Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

I made these a week ago and posted pictures of them on Facebook. 

I had so many people ask me for the recipe that I figured I better do a blog post or there might be a riot. 

I love the Fall season, especially because it gives me an excuse to come up with recipes that have pumpkin in them. 

Plus I'm always trying to figure out recipes that my six year old will like too. 
This was definitely a winner! It got a thumbs up from my daughter and that's hard to do.
The secret, I believe, is the chocolate chips I threw in...cause what kid doesn't love chocolate?

Ingredients

1/2 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
2 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup water
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla 

2 cups all-purpose flour

1-3.4 oz box pumpkin spice instant pudding (dry)

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons of my special pumpkin spice

(recipe here)

1 cup of chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

In a mixer, add pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water, sugar and vanilla mix until well blended. 

Next add the flour, pudding, baking soda, baking powder, salt and pumpkin spice. Mix until smooth. 

Fold in the chocolate chips. 

Add baking cups to muffin pan, and spoon the mixture in the cups. 

(Makes about 16 muffins)

Bake 20 minutes, test a muffin with a knife, it should come out clean.

Enjoy with coffee or hot chocolate...Happy Fall everyone!

Teacher's Gift Idea

I know I am posting this way too late, because most schools are out for the year, 

but keep it in mind for next year cause it got tears and a big hug from my daughter's teacher.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

• a white gift bag
• a generic thank you card
• a mug of your choice
• a nice plant
• a sheet of card stock paper
• some pretty ribbon
• hole punch
• crayons
• tissue paper
• washi tape

 

 

 

 

-Have your child color one side of the bag however they choose.
-Have them write something personal in the card and sign it
-Right click and save the image below, then print it out
-Cut around the shape, punch a hole at the top and string the ribbon through it.
-Put the plant into the mug and position it in the middle of the bag
-Take your tissue paper and strategically place it in the bag so the plant and the mug remain safe on their journey to school
-Tie the ribbon to the now "blank" side of the bag with your super cute cutout message.
-Add your card to bag, I sealed mine with some pretty washi tape.
-Voila! Cutest teacher gift ever. Easy peasy. 

Protein Shake

Ingredients

1 cup of milk

1 scoop Chocolate Whey Protein Powder

1 Tbsp of Peanut Butter

1 small banana

5 ice cubes

Blend until smooth.

Drink and enjoy!

Calories: approx. 400

Homemade Laundry Detergent

I saw this on Pinterest and thought I'd try it! 

Ingredients:

1 cup Borax

1 cup Super Washing Soda

2 cups grated Ivory Soap

(which is roughly one bar)

The total cost of these ingredients, a whopping $7.86! 

That's about half of what the name brand detergents cost and since this is more concentrated, 

you only need to use 1-2 T. per load.

Happy Savings!

Melissa

First snow of the season

I grew up in Michigan, so the snow storms on the eastern shore of Maryland are not that big of a deal to me. But comically the whole town shuts down when it snows here.
No school today, seriously they are closed for three inches of snow! I remember walking through snow up to my waist when I was in high school because we had to go to school, no snow days back then.
How times have changed.

So they are calling for 2-4 more inches by tomorrow, I'm just not prepared for all that. I haven't been to the grocery store to stock up on toilet paper, milk and eggs. Whatever will I do?

Hubby's Birthday

So my husband's birthday was yesterday and I was trying to figure what we could do for his birthday since I'm kinda low on money right now and really couldn't afford to take him out. 

So here's what I came with...

He loves donuts, so I decided I would make him some homemade donuts. It was the first time I ever made donuts, as he is the Donut Master in our family.

Then I thought, what guy doesn't love a meat lovers pizza? So I made him his own personal pan pizza from scratch, including the crust and the sauce. It was so yummy! 

Plus my daughter got out our Smurf party glasses and decorated the table...super cute! 

I'm happy to report our evening was a big hit...

he loved the donuts, the pizza and the awesome Redskins blanket I made him! 

Black Friday's Deals in my Shops!

 

{Use Code: BLACKFRISALE at checkout 

for the discounts shown below on the following items in my shops at Zazzle.com.}

60% off posters & prints featuring the photography of M. Hamilton

60% off  Keep Calm posters & prints!

50% off  Christmas cards! 

50% off cards, invitations, photocards and postcards at our Noteworthy shop!

Celebrating a first Christmas? A new baby? Just got married? New pet?  

First Christmas Ornaments are 50% off today only! 

All our Smartphone Covers/Cases $10 off today only!

$10 off  iPhone 5 cases! 

$10 off  Droid Razr phone covers! 

$10 off  iPod Touch covers! 

Laptop Sleeves with Popular Bible Verses - $10 off today!

$10 off sleeves for MacBooks today only! 

$10 off sleeves for iPads today only!

30% off  Mugs! 

20% off all Tote Bags!

15% off  T-Shirts!

15% off  Kids' Clocks!

15% off  Personalized Notebooks for Kids & Teenagers! 

15% off  Doodle by OrigAudio™ Speakers!

15% off  Silver Pendant Necklaces!

 _______________________________________________________________

Here are the Black Friday sales in my shop at Cafepress.com, 
discounts are red on the linked page and reflect the sale price!

 Up to 65% off all t-shirts! 

Up to 25% off all sweatshirts and hoodies!

Up to 30% off all baby clothing!

$5 off  iPhone cases!

Up to 20% off aprons!

Up to 30% off coasters!

Up to 35% off all keepsake boxes/jewelry boxes!

 ______________________________________________________________

Here are links to all my shops: 

 http://mhamiltonnichols.blogspot.com/p/my-shops.html