Photos: Another Day in Branson, Missouri

Yesterday, the Duggars hung out in their favorite tourist town, good 'ole Branson, Missouri. Thankfully it's only a two-hour bus ride away.

Michelle Duggar 

On stage with pianist Dino Kartsonakis at his last show of the season

Duggars riding the Silver Dollar City tram

 Mackynzie Duggar

 Josh and Anna Duggar, Mackynzie and Michael Duggar

Meeting Gospel singer Guy Penrod and wife

Mackynzie Duggar

*Photos courtesy of Josh Duggar

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Giveaway Ends Tonight!

Our latest giveaway ends at 12 PM EST/11:00PM CST. In case you haven't heard, we are raffling off a 3-CD package from the King Family Band.

If you brought the Von Trapp family from The Sound of Music to America and taught them fiddle and banjo, you would end up with the King Family Band. Featuring Tim and Kim and their seven children, the Kings maintain a busy tour schedule and have played in hundreds of venues across the United States. They have even played at Silver Dollar City, the Duggars' favorite amusement park.

The winner will receive the King's 3-CD package, which features gospel, standard Bluegrass, and original music. Follow the directions on the Rafflecopter widget below to enter to win. This giveaway is open to all readers.

For a taste of the King's music, check out the music player on the left sidebar of their website. (Click here to be redirected.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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New Photos! Thanksgiving at the Duggars'

Enjoy these photos of the Duggars' 2012 Thanksgiving feast.

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Pickles, Please!

It is no secret that the Duggars love pickles. Some even prefer pickles over candy. What is your all-time favorite food? Maybe it's pickles, or maybe you prefer a bar of melt-in-your-mouth chocolate (that's our favorite!)

And if you're interested, give Jason Duggar's homemade pickle recipe a try. He uses cucumbers from the garden that he planted himself.

Jason's Quick Pickles

Ingredients:
4 cups white vinegar
2 cups water
8 teaspoons salt
8 teaspoons pickling spice (optional)
4 large cucumber, cut into 1/4-inch slices

Directions:
1. Combine white vinegar, water, salt, and pickling spice in a small saucepan. Heat to a boil.
2. Place cucumbers in a clean, dry glass container just large enough to hold all the slices.
3. Pour boiling brine (mixture created in step 1) over cucumber slices to cover completely. If all cucumbers are not submerged, add cold water to cover.
4. Cover; refrigerate at least 1 hour.

Makes: 2 quarts

Duggars' Notes:
Pickles will keep for about 10 days (but around our house we can usually eat them in less than 10 minutes!).
You can combine these same ingredients, and rather than boil, just let it sit for a few days. You will get pickles either way, but by boiling you will have your pickles in just a few hours.

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Duggars Share Melodious Music

In the following four YouTube videos, hear the music that the Duggars shared at a women's political luncheon in October. (Click the name of each song to view the respective video.)

America (My Country 'Tis of Thee)
Sweeter Gets the Journey
Onward Christian Soldiers
This is My Father's World

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Duggars' Secret to Successful Marriage

Jenny Dean Schmidt, host of the Channelmom Show, caught up with Jim Bob and Michelle at the Minnesota Hearts at Home convention. In the following clip, the Duggars offer up the "secret" behind their successful marriage and share their own childhood struggles.

During the interview, Jim Bob and Michelle mention two websites, Solve Family Problems and oneplace.com.

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Gobble, Gobble!

Wishing our American readers a Happy Thanksgiving!

~Lily and Ellie

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19 Cubicles and Counting

We bring you more footage of the Duggars in Japan! (Thanks to a loyal reader for the link.) Like the previous video (click here to view), the first half introduces the family with clips from past episodes of TLC's 19 Kids and Counting.

At 28:00, the Duggars load their suitcases into a truck and leave for the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport. At 31:15, they arrive in Tokyo and board a tour bus emblazoned with the words "Welcome Duggar Family." Watch as the family learns the art of Japanese sword fighting, experiences a Japanese cubicle hotel, and tastes traditional Japanese cuisine. From 46:15 to 48:45, the Duggars walk the streets of Tokyo and purchase food from a street vender.

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Duggars in Japan (Video)

Here is more footage of the Duggars in Japan, thanks to a loyal reader. The Duggars are introduced 57 minutes into the show with clips from past episodes. The remainder of the thirteen-minute segment features the family's trip to Japan, which took place in September. 

