Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Zoulah and Beaulah's Luncheon

Welcome to Red Couch Recipes and to Tablescape Thursday where Zoulah and Beaulah Boulah got together for a luncheon at my house and lots more fun!  What fun those girls had at their luncheon and the biggest news around is that Zoulah has LEGS!!! Jacqueline, brought LEGS for Zoulah (a.k.a. a Halloween cakestand).  Zoulah is so thrilled with her legs; she can stand nice and tall.   In a later post, I will show pictures from a photo shoot Jacqueline and I took while Zoulah and Beaulah took on a walk in our back yard. 

A picture of the twins on my back deck -- they smiled so prettily for the camera.  Beaulah wanted to take her glasses off for the picture -- she's a little bit of a vain witch.

 
Since Zoulah resides at Red Couch Recipes, she got to be the centerpieces for the Halloween luncheon she shared with her sister Beaulah.  Beaulah was NOT very happy!


This is the simple placesetting that Zoulah chose to entertain her sister "B" with.  Zoulah crushes on green and black at Halloween.  She served this spice cake draped with a rum caramel sauce to Beaulah.  Beaulah, like her owner Jacqueline has a sweet tooth.  Beaulah ate TWO!  Of course Zoulah is sharing her recipe soon, maybe for Foodie Friday.


The twins love to drink with these spider goblets.  Orange soda is their favorite Halloween drink -- none of the hard stuff for both of the girls.  Looks like one of the little naughty gals has been slurping some pop!


Zoulah loves the candy corn bandanas to spice up a Halloween Table.  Natch, candy corn is a favorite for her.


Zoulah's pets Fright and Night -- both friendly Halloween cats -- keep company at the table.


Zoulah wanted her fancy hat on the table -- of course she likes fancy things -- she's like that, you know.


The answer to the question is that, of course, Zoulah and Beaulah are always GOOD WITCHES!  Did you doubt???


Zoulah thanks you for dropping by Red Couch Recipes and sharing the luncheon that she had with her sister.

Posted with the following:  Weekend Wrapup, Made By You Monday, Wow Us Wednesdays

Monday, September 26, 2011

Ham and Cheese Jack-O-Lantern Pie Pops


Welcome to Zoulah's Bewitchen Kitchen where she is baking and cooking up a storm of Halloween treats at her Second Annual Halloween Bash!


Zoulah found that the Red Couch Children gobbled these little ham and cheese pops down.  Some liked them hot out of the oven, others liked them cold.  Being the wonderful witch that she is Zoulah will make these again for the lunches of the Red Couch Children.


To make it simple, Zoulah used prepared pie crust.  She made some as pops and some as hand pies.

These litte jack-O-Lanterns are ready for the oven.


Ham and Cheese Jack-O-Lantern Recipe and Instructions
Yield:  About 8 -- depending on cookie cutter size

1 box of prepared pie dough (contains 2 rounds)
1 package of sliced ham
1 package of sliced cheese
1 egg white
Popsicle sticks

1.  Using a cookie cutter, cut pie crusts into pumpkin shapes -- two for each pie pop.
2.  Place ham  and then cheese (shaped to the bottom pie crust) on the bottom pie crust. 
3.   Cut out Jack-O-Lantern face on the top crust and place it on top of the cheese and ham.
4.  Insert popsicle stick and press firmly on the bottom of the pie to make sure it sticks. 
5.  Seal with a bit of water on the edges and if desired use a fork to press the edges together.
6.  Brush the top of the Jack-O-Lantern with egg white -- avoiding the sections where there is cheese.
7.  Bake in 350 oven for 10 to 12 minutes. 


Zoulah thanks you from the top of her witchie hat to the bottom of her witchie shoes for dropping by her Bewitchen Kitchen at Red Couch Recipes today.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Zoulah's Halloween Goodie Pedestals -- From Trash to Terrific


Welcome to Zoulah's Halloween Bash and to Metamorphasis Monday!  This is Zoulah's first time linking to Metamorphasis Monday.  Zoulah not only loves cooking in her Bewitchen Kitchen at Halloween, but she also loves to craft.  Zoulah and her twin sister Beaulah, residing at Purple Chocolat Home are both hosting a Halloween Bash this Halloween.


 Zoulah found this glass candlestick at the local thrift store for $2.00.


These wooden trays were $1.00 each.  When Zoulah saw these, her witchie eyes started to hatch a Halloween craft.


Zoulah's Intructions:

1.  Gather together an ugly candstick and an ugly wood tray.

2.  Paint tray and candlestick with acrylic black paint, or your choice of paint color.  Let paint dry.

3.  Apply miniature Halloween signs or use a stipple sponge to make polka dots (see pedestal above).  Wal-Mart sells a package of stipple brushes.  Zoulah found the little signs in a package at Michael's  Craft Store last year -- they have similar things this year.  See the pedestal below.

4.  For the pedestal with Halloween signs, Zoulah applied Modge Podge 

5.  Seal, if desire.

6.  Let dry and glue, with a glue similar to E-6000, the tray to the candlestick.

6.  Add a tulle bow and a little Halloween Jack-O-Lantern.  Wal-Mart has these glittered Jack-O-Lanterns and other large confetti shapes for one dollar for a package.  There are at least 20 pieces of Halloween confetti in each package. 


