Day 3

Last year I made these delicious little cookies for my Halloween party.  I like how they look and they also taste good!  It's another recipe from Martha Stewart.  I love her!  She calls them lady fingers but I like to call them witch fingers!

Witch Fingers

http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/ladies-fingers-are-easy

2 tablespoons red food coloring (or green if you want to make them more witchy!)

30 blanched almonds

2 large eggs

1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick), room temperature

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

5 tablespoons granulated sugar

Pinch of salt

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

Dicrections:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with Silpats (French nonstick baking mats) or parchment paper, and set aside.

2. Place food coloring in a shallow bowl. Using a small paintbrush, color one rounded half of each almond. Set aside to dry.

3. Separate 1 egg. Set aside the white. In a small bowl, whisk together yolk, remaining egg, and vanilla. Set aside.

4. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine butter, confectioners' sugar, granulated sugar, and salt. Beat on medium speed until well combined. Add egg mixture, and beat until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the flour, and mix on low speed just until incorporated. Wrap the dough in plastic, and chill until firm, 20 to 30 minutes.

5. Divide the dough in half. Work with one piece at a time, keeping remaining dough covered with plastic wrap and chilled. Divide the first half into fifteen pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece back and forth with palms into finger shapes, 3 to 4 inches long. Pinch dough in two places to form knuckles. Score each knuckle lightly with the back of a small knife. Transfer fingers to prepared baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough.

6. When all fingers are formed, brush lightly with egg white. Position almond nails; push into dough to attach.

7. Bake until lightly browned, about 12 minutes. Cool completely.

I think today's saying is so cute! 

On Hallowe'en the thing you must do

Is pretend that nothing can frighten you

And if somethin' scares you and you want to run

Just let on like it's Hallowe'en fun.

-19th Century Halloween postcard

The craft for today is one that I made last year.  It is a Halloween mini album that will be perfect to fill with pictures of our little ghoul's 1st Halloween!  I can't wait!  Mini albums are so fun!  It's different from the traditional scrapbook because mini albums usually just capture one event.  Of course you could use them as your standard scrapbook, but it is so fun to have a basket full of mini albums highlighting events from your past year.  If you have any questions about something I used for the mini, just email me.

allhallowseve.newton@gmail.com