Jessica Moe

So, in preparation for our first (relatively sizable) get together at our house, I decided that I am going to take advantage of the time i have on my hands and do ALL of the prep-work so tomorrow, I don’t even have to LEAVE the house, I can just cook and clean (if necessary) and get ready…. 

After doing my morning “chores” like laundry and cleaning the bathroom and whatnot, I put together a list and hit the pavement. I went to store after store picking up the early clearance merchandise for Halloween entertaining (like chip and dip platters, and decor items)…then I went grocery shopping and found pretty much everything we are going to need for the party.

When I got home, I sat down at the table with all of the “tools” and food that I would need to prep and so I spent the night mostly unwrapping caramels for my caramel apples, grating cheese for my fried macaroni and cheese, and smashing Oreo cookies for my dirt and worms. Where I could, I placed items that didn’t need to be in the fridge with their appropriate “station” along with the kitchen appliance I would need to cook them (sauce for chicken wings with the crock-pot, macaroni with the deep fryer I bought on sale DEEP discount, you wouldn’t believe it…)

When I was done, I was shocked I had so much time left so I went ahead and made the “make ahead items” like the caramel apples, the dirt and worms, and the pumpkin pie…but, what I am really proud of is the thing that I wasn’t counting on….

So, here’s my story:

I decided to go all out and make the Libby’s famous Pumpkin pie as shown on the back of the Libby’s can.  I got my large mixing bowl and put all the ingredients in, pulled out my pie crust, poured in the pie mixture and popped the stuff in the oven.  What I hadn’t been counting on was the leftover pie filling…it was pretty substantial, it could have filled a third pie, so I didn’t want to just throw it out. WHAT TO DO??

I looked up the pumpkin pie roll on the internet that is also advertised on the can but realized that is made differently than the pie itself so that wouldn’t work…then as I was sitting there, staring off into space, I realized I was fidgeting with my little silicone muffin thingamajiggers and I thought, hmm…pumpkin muffins! So, I went to the pantry to pull out some flour to add to the mixture and I noticed that I had a CAKE mix in there…..PERFECT! And hey, what’s the worst that could happen? I am out three dollars worth of ingredients if I’m wrong?

I dumped in the yellow cake mix, and stirred it all up. Since I had so much batter and only a few silicone muffin thingamajiggers, I pulled out my cake pan and dumped the concoction in there then I popped my pumpkin cake in with my pumpkin pie…30 minutes later I had a BEAUTIFUL looking piece of culinary genius that I am going to send with Issa to work tomorrow, although I have to say, I took a slice for myself and OH MY GOSH–SOOOO GOOD! I topped it with a bit of vanilla cream cheese icing and seriously–seriously…to DIE for. I couldn’t be more proud.

So after my satisfying little success in the kitchen, I hit the bathroom and cleaned it to the hilt, decorated it with a few lights and some spider web stuff, hung a couple of pictures and I will tell you, it looks AWESOME! Things are coming together soo well, I know all this prep is only for one day….but I also know that Issa really appreciates the effort I am putting in for his coworkers and truth be told, I am having a BLAST in the process.

That’s all for now, tell you more later. Be well!