Zoulah's Notes:  Originally, Zoulah was going to make a double-tiered pedestal, but she didn't like the look with these trays.  She only bought one candlestick and had to share the candlestick for these pictures and needs to find another one at the thrift store.  Because of the Modge Podge and sealant, Zoulah wouldn't recommend serving food, like cookies on this tray.  She feels that cupcakes, and candies, and cookies in little dishes would be fine.  Zoulah also has a round glass clear cake plate that fits perfectly on the pedestals to protect the food.


Zoulah can't wait to serve some of her food from her Bewitchen Kitchen on these Halloween Pedestals!

Thanks for dropping by Zoulah's Halloween Bash at Red Couch Recipes!

Posted with the following:  Metamorphasis Monday, Craft-O-Maniac, Made By You Monday, Wow Us Wednesdays, I'm Lov'n It, Weekend Wrapup, Falloween

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Farewell to Sunflowers


Zoulah is a "leeeetle" bit ticked off at me today so bear with me.  Why is she mad?  She is mad because she isn't doing a Halloween post.  Zoulah understands that my sister-in-law Camille recently gifted me with some sunflower salad plates and she also understands that next week my sunflowers (actually sunbonnets) might be faded away, but she is still MAD!  Witches are funny that way. Zoulah and I made a bargain that my next post will be a Halloween post.  So please be nice to Zoulah: life is complicated enough without a witch throwing spells around the home.

When you become a dish collector, it is so special when people think of you and give you some dishes to add to your collection.  Thanks Camille.  Love these plates

These are the Sunbonnets my husband planted in our backyard.  When he first planted them --- all over I might add -- I couldn't tell what were weeds and what were wildflowers.  I have loved the sunshine that they have brought all summer to my back yard.

These yellow bubble glasses are a screaming yellow and add so much color to the table.


The flatware is from World Market -- very inexpensive and fun.


 Thanks for dropping by my Farewell to Sunflowers Table.



Farewell to Sunflowers Table

Placemats:  Wal-Mart
Flatware:  World Market
Yellow Dinner Plates:  Dollar Store
Sunflower Plates:  Gift from Camille
Yellow Stemware:  Tai Pan Trading --- Gift from Sisters
Napkin Rings:  Bed, Bath, and Beyond
Napkins:  K-Mart

Posted with the following:  Tablescape Thursday



Monday, September 19, 2011

Pumpkin Pizzas



Zoulah welcomes you to Red Couch Recipes and to her Second Annual Halloween Bash -- where she loves to cook and bake up a storm in the kitchen during Halloween.  Just so you know, Zoulah is into fun family Halloween -- none of that scary stuff, she's a family witch.  As we were making homemade pizza, as we are wont to do in the Red Couch Home, Zoulah cackled with delight when she started forming pizza dough into little pumpkins.  She always likes to put her own Halloween spin on things.

Zoulah says that you should cut out your pizza dough into circles of your desired size.  Then form the dough into pumpkin shapes.  As Zoulah says, making pumpkin shapes from pizza dough is a natural, because after cutting the dough into circles, the dough likes to recede into pumpkin shapes.


Decorate your pumpkin as you like with pepperoni or any other toppings. Anyone care for an alien pumpkin?  This little alien can't wait to be baked.


Zoulah finds this a perfect way to spend some fun family time during Halloween.  She says "Let the little ones design their own pumpkin faces."


Zoulah thanks you from the bottom of her witchie hat to the bottom of her witchie toes for visiting Red Couch Recipes today.



Saturday, September 17, 2011

Zoulah's Baaaaaack!

Zoulah's baaaaaaaaaack and ready to start her Second Annual Halloween Bash and she invites you to attend!  I tried to hold her back but I couldn't, she is just so excited to start mixing up some Halloween Magic in the kitchen.  I suppose a year in the garage could be a bit boring.  So from now until Halloween, you will find Zoulah in the kitchen and in the craft room brewing up some fun at Red Couch Recipes.
If you are new to my blog, you may not have met Zoulah before.  Let me introduce you.  Her full name is Zoulah Boulah.  She was born, along with her twin sister Beulah who resides at Purple Chocolat Home, on October 31 many years ago.  Both Zoulah and Beulah are a troublesome, but funloving pair who love to mix it up in the kitchen at Halloween.   Check out my "Halloween label" to see what Zoulah was up to last year at her first Hallowen Bash.


She is going to be tieing on her apron strings and casting her spells to bring some family fun at Halloweentime -- natch, it's it's her favorite time of year.  Watch out for a little "giftie giveaway" straight from Zoulah's little witchie heart to yours!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Talley's Teatime Table


So glad you dropped by Red Couch Recipes!  Welcome to Tablescape Thursday where dishlovers of the Internet unite and set their prettiest tables and post them.  Today my table was set by my 10-year old daughter (with a wee bit of help from me).  After school we were sitting around talking, and eating and I didn't have a tablescape ready for today.  I asked her if I should do one, and she said, "She'd do it.

