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Greetings!

Piicking Pumpkins

 � Iofoto | Dreamstime.com 
 
Pumpkins, plumpkins everywhere! Those were my daughter's exact words last week as we visited our local pumpkin patch. There is nothing like taking your family to a pumpkin patch to pick pumpkins, take a hayride, go through a corn maze, and play in a truck full of corn kernels.
 
There are so many uses for pumpkin! From recipes, facial cleansers, and more--you will find all of that in this newsletter. We even found some experiments for the kid's section that involves pumpkins. If you have ever been curious about how the pumpkin came about, you can read Pumpkin History.
 
Don't forget about my wonderful gluten-free pumpkin muffin recipe that I shared on the blog awhile back as well.
 
If you have any great recipes, tips, or uses for pumpkins, email them to me and I will share them on the blog!
 
Happy Fall Friends!
Special Announcements
Important
 Today on the blog we are starting Molly's Thrifty Thanksgiving Countdown. Each day until Thanksgiving, we are going to be sharing recipes, crafts, gift ideas, decorating tips, and more so you will not want to miss any of these posts!
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 We have a new giveaway going on at Econobusters. Be sure and stop by and enter to win a set of Sweet Little Blessings Bum Genius Cloth Diapers.
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Order Molly's Money-Saving Digest for October and you can get this free WeE-Book from The Old Schoolhouse. 

Hunger and Depression

 
 Add both items into your cart, and use the coupon code HUNGER to get this WeE-Book for free.
 
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Thanks to everyone who sent in recipes for our newest E-Cookbook. You will be contacted by Elizabeth for further instructions on submitting those, so keep an eye on your inbox!
On the Blog Last Week

This past week we had the awesome privelege of having the Hillbilly Housewife stop by and guest blog. Boy, did she share some tips! Here is the recap for last week.

Featured Website
MamaCheaps
 
 This week's featured website is MamaCheaps. Devon's site has a little something for everyone: deals, sales, freebies, coupons, store coupon matchups, product reviews, giveaways, national and local (Philadelphia, PA) events, plus her everyday musings of raising her daughter!
 
The site is updated with 10-15+ new posts daily, so there is always something new to read or check out. Readers can even sign up for a free daily email that contains all posts from the previous day. In fact, one of my favorite pages is the freebies page.
Recipe of the Week
Paper Leaf Project 
� Hojo | Dreamstime.com
 
With fall days getting cooler and our need to feel "comforted" getting stronger, I love to make this recipe for my family. It is fabulous for breakfast, but it is so yummy that it works really well for dessert also! I like to make a double batch each time I make it so I can freeze some for later use for when those last-minute or unexpected guests show up. I hope your family enjoys these as much as my family does!
 
Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
 
I start with this recipe for pumpkin rolls from Crystal Paine at Money Saving Mom for the dough (The dinner rolls are fabulous as well!). Then I roll out the dough into a 12-inch by 15-inch rectangle. 
 
Filling ingredients:
 
8 Tablespoons softened butter
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
 
Spread softened butter all over the dough. Then, sprinkle sugars and cinnamon all over the buttered dough. Sprinkle chopped pecans all over the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
 
Next, roll up your dough into a tight roll, from long end to long end. Using a knife, make markings on the top of your roll to determine where you should cut; about one inch apart. Next, place a strong thread under the roll at the first marking and wrap the thread around the roll, criss-crossing each end of the thread at the top, and use that to slice your dough into cinnamon rolls. Place each roll into a greased 12-inch by 15-inch pan with sides.
 
Let dough rise once, after cutting, until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
 
Place in preheated 400 degree oven and bake for about 12-15 minutes, or until browned and cooked through (check to make sure dough is done all the way through on one of the center rolls in the pan).
 
Frosting Ingredients:
 
6 ounces cream cheese
3 Tablespoons butter
1 1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons milk (use more for thinner frosting, less for thicker)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons orange juice or orange extract
 
While rolls are cooking, mix together cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, orange juice, or orange extract.
 
When rolls come out of the oven, let cool slightly for about 5 minutes, then spread the cream cheese frosting on the top.
 
If you are going to make a double batch to freeze, simply cut that batch into cinnamon rolls as well, and place in a greased pan and freeze before they have the second rise in the pan. When ready to use, take out of the freezer and thaw on the counter top, covered with a lightly greased sheet of plastic wrap, for about three hours, during which time they should rise beautifully. Another option is to let them thaw in your refrigerator overnight (also covered with a lightly greased sheet of plastic wrap) and then let them sit on your counter to rise until doubled (usually about 30 minutes, depending on the warmth of your kitchen), then bake as directed above.
 
