You guys I have a BIG giveaway for you today! I’m giving away a Lenovo YOGA 3 Pro (ARV $1,499.99). Make sure you read to the end of the post to find out how you can win one of these babies.

I may not be a technology junkie like the hubs but I do love having staples that work when you need them to work. My laptop, phone and tablet needs to be reliable and be able to adapt to my lifestyle. As a PhD student by day and food blogger by night, I have pretty hectic days and weekends and I have no time to monkey around with things that are cumbersome or hard to use. The hubster got the Lenovo YOGA 2 Pro a few months ago when it was time for him to upgrade his laptop and he’s been nothing but raving about it so when Lenovo reached out asking me to try the new YOGA 3 Pro, I was all in! I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

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The post The NEW Lenovo: YOGA 3 PRO (Giveaway!!!) appeared first on A Classic Twist.

I am just starting to MAKE my list this week and hopefully I can get all my shopping done in the next two weeks. Instead of focusing on my list, I was eager to share with you some ideas. So I made a list for you to get started on your holiday shopping! For the hostess, food lover and homemaker on your list:

1. Rosemary Sea Salt – Martha Stewart
2. Nespresso® by KitchenAid® – KitchenAid
3. Tea Towel – H&M
4. Assorted Chocolate Truffles – Seatle’s Chocolate
5. coasters
6. You’re Pretty from Speak Wine
7. Apron with Printed Design – H&M
8. Heart Snapshot Mix Art Print – Minted.com
9. Lua Salt and Pepper Mill Set – Oxo

1. Luxe Beauty Chocolate Box – Lavish Lipsticks
2. Bambeco Slate Cheese Serving Gift Set – Bambeco
3. Large Modern Cake Stand – Minted.com
4. Filomena Baking Collection – Anthropologie
5. Okuno Measuring Cups – Anthropologie

One place I went this year for some holiday gift ideas was Minted.com as you can see from above. I was introduced to Minted a few months ago at the Better Homes and Gardens Stylemaker event where they gifted us with these beautiful personalized picture frames. I am loving their holiday card collection especially the fact that you can customize everything from colors, paper style to fonts! They have so many great designs. If you are looking for holiday cards this year, this is the place for you.

We usually don’t send out holiday cards.  But this year, I made us one from Minted and I will be sending it along with my holiday cookies to friends and family. Here’s what it looks like:

The great folks at Minted.com are giving one of you a $150 gift promotion code to get your holiday shopping started. Use the widget below to enter for a chance to win. Goodluck!

Disclosure: This giveaway is sponsored by Minted.com. One random winner will be selected on December 8th. All opinions expressed are 100% my own. Thank you for supporting the brands and products that I use and love.

The post Holiday Shopping and a Minted.com Giveaway!! appeared first on A Classic Twist.

I like discovering and trying new healthy foods. Recently, I’ve been enjoying hearty grains and incorporating more into our diets like farro, amaranth and millet.

When Kelli from The Corner Kitchen introduced me to freekeh, a high-fiber whole grain I was intrigued. All the nutrious benefits of high protein source and low caloric content made me want to try it immediately. But I was lost for recipe ideas especially how to get my husband interested in another good-for-him food. Luckily Kelli loves freekeh very much that she wrote an entire cookbook on it!! Everyday Freekeh Meals solved my problems and I am loving how it has made it easy to add this whole grain to our dinner table and now breakfasts.

Wondering what it tastes like? Freekeh has a firm, chewy texture and a distinct flavor that’s earthy, nutty and slightly smoky, making them perfect in sides, savory and sweet dishes. Wondering where you can find it? I picked up organic cracked freekeh from Bob’s Red Mill in my grocery store specialty section and I am sure any nature food store will carry it.

The e-cookbook has 30 easy-to-make everyday freekeh recipes. From these breakfast chocolate raspberry freekeh muffins to lunches, dinners and of course dessert recipes. These chocolate raspberry freekeh muffins are one of the many recipes I tried and loved. They are moist, hearty, bursting with ripe juicy raspberries and just what every morning needs. A good dose of high fiber grains in your delicious muffins.

