Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Clarifying Countdown Contest rules, and my Thanksgiving gift to you: Grace Divine's infamous caramel apple pie recipe

So I wrote my last blog post really late at night and I've realized that the The Final Countdown to THE DARK DIVINE Contest rules are totally confusing. Therefore, I will clarify them here (and on that actual post). And for being patient with my previous nonsensical rules, I will treat you all to the fantastic recipe for Grace Divine's Caramel Apple Pie.

Here's what you have to do in order to enter The Final Countdown to THE DARK DIVINE Contest:

1. Be a follower of the blog. (So if you're not a follower, start following :D)

2. To get 1 entry in the contest, all you have to do is leave a comment here saying that you'd like to entered. Easy peasy, right?

For bonus entries you can do the following:

1. Get 2 extra entries for Tweeting/Facebooking/blogging about the Countdown contest

2. Get 2 extra entries for Tweeting/Facebooking/blogging about the Romantic Times preview (Plus, you will get entered into the weekly random prize giveaway, if you tweet about the preview, and leave a comment on the RT blog.)

3. Get at least 5-10 BONUS entries (as determined by me or hubby based on what you do) for doing something to show your excitement for THE DARK DIVINE. I'm assuming since you are reading this blog and entering this contest, you are at least somewhat excited about TDD. So all I'm asking you to do is to share that excitement with the people around you. (Creativity will get you closer to the 10 entries)

You can vlog, make a music video, make a youtube commercial for the book, get all your friends to wear all purple and black to school one day, start a campaign to get TDD to be a trending topic on twitter, wear a Team Daniel t-shirt to New Moon, go door to door at your dorm and tell people how excited you are about the book release, call your local bookstores and ask them to carry the book or have me come do a signing, 0r get your entire English class to read the first six chapters of TDD on the RT blog . . .

Okay, you get the point, right? Do something creative to show your excitement for TDD and then come back here and tell me about it. Physical evidence is also requested (not required) such as posting a picture or video on your blog/myspace/facebook/twitter/youtube. Or you can email it to me at readbree(at)gmail(dot)com. (Please nothing obscene or illegal!!)

Remember, this is just for BONUS POINTS, don't let the creativity thing scare you off from entering the contest in the first place.

UPDATE, originally I was going to to end the contest and announce the winners on December 22nd, but I have decided to end the contest on December 14th and announce winners December 15th instead. That way if you want to give away any of the books you win as Christmas presents, you will get them in time for the holiday.

*Sorry, for legal/customs reasons, this contest is only open to U.S. residents.

Okay, I hope that all makes more sense. Basically, all you have to do is comment to be entered in the contest. . . anything else is just for bonus points. You can comment on this post to be entered, or you can comment on the previous post. If you have already commented on the previous post, you are already entered in the contest, so don't worry.

To see a list of the many fantastic prizes (including an iPod nano and 8 different books) CLICK HERE.

And now, for being patient with me, I give you the much requested and much coveted award winning (I'm not kidding, it's really won awards) recipe for Grace Divine's Infamous Caramel Apple Pie:

1 jar of Mrs. Richardson’s Butterscotch Caramel (You can find this in the aisle with the Hersey’s Syrup)

Pie:

Your favorite pie crust (Grace would make pie crust from scratch, but I use Pilsbury pre-made crust that you roll out into the dish. It saves a lot of time and tastes just as good as homemade, in my opinion.)

¼ cup sugar

3 Tbsp flour

1 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp salt

5 ½ cups peeled apple, thinly sliced (I use Rome apples)


Mix apples with sugar, flour, and spices and fill pie crust

Topping:

½ cup brown sugar

½ cup flour

½ cup oats

½ cup butter

Mix topping ingredients. You can spoon out the topping onto the top of pie and smooth it out, or roll it out like a giant cookie onto wax paper and then transfer to the top of the pie.

Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes, and then put foil around the crust edges and bake for another 20 minutes or until the top is crunchy and firm. (Grace would like me to remind you not to leave the pie in the oven while you run to the store to get last minute Thanksgiving supplies. Seriously, it's not a good idea.)