Like other dishlovers, she had a huge variety to choose from.  She chose my mother's Noritake China in the LaSalle Pattern.  I think she liked the tea cups.  She added a bit of Bacopa that she stole from the pot on the deck.


A view through my bubbly glass and of my desert neighborhood!


There just is something about white dishes and clear glass, isn't there?  I love white napkins too.


A long view of the table.


And of course, a little sweet!  This is a pear pie with a crumbly crust.


Tablescape Information:
China  -- Noritake LaSalle
Placemats, Napkins:  Wal-Mart
Flatware:  World Market:
Bubble Glasses:  Tai Pan Trading
Napkin Rings:  Style Sisters
Thanks for dropping by Talley's Teatime Table.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Skyler's Chocolate Brownie Pizelles and Girard Giveaway Winner


Our 17-year old son Skyler likes to bake cookies and desserts.  He especially likes to bake on Sundays after church.  It seems that our pantry never contains the things he needs to bake with :(.  This Sunday, after paging through several cookbooks, he made me a list of ingredients that he wanted me to keep on hand!!  Well, I never -- does he think he is Martha or something --telling me what to have in my pantry.

As he was paging through some books, he came upon a waffle brownie recipe in my sister Jacqueline's , Purple Chocolat Home, cookbook.  Instead of using a waffle iron, he decided to put the brownie mixture in our pizelle maker.  The cookies came out crisp and delicious.  Do not make these, if you don't like crisp cookies.  They were perfect for dunking in milk.  I told him I would post his cookies.  He shared the cookies with some friends and when he told them he was hoping for lots of "hits" on this post, one of said, "I'll give you a hit!"


The winner, of the Girard Salad Dressing was commenter number Three.  She is Patricia, the excellent hostess of the delicious blog Butter Yum.  I know she will enjoy the dressings -- I am hooked.  Thanks to the Marzetti Company for this wonderful giveaway.


Recipe for Brownie Pizelles

1 cup melted butter
1-1/2 cups sugar
4 beaten eggs
1/2 cup cocoa
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons vanilla

Heat Pizelle or Waffle Iron.  With a blender, mix all ingredients well in medium bowl.  Add a little cooking oil to iron so batter won't stick to the iron.  When the iron is heated, add cookie batter.  I can't give you an amount as every iron is different.  Our iron made 15 cookies with lots of end scraps.  Bake according to manufacturer's directions.  When cookies come out of the oven, trim edges with kitchen shears.



I hope you enjoy Skyler's Chocolate Brownie Pizelle Recipe.  Thanks for dropping by Red Couch Recipes.    

Linked with the following parties:  Take-A-Look Tuesday, Foodie Friday, I'm Lovn' It, Made By You Monday, Wow Us Wednesdays

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Apple Picking Cookies


In honor of apple picking time, I made these cookies for my church Activity Days girls and for my daughter's new teacher and of course I made some to share with my Food Critics (my family).  I just took a bite of a frozen one --- yum!  I love homemade frozen sugar cookies.



This is the last night for my Girard salad dressing giveaway -- a 4 pack of these premium dressings.  I had some Old Venice Italian for lunch -- it is one of my favorites.  Click HERE for the giveaway.

Click HERE for the sugar cookie recipe, Royal Icing recipe, and marbling technique.     I still have a lot to learn about Royal icing, but I really enjoy the creative part of decorating cookies -- it is relaxing to me.

Thanks for dropping by Red Couch Recipes.


Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Apple Picking Time Tablescape


Welcome to Tablescape Thursday and to Red Couch Recipes where we celebrate the beautiful color of red apples and green apples.  Yes, it is Apple picking time again:  is a little bit late here in Utah as June and part of July were unseasonably cold.  I relish this time of year -- how about you? 

If you would like, my 4-Pack of Girard Dressing giveaway is still open.  Click HERE to enter.



The tablesetting is simple.  Just some very versatile apple red plates along with my apple green salad plates and hob nail apple red bowls -- don't you just love hob nail?


These are A-Kane apples and they taste like biting into apple cider.  My father had an orchard and acquired an apple cider press.  Those were the days when he would be pressing fresh apples from the orchard!  The farmer sells them right on his front porch.  It is about 1-1/2 hours from where I currently live and just around the corner from my brother's home.  Yes, Fritz we did stop but you were off playing.  Every year we make the trip back to buy some apples from him.



A view of the Mums.


Of course I brought you some sweets -- some marbled-apple cookies.  I made these for my church Activity Day girls and for my daughter's teacher for "Back to School" night.


Apple Picking Time Tablescape Information
Placemats, Apple Red Dinner Plates, and Flatware:  Wal-Mart
Green Apple Salad Plate:  Smith's Grocery Store
Apple Red Hob Nail Bowl:  Michael's Arts and Crafts
Apple Red Goblets:  Costco
Red Plaid Napkins:  K-Mart
Napkin Rings:  Style Sisters



Grab a cookie before you go and thanks for dropping by Red Couch Recipes.

Engageya