Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from Eli

Well, I took a vacation day today, but it was certainly no vacation! The Neighbor and I agreed it would have been much easier to actually be at work today.

An hour after dropping the kids off at school this morning, we ran back there for their Halloween Parade. Each class had rehearsed their own special song and sang it for all the parents – very cute. Then I did a few errands, went home for a bit and went back to pick Nicholas up in the afternoon. Then, off to see my parents’ dog dressed up for Halloween and my office to show off Nicholas’ costume. Then raced back home for half-an-hour before meeting up with The Girlfriend and her family to go trick-or-treating, then a stop at The Girlfriend’s grandmother’s house and back to our house for dinner … at 8 pm. And through all that, I missed lunch! I am beat. I am beyond beat!

My parents’ dog, Beau, as a Butterfly

The Boys

The Lovebirds Ready for Trick-or-Treating

I did manage to squeeze in enough time to make the requisite office treats for my office and The Neighbors’, this week with cinnamon chips as the theme. I made Cherry Cinnamon Bars and Oatmeal Cinnamon Chip Cookies. I’ve made the bars before, but in the original version with cranberries. Decided to try it with dried cherries this time instead, and it’s still a winner. In fact, The Neighbor has declared it her new official “favorite.” The cookie recipe is a new one, and one I’ll definitely repeat. I really liked it.

I promise to find and post the Pumpkin French Toast recipe tomorrow. In cleaning up my clutter for the cleaning lady tomorrow, it got buried in a pile and I need to unearth it.

All for now … busy day tomorrow, and after today, I need to crash early. Until then…

Cranberry Cinnamon Nut Bars
CRUST:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter, softened

TOPPING:
4 eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup corn syrup
1/4 cup butter, melted
225 g cinnamon chips
1 cup cranberries, dried
3/4 cup walnuts, chopped

CRUST:
COMBINE all ingredients, mixing until crumbly. Press firmly into greased 13″x9″ (33cm x 23cm) cake pan. BAKE at 350°F (180°C)for 15-18 minutes, or until light golden.

TOPPING:
BEAT eggs, sugar, corn syrup and melted butter together until blended. Stir in cinnamon chips, cranberries and walnuts. Pour evenly over crust. BAKE for about 30-35 minutes longer, or until set and golden. Cool completely, then cut into bars. Makes: about 3 dozen bars

OATMEAL CINNAMON CHIP COOKIES
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
1 2/3 cups cinnamon chips
3/4 cup raisins

Heat oven to 350F. Beat butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in bowl until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Add flour and baking soda, beating well. Stir in oats, cinnamon chips and raisins (batter will be stiff). Drop by heaping teaspoons onto greased cookie sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Yield: about 4 dozen