Trunk-or-Treat and Bake Sale

The Foothills Community Church "Trunk-or-Treat" is a safe and fun family Halloween event. Hosted by FCC on Friday, October 26th, come trick-or-treat in the FCC parking lot transformed by dozens of decorated car trunks and vehicles. Costumes are encouraged (no scary costumes please).

Baked goods are for sale by donation by our very own FCC MOPS group. All proceeds from the bake sale benefit our MOPS group directly. Think about fun bake sale goodies to make and package individually for sale. This is a great opportunity for your table to have "bake date" and bake and/or package your treats together. Your contributions to our bake "sale" must be individually wrapped and delivered to the kitchen at FCC by 5pm Friday on October 26.

Tips for packaging your items for sale

Source: tasteofhome.com via Amber on Pinterest

If you're not a baker, consider helping us (wo)man the table...we still need helpers from 5-6, 6-7, and 7-8pm. We'll have another reminder and chance to sign up at the Oct 23 meeting. Then bring your kiddos and hubbies for the trunk-or-treat - we'll see you there!

If you need some baking or recipe ideas, we've linked up a few from Pinterest. (All images are linked to the website where you can find additional information.)

Source: allrecipes.com via Amber on Pinterest

Source: kraftrecipes.com via Amber on Pinterest

Source: charmedlifediva.blogspot.com via Amber on Pinterest

Source: graciousrain.com via Amber on Pinterest

Source: pillsbury.com via Amber on Pinterest

Source: sweettreatsbyjesseca.blogspot.com via Amber on Pinterest

Source: craft-o-maniac.com via Amber on Pinterest

Source: tasteofhome.com via Amber on Pinterest

Source: tasteofhome.com via Amber on Pinterest

Source: tasteofhome.com via Amber on Pinterest

Source: tasteofhome.com via Amber on Pinterest

Cookie Exchange & Recipes

Rudolph's Christmas Sugar Cookies

image source here

I know that a lot of you have already gotten together with your tables to make cookies for the cookie exchange, but incase you haven't like me (i'm such a procrastinator), here are some links to favorite cookie recipes.

Martha Stewart Favorite Cookie Recipes

BGH All-Time Favorite Cookie Recipes

The Perfect Pantry's Favorite Cookie Recipes

Crockpot Stuffing Recipe

Take a little bit of the work and shave some time off of all of the hard work and love that goes into making Thanksgiving dinner.

Crockpot Stuffing Recipe

Source: Taste of Home

Thank you Megan K.

Apple Bread

Apple Nachos

This recipe was recommended at Pickle's Pickles by Megan K. It looks like a very simple snack that our kiddos (and us too) will love.

Tater Tots Breakfast Casserole

Sweet Potato Hashbrowns

Potato Casserole Supreme

[caption id="attachment_565" align="aligncenter" width="428" caption="click on image to enlarge"][/caption]

Chilies Rellenos Bake

[caption id="attachment_554" align="aligncenter" width="455" caption="click on image to view larger"][/caption]

Impossibly Easy Ham and Swiss Pie

Click on the recipe to view a larger version.

The Best Breakfast Casserole

Cheesy Chile and Egg Bake

Snow, Snow, and More Snow

It is that time of year again and the snow has fallen a couple of times already with today being the first snow day. It's not even November or Halloween yet, crazy. I, personally, would love to stay in my pj's and sit by a warm fire sipping hot chocolate. However, with kids this is not always possible so here are some ideas from Family Fun that will keep your kids busy and entertained (besides watching tv or movies all day long). I started my search for "snow" here. The results...more than 150 games, crafts, recipes, and articles related to snow. Here are a few. There are many more that I could have included.

Birdseed Snow Angles- This activity may be best after the snow stops and of course, you do need to have birdseed. Probably best for older children.

Snow Pudding- Warning, this recipe does require you to refrigerate it for a couple of hours.

Homemade Snow Dough- Most likely, you have all of the ingredients for this fun activity in your pantry. So, if it is too cold to head outside and make snowmen or the snow is too dry, why not make miniature snowmen inside.

Build Your Own Snowman Printable- All you have to do is print from your computer, then cut and paste the facial expressions, hats and hands, and clothes. If that is to much, then print the scene and have your child(ren) add features to the snowman using crayons or markers.

Paper Snowflakes- I remember making these all the time as a child, and I grew up in the south where it hardly ever snowed. So simple. All you need is a piece of paper and a pair of scissors.

Simple Bread Recipes

This time of year, I love to make breads. I'm not sure what it is. Maybe the fall weather or the smell that warms your kitchen. Below you will find a recipe for Pumpkin Bread, Zucchini Bread, and Jewish Apple Cake (which I think is like a bread). I have been told that the recipe for the Jewish Apple Cake originated from the 2nd generation MOPS group.

Downeast Maine Pumpkin Bread (from Allrecipes.com submitted by Megan Kreitzberg)

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree


• 4 eggs


• 1 cup vegetable oil


• 2/3 cup water


• 3 cups white sugar


• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour


• 2 teaspoons baking soda


• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt


• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon


• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg


• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves


• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 7x3 inch loaf pans.


2. In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water and sugar until well blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended. Pour into the prepared pans.


3. Bake for about 50 minutes in the preheated oven. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Zucchini Harvest Bread (modified and submitted by Jill Morian)

3 c. all-purpose flour (1/2 whole wheat and 1/2 regular)
1 1/2 c. sugar (Splenda)
1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1 c. butter or margarine, softened
3 eggs
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
1 Tbsp vanilla
2 c. unpeeled, shredded zucchini
1/2 c. chopped walnuts (optional)

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  In large mixer bowl, combine all ingredients except zucchini and walnuts.  Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed ( 2 to 3 min.)  By hand, stir in zucchini and nuts.  Spread into 2 greased 8" x 4" loaf pans.  Bake for 50 to 65 min. or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool 10 minutes and remove from pans.  Cool completely.

Jewish Apple Cake (submitted by Fay Klepper and Michele Steven- 2nd Gen. MOPS)

In bowl slice 5 large apples, thicker than for a pie - (Jonathan are best but don't use delicious)  sprinkle with:

2 tsp. cinnamon set aside & mix:
3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
4 unbeaten eggs
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup orange juice
3 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. baking powder

Mix in mixer until sugar is dissolved, at least 5 min.  Into greased tube pan spoon
1/3 batter,  then 1/3 apples & repeat 2 more times ending with apples.  Pour on any apple juice.

Bake 1 1/2 hrs. at 350.  Let stand in pan 30-45 min. before removing.  Make one day ahead of time to ensure best flavor.