Daisy Chains and Picnics

"It's not the cough that carries you off- -It's the coffin they carry you off in" I got these super cute "spa" pumpkins from TK Maxx and wanted to make a spa theme Halloween corner along with my skeleton bathing in a cauldron see here I wanted some kind of display to put the "spa" treatments on but couldn't find anything I liked, I wanted it to fit in with the spooky vibe.  I asked Scott if he could make me a coffin shaped shelving unit in pink, and of course, the answer as always was 'yes, no problem, seriously, I don't know what I would do without him, he manages to make any of my weird ideas come to life!. He started with making a template. Then cutting it into shape.  Gluing it together and sanding the edges to make them smooth before painting it pink.

I bought a gorgeous pink cauldron from TK Maxx but wasn't sure what I was going to do with it, then I remembered that I had a glitter skeleton from last year's TK Maxx purchase. And what do you know, he fitted perfectly in the cauldron!. I bought 3 bath puffs from Chemist Warehouse for $1.49 each to simulate bubbles in the bath. I put some crumpled paper in the inside of the cauldron to prop the skeleton up, then cut the hanging bits off the puffs. I teased the puffs to give them more shape. I am really pleased with how it turned out. I bought a hair bow from Kmart and fastened it around his head as a turban.  Pick your poison and sit back and relax!

Another delicious recipe from The Golden Girls cookbook. These cookies are one of Dorothy's recipes. These oat-y buttery treats, like most homemade cookies, best eaten warm. Rose loves them with a glass of cold milk; Dorothy has them with a cup of coffee or strong Earl grey tea. Ingredients 1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats (not instant) 3/4 cup white whole-wheat flour 3/4 cup raisins 3/4 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 113g unsalted butter, room temperature 3/4 cup light brown sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla extract Method 1.  Preheat oven to 180°C. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or spray them with nonstick cooking oil. 2.  Stir oats, flour, raisins, baking powder and salt together in a medium bowl. 3.  Using a handheld electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar together in a medium bowl until fluffy-the batter will take on a lighter colour. Beat in the egg together with the vanilla extract. Stir the oat mixture into the butter mixture by hand. 4.  Use a tablespoon...

Not just for breakfast!. Seve them with roast chicken, meat loaf, or a burger. These were definitely on Rose's breakfast menu when Dorothy's friend Jean came to visit the girls and fell hard for Rose, much to Blanche's surprise. Ingredients 1 tbsp vegetable oil 1 medium yellow onion, diced into 1/2-inch pieces 1 tbsp butter 1 large baked Russet potato, cut into 3/4-inch chunks Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper Method 1.  Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until light golden brown, about 6 minutes. Add the butter and, when it has melted, add the potatoes. Season lightly with salt and pepper and gently stir, occasionally, until the potatoes are browned and crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside, about 15 minutes. Adjust the heat as you cook so the onion doesn't burn. Go by the sound, you should hear a mild protest coming from the potatoes, not an all out frenzy. 2.  If serving right...