KT Did It: Annual Pumpkin Carving

Happy October! Like so many others, I am excited for the changing of the leaves, the cool temperatures, and the coming of the holiday season. And to kick it off every year, my sister and her husband host their annual pumpkin carving party - family favorite get-together not only because my siblings and I put our artistic talents to use crafting a new pumpkin each year, but also because my sister  is certainly the hostess with the mostess! From the festive decorations to the food, the party is always a hit for kids and adults alike.

This year, I wanted to contribute my own goulish treat to the table. With about an hour and a half to spare before the party started, I whipped together these easy Eye Ball Deviled Eggs!

What you need:
6 large eggs
1 Tbl mayo
1 Tbl yellow mustard
Green and red food coloring
1 can of sliced olives

Bring a small pot of water with the eggs in the pot to a boil. I usually let the water boil for about 10 minutes, then turn the heat off and let the eggs sit with a lid on the pot for another 10-15 minutes. Next, strain the contents and let the eggs cool. If you're impatient or have a time crunch (like me), run the eggs under very cold water to get them to cool a little faster. It also helps to peel the eggs under water to get the shell off easier (thanks for that trick, mom!).

After you've peeled the shells from the cooled eggs, cut the eggs in half lengthwise. Remove the yolks from the eggs, and place in a bowl. 

Now, this is a very simple deviled egg filling. There are much more complex and probably even better tasting recipes out there. However, I like this one that doesn't have much in terms of seasoning or spices. Needless to say, there were only 3 deviled eggs on the plate when I left the party, so I think they turned out pretty good!

That being said, for the filling mash the egg yolks with 1 Tbl mayo and 1 Tbl yellow mustard. 

Next, add ~4 drops of green food coloring and mix well. 

Time for the egg whites! Using a tooth pick and red food coloring, make little red squiggly lines around the outside of the center of the egg white as seen here. 

Next, add about 1/2 Tbl of filling to each of the 12 egg whites. Finally, take 1 slice of an olive and place it in the center of the green filling of each. Now you have 12 easy, delicious goulish green eyes to share!

My spooky deviled eggs went well with the rest of the snacks at my sister's party! Lucky for me, not only did my sister make some scrumptious dishes, but my master-cook mom also contributed a few. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. Assorted cheeses (e.g. goat cheese with honey, goat cheese wrapped in blueberry preserve) with crackers, bread and dried apricots

2. Taco cheese spread made from cream cheese and ranch seasoning with a cheese Dorito crust!

3. My mom's famous white chocolate Halloween chex mix

4. Chocolate-pumpkin cake...need I say more?

And of course my sister had lots of decorations out on the table too!

And once we were all effectively stuffed, we set about carving out pumpkins. I went for a classic jack-o-lantern.

My brother, staying true to form, showed me up and made this awesome jack-o-lantern!

My sister, who loves the beach, stuck with a nautical theme. 

My mom took a very crafty approach and made this Mama Bat pumpkin with her three baby bat pumpkins.

























And I'm not sure who made this Scooby Doo pumpkin, but it's pretty cool too!

Another great pumpkin carving party with my family! Thank you, Jess and Bayard for being such gracious (and festive!) hosts, as always. 

Happy Halloween!