Friday, October 29

Preschool Party Time


Some moms from my church and I do a little preschool co-op.  Each week, we rotate homes, hosting this sweet set of toddlers for a little learning and lots of play.  This last week was my turn and we had a Halloween party.  There was more treat eating and crafting fun than you could stand in a morning!

We made some marshmallow ghosts:

Turned rocks into jack-o-lanterns:

Decorate pumpkin shaped cookies (and ate them, of course!):




There were candy corns to count and Halloween stories to read.  At the end, everyone got to take one of these yummy, spooky, guys home:


Gingerbread Skeleton Men

Gingerbread Cookies:
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter (at room temp.)
1 egg (beaten)

Cream butter and brown sugar together until fluffy.  Add egg and molasses.  Beat well.  Gradually add the dry ingredients until dough is thoroughly combined and comes together in a ball.  Divide the dough in half.  Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for several hours or over night.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Using a floured rolling pin, roll out one ball of dough at a time on a lightly floured surface to 1/4" thick.  Cut out gingerbread men shapes with a cookie cutter.  Place them on a lightly greased baking sheet, spaced 1" apart.  Bake for 10 minutes.  Rest for 5 minutes on the pan, then transfer to a cooling rack.  Once cookies are cooled, decorate with Royal Icing.

Royal Icing:
1 large egg white
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Beat egg white and lemon juice until well combined.  Add powdered sugar and beat on low speed until smooth and combined.  Use a piping bag or pour into a ziplock baggy.  Seal baggy and cut a very small hole in one corner.  Pipe bones onto cookie.   *Tip* Use Royal Icing immediately because it hardens quickly.  Let Royal Icing set for an hour before storing.  Enjoy!

3 comments:

Lisa said...

Isabelle had a wonderful time! And I tried some of her skeleton man--delish! Thanks for a fun little party.

mindy said...

I want to go to your house. It seems so perfect there.

And how the heck did you get that icing so perfect? Come on, i want a picture of one that didn't turn out looking so great. Just one...

Joey Rachel Avery & Ansley said...

You do such a good job Becca! Avery always comes home excited to tell me what all she did at 'Miss Becca's' house! Love all the pics:)