Enjoy with a nice warm cup of coffee, and you are well on your way to a delightful day!
Weekly Tutorial
 
 toilet paper pumpkins
Photo courtesy of Moore Minutes
 
Toilet Paper Pumpkins
 
This has got to be the cutest pumpkin I have ever seen. I love pumpkins because to me, they mean fall!  Stop by Moore Minutes and find out how to make your very own toilet paper pumpkins. You can also find an extra tutorial on her site, in this very same post, on how to make a pumpkin out of a dryer vent.
Idea Center

There are so many uses for pumpkins! From food to decorations you just cannot go wrong with pumpkin. Here are some neat ideas I found while searching the Internet this week.

Just for Kids

 Here are some great pumpkin ideas just for the kiddos!

Molly's Money-Saving Digest
October--What Can We Learn From the Great Depression?
 

October 2009 

 You're not afraid of the big bad wolf are you?

During the time of the Great Depression many people closely identified with the story of the Three Little Pigs. Today, many are comparing that time period with the economic downturn of the present day. Regardless of how accurate the comparison is . . .
"This really is a season of opportunity to re-think our resources and re-evaluate our needs, repair what we can, and rejoice in all that we've been given."

This month's Molly's Digest explores the resourcefulness and ingenuity that are still alive and well in 2009. There's a lot packed into this special issue--practical and creative ideas inspired by stories of the Great Depression era, smart money-saving opportunities to try, and a whole lot more . . . Take a glimpse at the many topics you'll explore:
  • Reduce Your Food Budget Unbelievably With Coupon Basics: Couponing - Part 2--Amy Howard had read reports of moms just like her, with way more mouths to feed, spending as little as $40 or $50 a week! She was determined to learn all she could. How do sales trends and stacking and couponing all come together? Discover how it can work for your family!
  • Re-purposing to Supplement Your Income: Gain some great tidbits of knowledge as you begin your research journey into not only re-purposing those -items you find at a great price in garage sales, but also reselling them to make a profit from home. There's much to consider and glean from Amy Howard's expert advice.
  • Save $ by Feeding Your Family on a Budget: Reduce money spent on your grocery bill by putting a little extra effort into learning how to use a budget. Enjoy a week's worth of frugal family favorite menus-easy on both your pocketbook and on your time. Check out these delicious thrifty-minded meals and recipes!
  • What Can We Learn From the Great Depression? (October's Feature):
    What Exactly Was the Great Depression?
    By taking an elementary look at a complicated subject, you'll learn some basic facts and develop a context for learning from that era. How does the plot of the Three Little Pigs story parallel the experiences of many families in 1933? Find out!
  • Plus, many more articles that are filled with useful tips and information! This Digest is 40 pages of frugal, money-saving ideas!

Click HERE to view a sample of this item.

Which little piggy are you? Stop the huffing and puffing--put Molly's Money-Saving Digest for October to work for you today for only $4.95! Order NOW!

Purchase the October Molly's Money-Saving Digest and Molly Makes $5 Dinners and $3 Desserts and save over 20%! Get both for just $9.95!
 

Place the October Molly's Money-Saving Digest and Molly Makes $5 Dinners and $3 Desserts in your cart and then enter coupon code OCTMOLLY at check out. Offer expires October 31st.
We Want to Hear From You!
We love to include your stories and ideas in our monthly Molly's Money-Saving Digests
 
 
We're always looking for "goal-getter" stories, examples of up-cycled or re-purposed objects, and frugal decorating ideas. 
Send me your story--Remember, if we include your contribution in a Digest, you'll receive that issue FREE. 

 
Until next week!
 Molly Signature

Apple Butter


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Do you have something to share?  Write to us at [email protected].  All submissions become the property of Econobusters.com and The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, LLC ("TOS") and will not be returned.  Making a submission constitutes full consent to the Econobusters' Submission Guidelines and Release, and a grant of unlimited permission and continuing, non-exclusive rights for Econobusters.com and TOS, to print, publish, broadcast and use all portions of your submission, including without limitation your full name, on Econobusters.com and other Internet websites owned or operated by TOS, in Molly's Money-Saving Digest and all other electronic, digital and print publications produced, created or published by TOS in accordance with the Econobusters' Submission Guidelines and Release posted at Econobusters.  TOS will make reasonable efforts to withhold personal names if requested at the time of original submission.
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In This Issue
Special Announcements
Blog Highlights
Featured Website
Recipe of the Week
Weekly Tutorial
Idea Center
Molly's Money-Saving Digest March 2009--Make Money From Home

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Molly's Money-Saving Digest June 2009--Frugal Family Vacations

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Molly's Money-Saving Digest: July 2009--Frugal Fashion
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My newest E-Book is now available! Click the photo for more details.

Molly's Dinner Book
Molly's Money-Saving Digest February 2009--Gardening Basics and Natural Cleaners


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Molly's Money-Saving Digest
August 2009--Frugal Organization 


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Living On a Dime

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Molly's Money-Saving Digest January 2009--Let's Get Organized for Fiscal Fitness

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Molly's Money-Saving Digest April 2009--Making a Frugal Fresh Start

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Molly Freebie
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Homemaker's Mentor
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Molly's Money-Saving Digest May 2009--Learning for Life-Your Child's Education

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