Witches Fingers

Halloween just wouldn't be Halloween without edible oddities! And what is more spooky than eating creepy green witch fingers? Jagged sliced almonds for nails and red decorators gel for gooey nails makes these fingers extra appetizing. It is a simple and delicious recipe!

• 175mL Butter
• 160mL Sugar
• 2 Eggs
• 30mL Milk
• 5mL Almond Extract
• 625mL Flour
• 5mL Baking Powder
• 2mL Salt
  
• Green Food colouring (the gel kind gives a brighter colour)
• Almond slices
• Red decorating Gel

Dough:

1. Cream together butter and sugar in large mixing bowl.
2. Add eggs, milk, almond extract, and food colouring. Beat well until combined.
3. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. Gradually add flour mixture into creamed mixture. Mix until well blended. (Note: The dough will be a bit sticky)
   
5. Divide dough into two balls, wrap, and chill for 2 hours or overnight.
   

Baking:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Roll about a tablespoon (15mL) of dough to form a 'finger'
3. Give finger two squeezes to form knuckles.
4. Using a knife, make small cuts into knuckles to make wrinkles.
5. Place sliced almonds on top of the end to form nails.
   
6. Bake 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.
7. Remove from cookie sheet and cool for 2-3 minutes. Remove almond nail and squeeze small amount of red decorator gel then replace almond.

[ squeeze to form knuckles, cut in wrinkles, and place almond as the nail]

A great way to serve these cookies is in a martini glass or bowl where the fingers can stick up out of. Enjoy!



*I made these in highschool in my cooking class so I don't have a source to cite them*

Crochet Monkey

In the spirit of amigurumi I decided to try and make a monkey. I couldn't find any good patterns (free ones) that I liked so I tested my pattern making skills! The head is made from a basic amigurumi ball which I started with the light yarn then moved into the dark yarn to create the face (In the future I would probably make a smaller half ball as the nose/face for more depth). The main body is made in the same way as the head but rather than 3 rounds of 30 stitches, I increased the number of rounds with 30 stitches to make the body longer. I then made a flat circle from the lighter yarn and stitched it ontop of the body to make the stomach. The arms and legs started with 5 sc in a ring then 2 sc in each of those around for 10 stitches. I repeated 10 st around until I got the length desired. The tail is only 5 sc in a ring then 1 sc in each stitch repeated. The face and belly button are made from embroidery thread and the ears (which are hard to see in the photo) are flat half circles that I stitched on later. Hopefully this makes some sense! If I ever make another one with some alterations I will be sure to post a pattern. For now anyway, enjoy!

Materials:
Brown Red Heart Yarn
Grey Vanna's Choice Yarn
Fibrefill
Black Embroidery Thread