

9. SLOWLY pull the divider straight up and out of the pan. Take a spatula and smooth out the edges between colors.

Congratulations! You made a bullseye :) It makes about 12 pieces and when it's cut, it'll look just like a large piece of candy corn!

Next time, I want to try to see if I can find candy corn flavoring, but I'm not sure if it's out there :/ Oh well, this was a good attempt! Much better than my brownies a while back :)

I'm Back!

Well, I'm back! Didn't mean to not do anything for a year, but I'm gonna give it another shot here :)

I'm back in my second year of teaching, picking up a few dozen more projects for school, including but not limited to a website, MS and HS Honors Band/Choir, Festival (hosting!), Solo and Ensemble, 3 elementary programs and a musical. I'm gonna be a busy girl, but I like it this way!

On to my projects:

Two projects mentioned last time were on hiatus, and I'm proud to announce that one of them is finished! It's a cross stitch, and it's my biggest attempt since starting the craft. I believe it turned out rather well. Paying homage to my love of music and crafts all in one.

The entire thing :)

Close up

The other project is a felt embroidery Advent calendar. I'm attempting to make the calendar AND all the little pieces that go into the pockets. I'm hoping this one will be finished before Christmas this year... I have a few others that I'd like to start soon.

Full calendar. Notice it's still not done on the bottom.

Close up of the top, my favorite part :)

Close up of the bottom, again not finished.

I love the little 'I heart Santa' writing for Christmas Day.

Now onto the prospective ideas:

In my oven as we speak is a version of a Game Day Cupcakes snagged from one of my college friends over at Ready, Set, Craft! Joanne ALWAYS comes up with some really cool recipes that I try to (and usually fail at) repeating. It's hard to change recipes to successfully bake in high altitudes, and I'll whine about that sometimes. It's my birthday tomorrow, so I'm hoping to be able to give these out to the kids (because I don't need it!)

And last, on the agenda for the weekend is an attempt at Cake Pops, snagged from Bakerella.com. She's fantastic for the amateur baker, and it always makes me feel better when I can successfully recreate something.

That's what's going on with me over here!