Halloween Potato Stamping

Yesterday the boys had a lot of Halloween inspired fun with some potato stamps I carved up.  I have been wanting to try potato stamps with them for a while since they seem to enjoy stamping even more then finger-painting. They are surprisingly fastidious little guys when it comes to getting their hands dirty.

So I'm sure I saw this idea somewhere on the great wide web but since it was such a simple idea I didnt "pin" it or anything so I hope I'm not stepping on anyone's toes.  Potato stamps are inexpensive and easy to make and the big potatoes are a nice size for chubby toddler hands.

To make your stamps simply cut the potaoe in half across the middle. Draw a (fairly simple) shape on the surface then cut away the potato around the outside of your shape.  Cut about a quarter inch deep so you have a nice raised surface for your stamp.

Each potato makes two stamps so I made one a regular pumpkin and one a jack o lantern.  I gave each boy a large piece of paper, a stamp and a paper plate with a bit of orange paint.  As with all painting projects, I strap the boys into their boosters and cover the kitchen table with an old bed sheet to contain the mess.

My guys loved the stamping and their pumpkins came out really well!  The trick is not putting too much paint in the plate, you only need a little to make nice prints.

Halloween has never been a favorite holiday of mine but it is easy to get in the spirit of fun while doing little projects with these guys.  I've even managed to find an Orchard in Las Vegas so I'm looking forward to picking apples and pumpkins soon too.  So many fun ways to celebrate fall.  I hope you are making the most of it too!

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Ginger Cookies

These are my absolute favorite cookies.  They are soft and chewy (even for days after you bake them!) and warm and...fall-tasting...you know what I mean.  I hate to compare them to Ginger Snaps, because that is sort of what they are, only soft...but they are just so much better.

These really are the perfect fall cookie!  Every year I can't wait until October to start making them. We are on  finished batch #2 over here already!  I really hope you try them, and that you love them as much as I do.  There is just nothing better than a really awesome homemade cookie. (By the way this recipe currently has a 5 star rating and 2900! reviews on allrecipes.com....they are obviously amazing, you can't argue with 2900 people!)

Ginger Cookies, adapted from Amy1028 on All Recipes 
2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground ginger
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
1/4 cup molasses

Preheat the oven to 350 F.  Stir together the flour, baking soda and spices in a small bowl and set it aside.  In your mixer, cream together the butter and sugar.  Mix in the egg, then the water and the molasses.  Slowly mix in the flour on the lowest setting.  Once the dough is incorporated I use a small ice cream scoop to scoop the dough out and on to baking sheets.  If you want to roll the dough into balls by hand, it will feel sticky...no need for extra flour. :)

Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes then allow them to cool on the sheet for five minutes before removing them to a wire rack to cool completely.   Makes 2 dozen, or so, larger cookies.