SUGAR SKULLS

I got a call from the librarian in charge of the

children's programs last week asking me if I

would consider making skulls for her. Uh, O.K.?

She explained that they are doing a program

that teaches about the Day of the Dead,

among other traditions. I always thought

the Day of the Dead had something to do

with All Saint's Day, but it is a large

celebration on November 2nd that

honors the deceased people in the

family. These skulls are made of sugar,

dried and decorated, then displayed

on the family's mantel.

This is the mold I ordered online. These skulls

are approx. 4 1/2" tall and flat on the back.

The mold came with a recipe and specific instructions not

to even attempt to make these on a rainy or humid day.

That's a tough one around these parts! Today was very

cold but sunny, so I figured it's now or never to get

them done.

The recipe calls for regular granulated sugar, meringue

powder and water. You mix the meringue powder all

through the sugar and then sprinkle with the water.

Mix everything with your hands until it looks like

beach sand and when you press into it your finger-

prints remain.

Pack the sugar mixture firmly into the mold...

Scrape the back with a flat knife...

...then carefully flip over onto a clean playing card.

That guy in the middle bottom looks kinds googly-eyed.

They are placed in a 100 degree oven for 10 minutes with

the door ajar and now they need to sit overnight to dry

all the way through.

The kids will be decorating them with royal icing, paint,

sequins, beads, foil bits, etc. and the deceased person's

name is written on the forehead.

Hmm, now I wonder what these guys would look like

in chocolate...

While I was playing with skulls my younger daughter and

husband (and boxer in hunter orange) went up the

mountain a ways to look for deer. It is quite cold out, but

it is steep climbing and you sweat a lot.

Success! This is the second deer this season and we

are allowed 6 per tag. Next he is going to set a skate

for halibut so our pastor has some fish to take with

him when they visit their daughter in CA over

Christmas.

It is a busy week coming up with our older daughter's

best friend flying up tomorrow to spend Thanksgiving

with us and my niece coming home from school too.

Our younger daughter's school has a bake sale the day

before Thanksgiving and my sister and dad's birthdays

are on either side of Thanksgiving day. Plus I will start

the marathon baking for the Artisan's Market this week.

I think I will begin with the Chocolate and Pistachio

Cranberry Biscotti...