A bunch of us gathered at our friends’ Pete and Merri’s apartment for their annual pumpkin carving party. Our fabulous hostess even cooked up a huge pot of homemade Cincinnati chili for the occasion.
Makin' the Chili
Apparently Cincinnati is quite famous for their chili! Wikipedia even has an entry for Cincinnati chili: Cincinnati chili is a regional style of chili characterized by the use of unusual ingredients such as cinnamon, cloves, or chocolate. Those Ohio folks know how to make a mean batch of chili!
Merri and Pete had a bunch of yummy toppings prepared to spruce up the already fantastic chili.
Toppings in Festive Bowls!
I was heavily addicted to the oyster crackers.
While we were waiting for my friend Laurel’s corn bread to heat up in the oven, we all snaked on copious amounts of chocolate-covered popcorn and candy corn.
Halloweenie Snacks
DANGER: This stuff is highly addicting and you will likely eat yourself sick once you start. Trust me. I know.
Notice how we've positioned ourselves right by the chocolate-covered popcorn...
Once the cornbread was nice and toasty, it was time to dig in!
Laurel's Fabulous Cornbread
I made myself a yummy bowl of chili, topped with cheese, oyster crackers and onion.
My Bowl
Delish! Great cookin’, Merri!
Enjoying the Chili
With full bellies, it was finally time to get carvin’ da pumpkins!
Me and My Friend Minda in the Pumpkin Patch
Everyone got down to business, cutting off the stems and removing lots of seeds!
Carvin' Away
My pumpkin didn’t turn out quite the way I’d hoped…
Poor Pumpkin
But I love him anyway!
In Love
Everyone’s pumpkins looked great, which made my poor guy (who we all named Grimace) look even more deformed. Don’t worry though, he’ll shine with a candle in his belly on our front porch for the world to enjoy!
The Pumpkin Carving Gang
I love fun nights with great friends and tasty food, even though I always seem to leave with that Thanksgiving-full feeling (i.e. sick!). Totally worth it! 🙂
Thanks again Merri & Pete for such a fun night!
Breakfast
This morning I woke up still slightly full from last night. That’s how you knoooow you ate too much! 🙂 Still, that didn’t stop me from makin’ a tasty breakfast.
Breakfast Ingredients
I topped a Chobani Greek yogurt cup with honey roasted sunflower seeds, an Almondina almond cookie and Brothers-All-Natural pear crisps.
Lots of Toppings
Friday Breakfast
It was a nice and simple breakfast and a great way to kick off a Friday. Happy weekend eve!
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I think your pumpkin looks pretty darn good! I would butcher mine!
I’m horrible at carving pumpkins–and I dont remember the last time I did it! Im goin to a pumpkin carving party and Im afraid Im gonna have to have a lesson on how to do it again b/c I totally forgot!
I made some chili on Sunday that had unsweented cocoa powder in it which make it pretty tasty!
Scratch one off the bucket list – I made it on Julie’s Blog – whooohoo!! Haha – love the blog today (of course) especially all the shout outs and the pics, you got great coverage of the night! Thanks so much for coming, and for bringing your lovely pumpkin bread. See you at game night tonight 🙂
You had me at chocolate-covered.
I think your pumpkin looks good too!
LOVE cincinnati chili, i’m only 2 hours away but in Indiana 😀
omg you and your friends are the cutest!! what a great idea to have a pumpkin carving party! and that chili looks amazing! I love all the toppings, esp the cheese!!
your pumpkin is so freakin cute 🙂
and DELISH breakfast, that biscotti sounds unreal!
happy ffriday, love! XO
Looks like such a fun night! I need to carve a pumpkin soon – can’t believe how quickly Halloween is coming!
– Beth @ http://www.DiningAndDishing.com
You are all soo cute!! I wish I had friends to do pumpkin carving with hehe..
YAYYYYYY I made it on the blog-I feel very special Miss Jul. I love our pumpkin patch pic! Jon pointed out that him and Ryan look related in the one where we are on Mer’s back porch carving. Great times, great pics, great company-love ya!!
Oh I love cornbread, this party looks so fun!! And candy corn is delicious. I miss all this fall fun here in Europe!