Wednesday, October 14, 2009

It's no trick- just a couple of great treats! A Wonderful Magazine giveaway and A recipe for Mini Pumpkin Cakes



I am pleased to be giving away a one-year subscription (13 issues- a $19.95 value) of my favorite magazine, SOUTHERN LIVING.

Each month I sit back and enjoy their beautiful photos of some of the best recipes and gorgeous home decor that Southern hands can create.

I have yet to try one of their recipes that I didn't love!
So, I decided to share this treat with one lucky reader!

It's easy to enter:

*Leave me a comment telling me about your favorite magazine. (1 chance)
* Follow this blog (1 extra chance)
* Post about this giveaway (1 extra chance)
*Put a link on your sidebar about this giveaway (1 extra chance)
* Tweet this post (1 extra chance)

Now, be sure to tell me if you deserve extra chances and leave a link to your blog so I can find you.

This offer is good in the continental US only.
Contest ends on Sunday, October 25, at midnight (CT)
Winner's name will be announced Monday, October 26 by 9:00 AM (CT)

The winner's name will be drawn by the good old fashioned name in the hat method. SCOUT'S HONOR I will be honest and fair.

Winner will receive their first magazine 4-8 weeks following the announcement date.
*Southern Living is in no way involved in this giveaway- this is from yours truly.





Now, for the recipe.

I chose to share the cover recipe from the current issue.

MINI PUMPKIN CAKES


*Makes 8 pumpkins
Ingredients

* 3/4 cup butter, softened
* 1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
* 2 cups sugar
* 2 large eggs
* 1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 3 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* Caramel-Rum Glaze*
* Or Vanilla Glaze
* Caramel Stems, Leaves, and Vines (optional, instructions below)

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Stir in pumpkin and vanilla.

2. Combine flour and next 4 ingredients; gradually add to butter mixture, beating at low speed just until blended. Spoon batter into 2 lightly greased pumpkin-shaped muffin pans, filling three-fourths full.

3. Bake at 350° for 24 to 26 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 5 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks, and cool completely (about 30 minutes).

4. Cut rounded tops off muffins to make them flat. Invert top muffins onto bottom muffins, forming pumpkins. Drizzle Caramel-Rum Glaze over pumpkins. Decorate with Caramel Stems, Leaves, and Vines, if desired.

*Vanilla Glaze may be substituted.

CARAMEL STEM: Press 1 caramel between fingers, lengthening to 1 1/2 to 2 inches to form a stem. Curl stem gently.

CARAMEL LEAVES: Roll caramels into 2-inch squares on a flat surface, using a rolling pin. Cut into leaves, using a paring knife. Gently press tips of leaves to flatten, if desired. Score leaves, using a paring knife. Pinch bottoms of leaves together.

CARAMEL VINES: Cut 1 caramel into 3 equal pieces. Squeeze each piece gently to flatten, and roll between hands or on a flat surface into a long thin rope. Twist ends to curl.

Note: We tested with Wilton Dimensions Multi-Cavity Mini Pumpkin Pans. Only have one pan? Bake batter in two batches, washing and drying pan between batches.

*Recipe and photo is from their website: www.southernliving.com

GOOD LUCK!

*Be sure to check out more Blog Carnival Giveaways here.

22 comments:

  1. I love reading Southern Living! I love autumn baking and this pumpkin cake sounds like a perfect recipe for the season.

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  2. Those cakes are adorable. My favorite cooking magazine would have to be...Rachael Ray's. It's actually a hard choice, but that is the only subscription I have not let lapse.

    I am also a follower of your blog. Thanks for hosting this giveaway.

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  3. Whoo Whoo giveaway...

    My favorite magazine is Entertainment weekly. Sorry, I know I should say Bon Appetite, but I read EW cover to cover.

    And I will be following you...

    And the presentation on the pumpkin cakes is perfect!

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  4. And I will blog about the contest in one hour

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  5. Those pumpkin cakes are the cutest ever! I wonder if anyone actually makes such cakes.

    My favorite magazine would be Cooks. I don't get it often, but I enjoy it.

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  6. I love Southern Living! My favorite is a tie between Cooks Illustrated and Southern Living. I've learned so much from Cooks Illustrated and I love Southern Living... everything about it.

    I already follow you...

    The pumpkin cakes look so unique and good...

    Thanks for hosting this giveaway

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  7. These pumpkin cakes are so cute! And I bet they are just delicious with the Rum glaze! My favorite magazine is Saveur.

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  8. What a generous giveaway, Sherri! You are so sweet! I love Southern Living, but it's been a few years since I've recieved the magzine. I purchase their cookbooks quite often as I especially love their desserts.
    I am already a follower and enjoy your blog very much!

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  9. Those cakes are adorable!!! My favorite magazine (for years now) is Saveur...I cannot do without it. It's the only one that has been a "constant"!!! But I'd love to try Southern Living :D

    ....and I'm a follower

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  10. I love Southern Living ... actually I love ANYTHING southern : ) I am also a follower and LOVE your blog !

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  11. I've been salivating over your link photos all year, but this is the first time I actually clicked on over...dang! But now I'm following, so I won't miss anything (and I won't have an excuse for not having some idea of what's for dinner). ;)

    My favorite magazine...I'm really not sure. I've gotten so many over the years, but I'm burned out on parenting ones and don't have time for ones like National Geographic or Reader's Digest. I was subscribed to Rachael Ray this past year, but it just wasn't up my alley...

    So I'll just say my fav is Southern Living! I've been drooling over its pages as long as I can remember. :)

    Off to post and link!

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  12. Okay, favorite magazines would be Better Homes and Gardens and Family Fun. Although Southern Living could make my list...

    Already following you! No, it's not creepy. Much.

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  13. Favorite magazine...Country Living.
    Yes, I follow your blog and have printed out sooo many of your recipes.
    These pumpkin cakes will be the next in the folder.
    They are so cute!...thanks for all you offer here.

    Sandra

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  14. Adorable pumpkin cakes , they are so pretty.

    Thank you for the chance.

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  15. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Southern Living Magazine. They are THE BEST!

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  16. I think my favorite cooking magazine is Cooks Country...good hearty cooking for people who really like to eat. But I'm not sure if it's still in publication. Hmmm...maybe I should to check that out.

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  17. This is a great idea. I may have to do a giveaway of my favorite magazine, Sunset. It's all about the glorious Northwest!

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  18. My favorite is Country Living. How fun! Just found your blog- love the pumpkin cake idea.
    dawnellebreum@gmail.com

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  19. These little cakes are so adorable! Cute and festive. I've never received Southern Living in magaazine form, but my grandma sent me a Southern Living cookbook (compilations of their magazines) every year for about 20 years. I love their recipes :) As for my favorite magazine, I couldn't decide: Writer's Digest, People, FamilyFun . . .

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  20. That looks really good! Wish I wasn't gluten free.

    Corey's Cooking

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