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!