Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Matilda's party

Last weekend we had Matilda's 2nd Halloween party and it was fabulous! Great friends, fun food, and cute kiddos in their costumes.

Started off the afternoon with a beer run for the dads. Matilda beer is so appropriate:)

Pumpkin cupcakes topped with chocolate cats and pumpkins.

I love these Dollar Tree bottle labels!

Seven layer spider dip!

Cannolis with tombstone sprinkles.

White chocolate covered Oreos!

Treat bags ala Martha Stewart!

Getting party time cuddles with the birthday girl!

She was cracking up at the Happy Birthday song!

Yes, this is how Matilda eats cake. Straight for the chocolate bats.

One of the take home treats was a Ball jar with frosting, cupcake, frosting. These were a hit!

I made this last year, and it made another appearance:).

Charlotte likes the witch!

Tilly gives that vampire baby from Twilight a run for her money.

Haha!
 Here are some of the cake recipes that I used:

Pumpkin Autumn cake via Country Living.


Ingredients





  • 3/4 cup(s) (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup(s) firmly packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 cup(s) sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup(s) pumpkin purée
  • 1/2 cup(s) buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon(s) pure vanilla extract
  • 2 cup(s) all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoon(s) baking powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon(s) ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon(s) baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon(s) fresh-ground nutmeg

Directions
  1. Prepare cake pans: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat three 8-inch cake pans with softened butter. Cut three 8-inch circles out of parchment paper and fit them into the bottom of the cake pans. Lightly coat the paper circles with butter and set aside.
  2. Make the batter: Cream butter until smooth in a large bowl with an electric mixer set on medium speed. Add the sugars and mix until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition, until the mixture is smooth and light. Set aside. Combine the pumpkin purée, buttermilk, and vanilla in a medium bowl and set aside. Combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and nutmeg in a large bowl and set aside. In thirds, alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk mixture to the butter mixture, blending well after each addition until smooth.
  3. Bake the cake: Pour batter into the prepared pans and bake until a toothpick inserted into the middle of each cake comes out clean -- 35 to 40 minutes. Cool the cakes in the pan on wire racks for 30 minutes. Remove cakes from pans and return to the wire racks until completely cool.

Honey and Spice Buttercream

Ingredients





  • 1 teaspoon(s) unflavored gelatin
  • 1/2 cup(s) dark honey
  • 1/2 cup(s) sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
  • 2 teaspoon(s) ground cinnamon
  • 3 1/2 stick(s) butter, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract

Directions
  1. Combine the gelatin and 2 tablespoons water and let sit for 10 minutes. Bring the honey, sugar, and 2 tablespoons water to a boil in a small saucepan, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for 3 minutes. Stir 2 tablespoons of the honey mixture into the gelatin until dissolved. Whisk into the remaining honey syrup along with the salt and cinnamon. Strain into a medium-size bowl and beat, using a mixer set on high speed, until doubled in volume and completely cool -- about 10 minutes. Add the butter, 2 tablespoons at a time, while continuously beating. Stir in the vanilla and use immediately or keep chilled. 

Linked to Between Naps on the Porch's tablescape Thursday party!

Entertain Exchange

19 comments:

Tricia said...

What a darling party! This brings back memories, as my daughter (now grown with her own children) has a birthday around Halloween, and we had MANY Halloween-birthday parties. Such fun!

Lynn said...

Looks like a fun party, the kids are too cute:@)

The Charm of Home said...

Such a very cute party! The food looks fabulous. You took some great pictures. You will be able to remember it always. So fun.
Sherry

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Oh, what adorable children! Hope the birthday cutie had a wonderful one!

And I love your snacks... how creative!

Happy Tablescape Thursday...

XO,

Sheila :-)

Chandy said...

Wow! What a great party! I love the fun menu and bags.

First time on your blog; love it!

Red Couch Recipes said...

What a fun party for Matilda! I love how she eats cake -- she and I would get along. So did you stamp the tops of the Oreos -- they look great but I am trying to figure out how you did it! Joni

Jacqueline said...

I have the same question Joni did, how did you do the oreos? What a fantastic party, you had all of the details. I love the vampire teeth, what a fun photo you captured, that will be a treasure.

Pinky said...

CUTE party! My kids are grown and gone but this brings back GREAT memories! great job! XO, Pinky

mel@livvyloowho said...

Thanks for the compliments gals!

As for the cookies, they are plain old Oreos that I used a cookie mold (sold at craft stores) with. I used candy melts, the kind on the supermarket with it's own microwavable tray is the easiest for me. Fill the mold halfway with the chocolate and then gently press the cookie down and let the chocolate set. They are a hit at every party I have!

Jules said...

Those pictures are just darling! Love the treat bags and I am so curious about the take home cupcake! Jules

Alycia Nichols said...

Your 7-layer spider dip looks fantastic! Excellent job!!!

kay ellen said...

Eeekkkk! So cute!!
What a fun party~~~I would love a cupcake? Please?

Smiles,
Kay Ellen

Kathy said...

How very sweet! Love it when all the family gets in on the fun! Matilda is precious! My 'babies' are all grown, so miss when they were little like that ...
I guess that's what grandbabies are for ;)
Kathy

Megan said...

I love all the inspiration that your party gives me. Thank you!

Linda @ Life and Linda said...

Great party and thanks for sharing the oreo secret. Everything looks like fun and so cute. The treat bags are a nice touch.

Entertaining Women said...

A precious party for a precious baby. Thank you for sharing your charming design. Cherry Kay

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Ahhh...your Matilda is absolutely adorable! It looks like she had a great 2nd birthday party! Loved all the photos...sooo cute! Hmmm...your 7 layer spider dip looks sooo good! I'm hungry now! Hehe! Thanks for sharing your little one's birthday with us!

Warmest autumn wishes,
Chari @Happy To Design

hviit said...

Cute, cute cute! That is what I call a creative mom and a lucky girl. Thanks for sharing :)

Gloria said...

What an adorable party, what adorable kids!!
Best,
Gloria