Truck Stop was released just five days ago last Thursday and author, Anne Rockwell, and I have been enjoying doing guest posts and interviews on our blog tour. So far, here are our stops:
I’m also doing a giveaway of a personalized signed copy of Truck Stop on The Hungry Artist.
On Saturday I did my first signing of Truck Stop at the Greenlight Bookstore in Ft. Greene, Brooklyn. I took part in Artist Battles with Sophie Blackall, Melissa Guion and Sergio Ruzzier. There was a list of topics, and the kids would choose one for us to draw. Then they would clap for their favorites at the end. Whoever “won” would go on to the next round with a new competitor.
Me and Melissa Guion drawing the word “balloons”.
It was all quite stressful and I was sweating profusely, but everyone was so nice. It was more of a celebration of different drawing styles.
Melissa Guion and Sophie Blackall drawing the word, “battle”
Me drawing a “moose” eating chocolate “mousse”. I didn’t realize I was being watched so closely!
- At the signing table afterwards. Do I looked relieved? I am!
I also handed out activity sheets from Truck Stop. Click here to download some for yourself. 🙂
This week’s recipe inspiration comes from Flatbed’s Driver’s breakfast:
A Blueberry Muffin!
I love muffins, but I love mini ones even more. 🙂
Mini Blueberry Muffins with Cinnamon Sugar Topping
Ingredients:
1 cup flour, plus 1 tablespoon for dusting
1 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of kosher salt
½ cup butter (1 stick) softened at room temperature
½ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
¼ cup milk
1 ¼ cups fresh blueberries
Topping
1 tablespoon demarra sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Spray a mini muffin tin with non-stick spray and line with mini cupcake liners
- Whisk 1 cup flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Set aside
- Cream butter in the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Add sugar and beat until pale and creamy.
- Add egg and vanilla. Beat to combine
- With lowest setting running, add ½ of the flour, then ½ of the milk. Mix to combine. Repeat.
- Toss blueberries with 1 tablespoon flour to coat in a small bowl. Add to muffin batter and stir gently with a spoon.
- Heap tablespoons of batter into cupcake liners.
- Mix topping ingredients together in a small bowl and sprinkle about ½ teaspoon on muffin tops.
- Bake for about 15 minutes, until a tester inserting in center comes out clean
- Cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes.
- Remove muffins from pan to rack and cool a bit.
Yield: 24 small muffins.
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GIVEAWAY! (Sorry I tried generating one on Punchtab, but having problems with wordpress so I have to do this manually!)
I will be giving away a signed copy of Truck Stop. The winner can have it personalized to whomever and I will also draw a picture of their choice. The giveaway closes May 27 at 11 pm. Then I will pick a winner and announce it in the next post!
To enter, just leave a comment — what is YOUR favorite breakfast item?
For more chances, Like Me on Facebook and tell me you did.
Follow me on Twitter and tell me you did.
Like Anne on Facebook and tell me you did.
Tweet about this giveaway and tell me you did.
The Hungry Artist 
Woohoo! I’m the first in line!
My favorite breakfast item is pancakes. I could eat them everyday, any meal. I especially love them with blueberries, altho chocolate chips in them are awesome too!
Oh my goodness, Melissa, I forgot to congratulate you on your book! You must be bubbling with joy and excitement to know that you hard work is now published. Think of how many little ears and eyes will know your Truck Stop story and will ask to hear it again and again! I plan on buying it for my collection of books that I will someday share with my grandchildren. Thank you for sharing your many talents!
Thanks so much, Kathy. 🙂 SO sweet of you!
I love French toast for breakfast. 🙂
Congrats, Melissa! Your illustrations are wonderful!
My 2 granddaughters (sisters) enjoy reading and books are my favorite gifts to them. I love reading to them and also making up stories for them at bedtime (just like I did when my son & daughter were little). It’s such fun as I retell many of those stories to my granddaughters and how good I feel when they request my stories just like my kids used to. 🙂
THANKS FOR THE ACTIVITY SHEETS!
What a great grandmom you are!
Aw that book signing looks like so much fun, truly you are so talented 🙂
And these mini muffins, I love them!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thanks, Choc Chip!
Oooh, I liked you and followed you 😉 Am I eligible? My favorite breakfast item is my grandmother’s biscuits and gravy! ps If you’re willing to share your photos with me. I’d love to post them on my blog as well. I forgot to ask someone to snap pix! My email is melissaguion@me.com
Of course — yum, I love gravy! i’ll send pictures. 🙂
Truck Stop looks wonderful–can’t wait to see it! As for my favorite breakfast item, I’ll have to go with buttermilk waffles. Yum! Thanks for the mini blueberry muffin recipe, too. I think that would be very popular in our house! 🙂
Congratulations on the publication of Truck Stop, Melissa. I love many breakfast items, but I think my favorite is leftover pie, particularly pumpkin, custard, apple or lemon sponge.
I love French toast with fruit on it. So yummy and I convince myself it is healthy with the fruit 🙂
Oh and I like you on Facebook. We are looking forward to reading Truck Stop!
Oatmeal is my favorite breakfast! Overnight, hot, or in yogurt. I like it so many ways!
I like you on FB. 🙂
I’m also following you on twitter. The reading/drawing event looks very fun!
Reblogged this on Jama's Alphabet Soup and commented:
Don’t miss your chance to win a signed copy of TRUCK STOP! And these mini blueberry muffins look so yummy. 🙂
I love the marriage of food & children’s books! I don’t know that I could choose just one favorite breakfast food. It would probably be breakfast enchiladas or one of my hubby’s power-packed fruity smoothies. Bon Appetit! Would love a copy of TRUCK STOP!
Oh, I do love food, especially at breakfast. My favorite breakfast meal is fresh papaya with lime and macadamia nut waffles.
Awww the drawing event looks so fun! Melissa, your hair looks so soft and shiny…haha, random thing I noticed. I love the little girl watching you so intently.
My favorite breakfast item is of course: Peanut butter!!! I love to make my own nut butters and have made all kinds: peanut, almond, pistachio, sunflower seed, pine nut, cashew, and walnut butter 🙂 . I love to eat it with a spoon or spread it on fruit like apples or bananas.
Your book signing event looks like it was a blast! For me, the perfect breakfast is a steaming cup of Scottish breakfast tea, a slice of whole grain bread with almond butter and a nice juicy clementine or two.