Pumpkin Patch

We finally made it to the pumpkin patch tonight. There were about 20 pumpkins to pick from and I think Graham wanted them all......

Oh, how he has grown......

Happy Halloween everyone :)

Halloween Cupcake Pops

Today, while the boys were at MDO my friend Jill and I made these adorable cupcake pops. They were so much fun to make and I thought I would share the recipe and a few pictures :)

Ingredients
Makes about 50
9-by-13-inch Chocolate Cake for Cupcake Pops
2 cups Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting
1 package chocolate coating bark
1 package white coating bark or pink candy melts
Sprinkles, for garnish
Candy-coated chocolates, such as M&M's, for garnish

Directions
-Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Trim about 1/2 inch from the perimeter of the cake. Working in batches, crumble cake into the bowl of a food processor; process until fine crumbs form. Transfer to a large bowl and add frosting; blend together using the back of a spoon, until well combined, 5 to 10 minutes.

-Roll mixture into 1 1/4- to 1 1/2-inch balls; transfer to prepared baking sheet. Cover with parchment-paper-lined aluminum foil. Transfer to refrigerator until chilled, about 2 hours or to a freezer for about 10 minutes.

- Begin to shape balls into cupcakes by rolling balls first into logs. Fit logs into a 1 1/4-by-3/4-inch flower-shaped cookie cutter. Push cake mixture into the cutter halfway so that some of the cake mixture extends beyond the top of the cutter. Shape extended cake mixture into a cupcake-shaped top. Push cake from cutter to remove. Transfer to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Transfer to freezer until chilled, 5 to 10 minutes.

- Meanwhile, melt chocolate in heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water. Line another baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Remove cupcakes from freezer and dip the bottom of each cupcake into the chocolate; transfer, bottom-side up, to prepared baking sheet. To make lollipops, insert a lollipop stick into the bottom of each cupcake. Let chocolate set, 15 to 20 minutes.

Melt orange candy melts in heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water. Dip the tops of the cupcakes into the chocolate and place right-side up on prepared baking sheet or stick lollipop sticks into a Styrofoam square. Place a candy-coated chocolate in the center of each and top with sprinkles. Let dry completely.

Enjoy:)

Thankful

Life has been a bit crazy lately. My Grandfather-in-law has been in the hospital for over two weeks and yesterday had a bypass surgery and a valve replacement. Praise the Lord he made it through the surgery but now has a long recovery ahead of him. So.... today I am thankful. Thankful that the Lord brought him this far. I just know the Lord still has plans for him. Plans like seeing his great-grandsons grow up. That's what he told me in the hospital :) I just love and adore our Paw Paw. I admire his love and faithfulness for the Lord. Though I married into the family I've always felt that I am one of his own granddaughters. So please keep him in your prayers. We are praying for a miraculous recovery.