Thursday, October 20, 2011

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins & Tasha Tudor Giveaway

Less than two weeks 'til Halloween, and I have finally finished decorating. I love to decorate for Halloween with slightly whimsical primitive folk decor. I love the rich oranges and antique black. This year my decor is pretty similar to last years, however, I have moved some things around a bit, and added a few new decorations. I love to have everything decorated for my annual Halloween Appetizer buffet open house- here is my post from Halloween 2010. Now for a tour of some of my decor from this year.

I always have out candy dishes with candy corn autumn mix- this candy dish sits next to my little Halloween tree and Halloween Count Ratula's.


I love tucking decorations onto my bookshelves, and I love my happy little green faced witch, she looks like something Norman Bridwell would have drawn. I was also lucky to get a Yankee Candle Boney Bunch "Bonesy" tea light holder- we all thought this little Halloween dog was cute.


I love my white pumpkin, and like it next to these decorations- I would love to grow white pumpkins sometime.


This year I moved more of my decorations to the mantle, and added a few more floral picks, I think floral picks are handy because they are easy to tuck in here and there and they are very inexpensive.


I found these painted wooden decorations at Walmart quite some time ago for only a dollar each- I haven't put them up in awhile, because I didn't want to put nail holes anywhere, but now that I found the tiny 3M Command hooks, I can hang them on my door and remove them without leaving a mark. I go through a lot of these little hooks during the holidays.


Here is my little whimsical haunted house along with my little primitive skeleton doll, I am not super big on scary skulls and things, but I thought this little guy was cute.


So that's a tour of some of my current decorations, I am hoping to add a few more things just before Halloween, I got some wonderful Martha Stewart Crow & Mice Cutouts on clearance the other day, and I am considering putting those out for our Halloween buffet.


Today, since I was in a festive mood, I decided to make Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins for a yummy fall after school treat. (Had to tuck in a few of my new little mushroom and pumpkin floral picks for the picture, I was so happy when I found some with little mushrooms!)


Here's my recipe:

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Pre-heat oven to 350 F.

2 cups flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 cup oil
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1 cup chocolate chips

First combine all dry ingredients including spices and mix together until combined, then add the oil, pumpkin, milk and egg and stir until combined- batter will be slightly lumpy, then fold in 1 cup chocolate chips. Grease or spray muffin pan with non stick spray. Fill with batter 3/4 full. Bake at 350 F. for 15-18 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

Serve warm with a little butter- these are delicious and make a wonderful afternoon snack!


Now for a special Halloween Giveaway!


I would like to share about one of my favorite Autumn Children's Books- Pumpkin Moonshine by Tasha Tudor. I have enjoyed Tasha Tudor Books and art work for many years, I loved learning about Tasha Tudor's old fashioned country living, and am inspired by her way of life.

Pumpkin Moonshine is one of her classic Children's stories- The story is about Sylvie Ann, a little girl who would like to find a big pumpkin to carve into a "Pumpkin Moonshine" or in other words a Jack-O-Lantern. She goes out to the field and finds a big pumpkin, which is so big she must roll it home, the big pumpkin rolls away from her and goes bounding through the farm, and she must chase this pumpkin all the way home. The illustrations are darling, and the story is very sweet. This story was written by Tudor for her niece who was visiting her from England, as a Christmas gift- what a memorable gift this must have made!

I would highly recommend this book for anyone who loves good, simple country living stories for their children. I would also recommend this books for adults who love the art of Tasha Tudor and fans of books like the Little House series or Avonlea.

You can read more about it at Amazon through my affiliate link below.


Now for the Giveaway!

I am keeping this giveaway simple- I am giving away one new copy of Pumpkin Moonshine by Tasha Tudor, chosen at random through Random.org from the comment list below. Pumpkin Moonshine Giveaway starts on Thursday, October 20th, 2011 and ends on Thursday, October 27th, 2011 at midnight. Winner will be announced on a blog post Friday, October 28th, 2011. To enter, read official rules below. (Sorry they are so long, I did some reading up on hosting giveaways and am complying to Federal rules on hosting giveaways)

Official Rules:

#1-No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Must be 18 years or older to enter. Giveaway open to readers with United States shipping addresses only.

#2- To enter, leave a comment below, one entry per person please. Your entry is your comment, and will be assigned a number based on the order in which it was received. By entering you agree to these official rules.

#3-Winner is chosen by a number generated at random through Random.org. If your prize number matches the number chosen, and you meet giveaway requirements, you win the prize.

#4-Winner must claim prize in 7 days from the day the winner is announced or a new winner will be selected.

#5- Winner may not substitute prize for any other prize or cash, however, if the prize becomes unavailable through reasons beyond my control, April's Homemaking reserves the right to substitute with a prize of equal or greater value.

#6- April's Homemaking reserves the right to cancel, suspend or modify giveaway, if in the opinion of April's Homemaking Blog, any fraud, technical failure, or any other factor affects the integrity of this giveaway.

#7- General Release- By entering this giveaway through this website, you release April's Homemaking Blog & April :) from any liability whatsoever, and waive any and all causes of action, related to any claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the giveaway or delivery, misdelivery or acceptance of any prize (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses and damages related to personal injuries, death or damage to or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light, whether intentional or unintentional), whether under a theory of contract, negligence, warranty or other theory.

#8- Winner is responsible for all State, Federal and local taxes associated with receipt of this prize.