To start the video, press the play button, watch the advertisement, and then drag the blue bar to 57:00.

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Apple Dumpling Duggars

Apple picking is one of the Duggars' favorite fall activities.

"For the most part, we just slice them and eat them fresh," writes Michelle Duggar in her latest Parentables post. "We’ll pick mainly Red Delicious and Granny Smith."

When craving a sweet treat, the mother of nineteen whips up a Duggar-sized batch of baked apples or apple dumplings for her family.

Michelle explains how to make baked apples: "Just cut a hole in the middle of the apple and put cinnamon and sugar in and bake them whole. The kids like those a lot."

She also shares her tried-and-true apple dumpling recipe. Ever heard of adding Mountain Dew?

Michelle Duggar's Apple Dumplings
2-3 cans crescent rolls (or biscuits)
3-4 apples (peeled & cut into chunks)
1 1/2 sticks butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 t. cinnamon
1 can (12 oz.) Mountain Dew (or 7-Up)

1. Flatten biscuits with hands; put apple chunks in and pinch sides shut.
2. Place in a 9x13 baking dish.
3. Bake at 350° for 10-15 min (until they are no longer gooey).
4. In small saucepan, melt butter, sugar and cinnamon. Pour over dumplings. Pour Mountain Dew over all.
5. Bake 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.


The Duggars  also enjoy homemade applesuace. Here are Michelle's instructions: Add a bit of water to a pot of peeled apples, and then cook them up on the stove. Next, add some honey, and place the applesauce in the fridge to cool.

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Duggars in Japan

While in Asia, the Duggars were featured on Japanese TV.

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Duggar #14 Turns 10

Happy 10th Birthday, Justin!
When the Duggars made their TV debut, Justin was the baby. 
Now he has five younger siblings.

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Bluegrass Giveaway

Congratulations to Weselene C, the winner of the King Family Band's 3-CD pack!

Looking for holiday gifts? To purchase the Kings' CD's, visit their website (thekingfam.net).

'Tis the season for giveaways! This time, we are raffling off a 3-CD package from the King Family Band.

If you brought the Von Trapp family from The Sound of Music to America and taught them fiddle and banjo, you would end up with the King Family Band. Featuring Tim and Kim and their seven children, the Kings maintain a busy tour schedule and have played in hundreds of venues across the United States. They have even played at Silver Dollar City, the Duggars' favorite amusement park.

The winner will receive the King's 3-CD package, which features gospel, standard Bluegrass, and original music. Follow the directions on the Rafflecopter widget below to enter to win. This giveaway is open to all readers.

For a taste of the King's music, check out the music player on the left sidebar of their website. (Click here to be redirected.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read More

Roller Coaster Duggars

Yesterday, the Duggars headed to their favorite amusement part...Silver Dollar City! Watch Josh take a ride on Thunderation with Joy-Anna and Jackson.

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Duggars Try Grouper in Florida

While in Clearwater, Florida, last weekend, Jim Bob and Michelle stopped for a meal at Frenchy's Rockaway Grill. They tried grouper (a type of fish) for the first time and loved it.
Are you a fan of seafood?

Do you enjoy seafood?

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Duggar Votes Away from Victory

In yesterday's election, John-David Duggar took another shot at Tontitown alderman. (Click here to read about his first attempt in November 2010.) According to the unofficial results, John received 553 votes, while his opponent earned a mere twelve more.

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Michelle Tries New Hairstyles

Michelle Duggar discussed her new hairdo in a recent interview with TODAY.com. According to the news outlet, the mom of nineteen has naturally wavy hair that has "reached past the middle of her back since junior high."

Since the makeover, which took place in August, Michelle has been mixing up her hairstyle. Some mornings she wakes up an hour early to straighten it, and other days she keeps it curly. She does, however, plan to grow it out again.

All of the Duggar women like long hair, and Michelle wanted to make sure that her daughters weren't planning anything drastic. During a mother-daughter meeting in the girls' room, they all assured their mom that they had no plans to chop off their locks.

The makeover experience has helped Michelle branch out. After the Duggars' family Bible time, the older girls have been experimenting with their mom's hair and encouraging her to try new styles.

One hairstyle involving bobby pins was so beautiful that it earned a gasp of approval from Jim Bob. “I want to please my hubby, it’s all about what he likes,” Michelle told TODAY.com.

The Duggar mom also revealed that she has recently learned that her signature hairstyle is known as a mullet. She had a good laugh at that one.

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