Now for the GIVEAWAY! I had to buy an extra copy for one of you. That’s right, I’m giving ONE lucky reader a free copy of Everyday Freekeh Meals! Just let me know below in the comments: What new healthy food you have tried recently and loved? Goodluck! (Giveaway ends 10/15/14)

Print

Yield: 14-16 muffins

Chocolate Raspberry Freekeh Muffins

These chocolate raspberry freekeh muffins are unlike any regular muffin! Although they are moist, bursting with  juicy raspberries and delicious, they are also spotting a good serving of whole grains and fibers from freekeh. 

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 22 minutes

Total Time 52 minutes

Ingredients

Toggle ingredient group

• ⅓ cup cracked freekeh (I used this kind)
• ¾ cup water
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup butter, melted and cooled
• ⅔ cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1 cup milk, room temperature
• 1 ½ cups fresh raspberries
• ⅓ cup mini chocolate chips

Instructions

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the freekeh, water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil over high heat and reduce heat to medium low and simmer to cook for about 15 minutes until all the water is absorbed. Stir occasionally. Remove from heat and let cool completely
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a muffin tin with liners and set aside
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
4. In large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until well combined. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix well. Add in half of the dry ingredient and mix until just combined. Add the milk and mix until combined. Then finish with the remaining dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. Using a rubber spatula, stir in the freekeh. Fold in the raspberries and mini chocolate chips.
5. Divide the batter into the prepared muffin tin, filling each ¾ of the way. Bake muffins for 22-25 minutes or until golden on top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
6. Remove from oven and let cool in pan for 5 minutes. Transfer muffins to a wire cooling rack.

Making this Recipe?

Share it with us on Instagram using #aclassictwist so we can see what you are baking up in your kitchen!

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The post Chocolate Raspberry Freekeh Muffins {+ Cookbook Giveaway} appeared first on A Classic Twist.

Today is all about celebrating some dear friends!! Three of my blogger friends are celebrating their blog anniversaries and a few of us came together to help them celebrate. We are giving away $250 Amazon.com Giftcard to ONE lucky reader!! (Use the widget below to enter).

Marcie, Meghan and Ashley are celebrating their blog birthdays today and if you have not checked out their blogs yet, please do so!! Marcie of Flavor the Moments always has the most creative recipes and her love for cooking is just addicting!! You will love her recipes. Meghan from Spoonful of Flour and I have a slight cupcake obsession which we bonded over a few months ago when I was in Boston and met up with her. She is a great baker and her creations are always so amazing. I just started reading Wishes and Dishes by Ashley and I am an avid follower. She has delicious easy dinner recipes that are will make your weeknights preps easy.

Join us in celebrating these wonderful ladies AND enter for a chance to win a $250 Amazon.com Giftcard!

 
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The post Triple Blog Anniversary $250 Amazon Card Giveaway appeared first on A Classic Twist.

How many times, in your stressful life, have you dreamed about laying out on the beach with a great book? ‘Or so she says…‘ to the rescue! So, to further expand on our favorites, all of the OSSS contributors got together to give away their favorite books, perfect for summer reading! The coolest part is, one person will win EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. That’s right, the whole bundle! That’s 15 books, yo. Oh, but it gets better. Get Away Today, the greatest travel agency ever and ‘Or so she says…‘ contributors, offered another winner a 3-night hotel stay in Anaheim or San Diego (winner’s choice) with their choice of two adult theme park tickets… PLUS, they get the 15 book bundle too!

Lets go over the prizes again:

Grand Prize Winner: 15 ‘Contributors’ Favorite Books’ Bundle PLUS a 3-night hotel stay in Anaheim or San Diego (winner’s choice) with their choice of two adult theme park tickets! Vacation courtesy of Get Away Today.

Runner Up: 15 ‘Contributors’ Favorite Books’ Bundle (details of books below.)

Ready to enter? So, all we ask is for you to follow ‘Or so she says…’ and the contributors on Pinterest. We are all pin-maniacs and know you’ll love the great ideas we send your way. After you enter, be sure to scroll down and check out all the books included in the giveaway. It’s so fun to see what each contributor picked as her favorite book!

.

1. Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley ~ "This book was not what I expected...it surpassed what I was hoping for. Mystery, romance and intrigue. Great characters and an interesting plot. It was a great read and perfect for summer reading!" Jana of Double the Deliciousness

2. Plate to Pixel by Helene Dujardin - "This book is a favorite because it teaches how to not only how photograph food, but how to do it beautifully!" Gina of Kleinworth and Co.