Good Luck! This is a wonderful book- for both children and adults! Be sure and come back next Friday to find out who won!




36 comments:

  1. It looks cute! And your muffins look delicious :)

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  2. I love that you include books into your blog. As a teacher, I am always looking for good books that can be intertwined with my curriculum!!!

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  3. this was tasha tudor's first published book! it is one that i don't have, but when my children were young we checked it out many, many times from the library. i would love to own this book to read to my grandchildren now.

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  4. Your Halloween decorations are cute, and I'm going to have to try those muffins. They sound yummy.

    Also, thank you for stopping by my blog yesterday and leaving a kind comment. It's always nice to meet new friends. :)

    Blessings,

    ~M. Wildflower

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  5. Those muffins look delicious. Maybe we will try them this weekend. I haven't seen this book yet, but am sure it is wonderful if it is one of your favorites.

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  6. Thanks for the muffin recipe, April! I've been craving something with pumpkin in it for a while now. Please don't enter me in your giveaway, I already own this cute little book. Good luck to those who have entered!

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  7. Oh what an amazing giveaway! We have a new Great granddaughter & this would be a wonderful first Halloween gift for her!

    Your muffins look yum..yum..yummy!

    Blessings,
    Gert

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  8. you have made me want to decorate and bake! thank you for the recipe and for this lovely giveaway. LOVE tasha tudor very much. good luck everyone. :)

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  9. Ideas geniales!!!!!! y los muffins son una tentacion!!!!!
    Thanks you!!!

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  10. Love the recipe. I'd love a chance to win this book.

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  11. The muffins sound like a winner, and I would love to win anything by Tasha Tudor! Thanks for the opportunity!

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  12. yeah - so glad to see great fall ideas, food. LOVE FALL
    Hi there and glad to find you and be a new follower! Hope u will chk us out too and folow...have a great wekeend
    cathy from www.twinswithtots.blogspot.com

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  13. Cool decor, particularly like the signs on the door. Just found your blog and thought I'd say "hi"

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  14. We would love this book! Thanks!

    Becca

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  15. We were going to do pumpkin chocolate chip muffins this week! Then I got hit with an awful cold and just didn't have the energy. Hopefully next week!

    Looks like a nice book, would love to win!

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  16. What wonderful decorations! I've never had much luck growing white pumpkins, don't know why. Those muffins sound great. I've been looking for some new pumpkin recipes.

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  17. I get to be your 100th follower and enter a giveaway! Yay!
    Love your blog.

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  18. she's such an inspiring person. thanks for the lovely giveaway!

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  19. Thanks for the recipe and the book tip!

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  20. I'm so going to make these! I have everything except the choc chips so I will pick some up and make them with my kiddos!!!

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  21. I would love to win that book. It looks so sweet. I'm also saving this recipe! Looks tasty!

    I'm your newest follower, hopping over from Something Swanky's pinterest blog hop. I hope you'll follow me back at purplestpecalin.blogspot.com (I'm heading to your Pinterst boards now!)

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  22. Muffins look yummy.

    Stopping by from the Wild Weekend Hop at About a Mom Blog. You gained a new follower.
    Tamra - http://www.frontporchreviews.com

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  23. April,
    That recipe sounds great and the muffins look yummy. I'd sure love to win Pumpkin Moonshine. Thanks for linking up. can hardly wait to try this recipe with my Grandson.

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  24. we have that book from the library and love it. we'd love to have it around long-term! thanks for the chance.

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  25. Thank you for the giveaway, I love Tasha Tudor and her way of life.

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  26. can we enter if we live outside the US? I love Tasha Tudor! Off now to read your Dragon Bread blog . . it has my interest as I'm Welsh . . then I'm going to add you to my blog list . .

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  27. I would love to win the copy of Pumpkin Moonshine as this is my favorite book by Tasha Tudor. Thank you for having this "give-away".

    Terry

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  28. I am so grateful to the Tudor family who keeps Tasha's legacy going among her many fans. Sharing the `receipt` for the muffins with my friends who love when I post Tasha stuff on Facebook. When I need a calming retreat from life, I just pick up one of her many books or books about her and `go away` for a few minutes.

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  29. Cute decorations, and these muffins sound delicious! Would love to add Pumpkin Moonshine to my Tasha Tudor collection. She was an amazing artist. Thanks for the drawing!

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  30. I have loved Tasha Tudor for so long! Muffins are GREAT! Thanks!

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  31. What a fun giveaway! I have loved Tasha Tudor for soooo long and have many of her books, but not Pumpkin Moonshine! AND, I'm excited to find your blog--putting it into favorites NOW. ;-)

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  32. Tasha has always been such an inspiration to me. Pumpkin Moonshine is a perfect choice for an October giveaway. The muffins sound delicious too!

    Barbara

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  33. So glad to find your blog! New to the blogging myself. I love Tasha Tudor! Can't wait to try the pumpkin muffins!

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  34. Always loved this little book and who wouldn't be charmed by the illustrations?!!! Thanks for sharing the recipe. Can't wait to try it, altho I'll probably balance the cin/nutmeg. Hope this goes through. Tried to do it w/my google account, but I was sent to a "Create a blog" page... ???

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  35. I just love Tasha Tudor! And the muffins look wonderful!

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  36. So glad you are keeping Tasha's tradtions on-going for so many new generations to enjoy!

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