dia de los muertos

Thanks to community member SteaksandSprouts, we have another awesome way to use leftover candy in true Día de los Muertos style.

In honor of Día de los Muertos and all that leftover Halloween candy we're sure many of you have sitting in your candy dish, here are a few versions of chocolate candy bark. If you've eaten one too many pieces of candy corn and are looking for something new to indulge in, then this is definitely a sweet solution for you.

For the full recipe, check out her blog. Do you have an image of something delicious that you recently made or enjoyed? If so, be sure to upload it in the Savory Sights group in our YumSugar Community!

Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday where family and friends gather to honor and remember loved ones who have died. The holiday is celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2 to align with the Catholic holidays All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Since it's traditionally believed that the souls of the departed come back to visit the living, altars offering sweets, food and drink, and memorabilia are arranged in homes. Family and friends also gather at cemeteries to clean and decorate the graves and socialize.

If you're looking to create a Dia de los Muertos altar in your home, here are some tips for incorporating traditional and personal elements.

• Find a fitting space

This could be a window seat or a simple console. Lay down a pretty textile as your base.
To add some dimension, break up the height by placing stacks of books or other household items and covering them with your base textile. If the textile piece you're working with is too small, use cloth napkins in coordinating colors.

• Gather your memorabilia

Find favorite photos of the person you are honoring and display trinkets that tell a story about who the person was. This could be something as basic as a deck of cards, balls of colorful yarn, or other items that belonged to the person.

Keep reading for more tips on creating a Dia de los Muertos altar in your home!

Here's a post from CasaSugar Community member Gonzalei from the Lovely Little Vignettes group:

I create one every year, not just for myself, but to educate friends who come to my annual party (hence, the Day of the Dead book). This year, I found a vintage oil can carrier that, luckily, works well to hold 14 individual glass soda bottles. I used empty bottles of a popular Mexican sparkling water to display roses on my Dia de Los Muertos altar.

Have you been busy decorating? Be sure to post a photo and details about your arrangements in the Lovely Little Vignettes group! Plus, if you submit a vignette by Nov. 5, you'll be entered to win a Canon Digital Rebel SLR XSi camera!

In Mexico, Los Dias de Los Muertos occurs every Nov. 1 and 2. It's a celebration to remember loved ones who have passed away. Revelers set up shrines with elaborate skeletons and bring offerings like marigolds and sugar skulls to the graves. They also enjoy the loved one's favorite foods and a traditional bread called pan de muerto.

The sweet and buttery bread is topped with dough that's shaped to resemble bones. Like any yeast bread, it takes time to make, but with its exceptionally light and airy texture, it will not disappoint. Served with coffee or Mexican hot chocolate, it's wonderfully delicious.

While you might not celebrate Los Dias De Los Muertos to its fullest, this bread is a great way to get a taste of traditional Mexican fare. If you are interested in making your own just keep reading for the recipe and photos.

Here's a post from CasaSugar Community member Lauren from the Lovely Little Vignettes group:

With the strange weather my roses are blooming again, I am excited since they smell so good and look so great with my Dia De Los Muertos decoration. Hopefully I can get a couple more blooms before the winter.

Have you been busy decorating? Be sure to post a photo and details about your arrangements in the Lovely Little Vignettes group! Plus, if you submit a vignette by Nov. 5, you'll be entered to win a Canon Digital Rebel SLR XSi camera!