Haunted House Cake

Last night for my Bridge Club I made a Haunted House Caramel Pumpkin Cake and I wanted to share pictures.

I used my NordicWare Christmas Cottage Bundt pan.

You can see how changing the icing and candy decorations it gave it a whole different look! I used the recipe that is sweeping the internet where you just use a 15 oz can of pumpkin and cake mix (any flavor - I used Caramel by Duncan Hines), beat for 2 minutes and bake at 350 deg for 27 minutes. I had baked it before in a rectangular glass baking dish and was happy that it worked in the House Bundt pan also.

I used Wilton canned frosting in orange and black with the tips included, a candy corn, mellowcreme pumpkin candy mix and marshmallow ghosts to decorate. A photo from Williams-Sonoma for their Haunted Gingerbread kit inspired me.

I had forgotten how black icing can turn your tongue and teeth black, so I warned everyone before they ate! We all had a good laugh! Here is the back of the house.

I hope you enjoyed my Haunted House as much as I enjoyed making it!

Linking with Designs by Gollum. Visit her blog for more great recipes!

3-D Pumpkin Bundt Cake

For Foodie Friday:
Thank you Gollum for hosting Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum.

For my first Fall food I decided to make a 3-D Pumpkin Bundt Cake. I bought the 3-D Pumpkin Bundt pans from Target, but instead of following the directions on the back I just used a French Vanilla Cake mix with 1/2 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice, 1/2 Tbsp. cinnamon and a grating of fresh nutmeg added to the batter.

I did follow the directions for their glaze though:

2 cups confectioners sugar
2-4 Tbsp. milk
2 Tbsp. light corn syrup
1/2 tsp. vanilla
red & yellow food coloring

Mix together well. It will be thick.

I used half to cement the two mini bundt layers together and the other half to glaze the top. I did have to saw the bump off of each layer so that it matched up level in the middle before I added the glaze to hold them together.

I took green marzipan and rolled two snakes for vines. Then I rolled out some green marzipan and used a mini fall leaf cookie cutter to make the pumpkin leaves.

Here is the finished cake!





I'm not sure it looks more like a pumpkin than a regular Bundt cake, but I had fun and it tasted good! :D Jewel

Tablescape Thursday Graduation!

It's Tablescape Thursday sponsored by Susan at BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH! I am featuring my younger daughter's graduation from High School last Saturday!


Be sure and visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch by clicking the picture below. There are always lots of great tables to ooh and ahh over!!!


My daughter's graduation was Saturday Morning at 9:00. For lunch after the ceremony, we had a cook-out at our house for her and several of her friends and their families,39 people in all.

Here is my table.


I hung with some graduation decorations on my golden ornament tree. I used her Graduation cords, confetti and crystal graduation symbols around the base.

Everyone brought what they wanted to cook out - burgers, hot dogs, chicken, veggie dogs. Every family brought some side dishes and beverages and a great time was had by all!!!!

For Dessert, Cakes and Cupcakes.







One of my friends made this from Martha Stewart - isn't it incredible?



The next day my family along with 2 friends took a trip to Gettysburg, PA. This was my graduating daughter's choice. Our whole family loves Gettysburg!

Happy Tablescape Thursday! :D Jewel

Tablescape Thursday - Happy 18th Birthday!

For this Tablescape Thursday sponsored by Susan at BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH, I am featuring my daughter's 18th Birthday Party which was just last Saturday Night!


There was no theme, just a runner, napkins and cake plates from Target. My next door neighbors helped us cook out hamburgers for 24 people. There was also baked beans, potato salad, fruit and Nacho Bean dip.







Soft Drinks on the Buffet.



I bought some coral/orange roses and yellow mums at Walmart and acuba from my yard. I also used rosy red camellias and Carolina Jasmine (a yellow flowing vine) from my neighbor's yard for the arrangements. I used a green ceramic vase in the middle and two tin buckets on either side for vases. I used another tin container on the mantle.


These candle holders and cake cutters are my neighbor's also. They are hollow to fill with anything you want. I used napkins to tie into the color scheme.



A local bakery made the cake.



I can't believe my "baby" is 18!!!! Everyone had a great time!

Please join Susan at BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH for more inspirational tablescapes! :D Jewel