3. These is My Words by Nancy Turner "While I'm a country/ farm girl at heart, I can't even begin to imagine what the early settlers went through! I love how they worked the land, built their own homes, and made everything from scratch! And I'm always up for a good love story! Jack and Sarah's won't disappoint!" Brooke of Blissful Roots

4. The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino - "Aw, I love this book! It's a super unique book, in that it's a parable, teaching you how to be a better person, but also an activity book. Each chapter, you read over and over, until you master the character trait. It's a great story with lots of great thoughts. I think I highlighted half the book!" Mariel of 'Or so she says...'

5. Eat Cake by Jeanne Ray "Eat Cake will make it's way into your list of favorite books, it's a quick and enjoyable read. I love this book for more reasons than the fact that the main character shares my name! It'll have you laughing and crying- all at the same time! If you're like me and have a unexplainable urge to bake... you'll totally connect with Eat Cake!" Ruthie of Cooking with Ruthie

6. Wonder by RJ Palacio - "My 9-year-old daughter recommended Wonder to me and I enjoyed it just as much as she did. This is a compelling novel that is fun and easy enough for summer, but also intelligent and thought-provoking. Share it with your family when you are finished!" Allison of Tips for Family Trips

7. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin - "I love this book because it is getting me to think deeper about what I do to bring happiness upon myself. I am a happy person, but am loving the new outlook and am loving making new goals to make myself really live a happy life." Kiki of Kiki and Company

8. Happier by Tal Ben-Shahar - "It's easy to think that once a certain thing happens, I'll be happy. Well, this book provides little life secrets to be happier each and every day. It is applicable for every life stage. It has changed my way of thinking about happiness." Melissa of So Festive!

9. Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson - "Sometimes a mom just needs a good, quick, easy summer read to distract her from doing more laundry or to keep her busy during swim lessons. If you love a good Jane Austen romance, you will love this book! Set in Jane Austen's English countryside of 1820, this romance will keep you quickly turning the pages as you watch Kate's struggle to learn to follow her heart!" Veronica of Lolly Lu Designs

10. Leadership and Self- Deception - "Do you want to know the secret to having a happy and successful family and marriage? Want to know how to have successful relationships with anyone you come in contact with? Leadership and Self-deception holds the key to mending, strengthening and flourishing in all of your relationships. This book is a life changer- Promise!" Heather of Family Volley

11. Surprise Inside Cakes by Amanda Rettke - "It's a beautiful book of cakes and it's full of cake decorating tips for the everyday baker. Amazing cakes for every special occasion, all with a little surprise on the inside." Zainab of Blahnik Baker

12. The Child Whisperer by Carol Tuttle - "It taught me how to parent my very determined toddler (at the time) based on her personality type." Amy of The Connection We Share

13. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaleo Hosseini - "I read this as part of a book club and it has stuck with me ever since. It is a beautifully written, emotionally gripping story of two Afghan women's suffering, strength, and resilience. What I love most about it is the way it celebrates the strength of the human spirit - a beautiful thing!" Cathy of Lemon Tree Dwelling

14. I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella - "A light, charming book by the author of the popular Shopaholic series. This clever romantic comedy makes for a fun and easy summer read, by the pool or on the beach!" Samantha of Five Heart Home

15. Princess Academy by Shannon Hale - "I loved this simple story that has some fun little twists. My favorite part is that my daughter loved this book as much as I did. I love being able to enjoy the same books as my daughter. This is one that was enjoyable for us both!" Holly of Bits of Everything

Bonus Book! Food Storage by Angel Paskett - "Everyone should be prepared on some level, and this is the book that can help answer your questions and get you there. It begins with the basics and answers almost any question you have with getting started. I wish I had this a few years ago, but glad I have it now!" Jamie from Prepared Housewives

Sorry it's a long post but it's worth it!! Good Luck 🙂

Fine print: Must be U.S. resident and 18 years or older to enter. Vacation package must be booked at least 60 days in advance and is subject to availability and some blackout dates. This post contains affiliate links.

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The post Favorite Books and Summer Vacation Giveaway appeared first on A Classic Twist.

If you haven’t met Samantha yet, she is the smiley face behind Five Heart Home where she is always sharing hearty delicious recipes. Her kick-ass desserts and crafts drew me to her blog but her shining and positive personality kept me around. I am so happy to celebrate with her today. Make sure you head over there and get to know her after you enter the giveaway!

To enter for a chance to win the $400 Amazon gift card, use the widget below. Good Luck!!

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Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

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