You can serve the pie hot or cold. Just before serving, warm a jar of Mrs. Richardson’s Butterscotch Caramel (with lid off) for 30-60 seconds in microwave and then pour desired amount over the top crust of the pie

(Hint, hint: Making Grace's pie for Thanksgiving and telling everyone at the table about TDD would be a great way to earn bonus points in the contest.)

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the yummalicious recipe! I need to totally FB the RT previews. Although I still maintain that they're a cruel torture when one cannot finish reading the book straightaway. Have you ANY idea how much time I've lost in daydreaming about what might happen next. A pox on your houses! (Except not because I want you to keep writing excellent books. Pox withdrawn.)

Nicole said...

Ok that pie sounds umm well...divine! I think I'm going to try it. I haven't made any yet, but I've been told that GF pie crust is pretty good.

Kim Reid said...

THANK YOU for sharing this recipe--and which pie crust is best. Homemade piecrusts are my nemesis. But this sounds like a pie I can pull off.

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope I get my ARC in the mail soon so I can tell everyone at my Thanksgiving table to read it before the day is over.

Sweet Vernal Zephyr said...

That is a lovely recipe - thanks! And thank you for clarifying the contest... Please enter me!

Miranda
http://sweetvernalzephyr.blogspot.com
mdwartistry at yahoo dot com

Britt said...

That is an awesome contest... and that recipe is making me hungry!

I'd love to be entered! (Follower!)

schriftstellarin (@) hotmail.com

Bree Biesinger Despain said...

Thanks for entering, you guys!

And Nicole, if you find a good GF pie crust recipe, let me know. I haven't been able to eat Grace's pie since I went GF.

Jenilyn Collings said...

I just have to say, I love your chapter two. I can't wait to read more.

I'd like to be entered in the contest as well. Thanks!

Euphoria13 said...

Hello! Please enter me in the contest!

aqua_lily13@hotmail.com

I have some ideas for the creativity bonuses! Thank you for clarifying the rules!

I'm excited to read TDD!! :)

Andrea said...

ooh...sounds so good!!

And I would love to be interested

belle2211(at)yahoo(dot)com

JoJosBookCorner said...

I follow your blog and twitter @jojosbookcorner.
Great contest, please enter me!
The recipe sounds sooooo good ! i just made my first from scratch pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving! I love to cook!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone !!!
JoJo

JoJosBookCorner said...

oops, forgot my email
jojosbookcorner(at)gmail(dot)com

Laurie said...

Thanks for doing the contest. Please enter me. I retweeted the notice too.

http://timestndstill.blogspot.com/

msnksu90 at cox dot net.

Lindsay said...

The recipe sounds really good and Im so exicited about the contest so please enter me.

Julie Barker Pullman said...

I would love to be entered in the contest. Thanks for clarifying the rules! Now I just need to think of something really creative... hmmm... I'll be back with something fantabulous.

Julie Barker Pullman said...

Question: Does the creative entry need to be something in addition to what I do as part of the street team? Or can it be one of the same things?

Bree Biesinger Despain said...

Hey, Jules. I think it can be something that you do as part of the street team. You guys are working hard already, so I'd hate to ask for more. but in addition to, is also great!

ronna15 said...

This is an awesome contest Ms. Bree. I'd love to be entered!!

I'm a follower btw.
And I facebooked both the contest countdown and the Romantic Times Preview.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?

So, if I have an artwork to submit for the contest, do I just mail it to you?

Have a nice day! ;D

-ronna
here my email btw: ronna15_ajkc@yahoo.com

Bree Biesinger Despain said...

Hey Ronna-

Email me the artwork at readbree@gmail.com

I can't wait to see it!

ronna15 said...

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?ref=profile&id=1849050565

I think I gave you the wrong link. Anyway, I've already subbed the drawing. Hope you like it!! ;D

-Ronna