Apples in my Cake

Diced Apple Cake w/ Streusel Topping

I love to bake throughout the fall season.  There are so many farmers markets and pick-your-own farms in my area.  Pumpkins & Apples are at the top of my list this time of year. 

This Diced Apple Cake is a family favorite - not sure where my grandmother got it .  It just warms my heart to make it.  This recipe freezes well, when you need to use up lots & lots of apples.  It is good warm or cold. I like it best, cold, the next day, after all of the flavors have been able to blend together!  There are lots of apples packed into this cake - Serve with fresh whipped cream!

To make this yummy treat for your family, you will need:

Diced Apple Cake

3/4 cup, Unsalted Butter (soft)
1 1/2 cups, Raw Sugar
2 Eggs
1 tsp, Vanilla
2 1/2 cups, All-purpose Flour
1 tsp, Salt
1 tsp, Baking Soda
4 cups, Diced Apples (crunchy)
1/2 cup, Chopped Walnuts
1/2 cup, Raisins (optional)


Cream the butter, sugar, eggs & vanilla together. Sift together the flour, salt & baking soda. Add the butter mixture to the flour mixture & stir together until just combined. Now, add the apples & nuts. (This batter is thick, but don't worry - it bakes up so moist & yummy!)

Crumb Topping:
1/3 cup, Brown Sugar
1/3 cup, Raw Sugar
1 tsp, Cinnamon
1/2 tsp, Ground Ginger
1/8 tsp, Salt
1/2 cup, Softened Butter
1 3/4 cup, All Purpose Flour
 
Combine all of these ingredients into a bowl & mix with a fork or with your hands.

Grease a bundt pan & evenly fill with the Batter, then pile the Crumbs on top.

Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 1 hour.  Insert a cake tester into the cake to make sure it comes out clean before taking out of the oven. 

I usually drizzle a little icing on the top when the cake has cooled (optional).  This recipe is all about the consistency you are comfortable with.  If it's too thick to drizzle, add more milk to thin it out.

Drizzle:
1 1/2 cups, Powdered Sugar
3 oz, Cream Cheese (soft)
2 Tbls, Milk (maybe more)
1 tsp, Vanilla
1 Tbsp, Melted Butter

Pumpkin Wow-Wee!

Iced Pumpkin Cookie Treats!

I found this recipe for Iced Pumpkin Cookies on the 'Mommas Like Me' blog (http://lacee-mommaslikeme.blogspot.com/) &  I knew I had to try them as soon as possible!  The photographs & descriptions on her blog took me in.  I am a sucker for anything pumpkin this time of year.  As soon as the temps start to cool, I get all snuggly & my taste buds seem to require spicy pumpkin things (whoopie pies, cookies, pies, coffees, creamers, pancakes, waffles, lasagna, pasta, etc.) - you get the idea!??

I love to bake a lot & often make a big mess - today was no execption.  After making these yummy cookies, my kitchen was a total disaster, but they were SO worth it!  This recipe creates a 'cookie' that is so different than anything else you've had - soft, moist, sweet, cupcake-like, spicy, melt-in-your-mouth-Yum-O, have-to-have-more, feeling you've got to experience!  I added some cream cheese to the icing & some chopped nuts to the batter as well as a garnish.  Oh my!!

Iced Pumpkin Cookies

This recipe has found it's way into my holiday collection.  I hope you experience these - let your family enjoy the amazing smells coming from the kitchen & feel the warmth of your love through these cookies.  Experience this snuggly season with your loved ones.  Thank you so much Lacee (Good job)!

Homemade...

Baking more bread with the kiddos today - Yum!

BBQ Chicken...

Today we are making 'Pulled Chicken' in the crock pot  (http://punkinheadsanddoodaloos.blogspot.com/2011/08/easy-melt-in-your-mouth-pulled-chicken.html)  We enjoy making our own breads & cereals around here - we chose to make an Oatmeal Honey Bread to go with this meal.  It was a yummy science class today...!  Enjoy your dinner tonight.

BBQ Pulled Chicken



Warm Honey Oatmeal Bread

Granola Time...

Today was granola making day again!  You know how it goes - we are all in the kitchen mixing things & most of it ends up on the floor...?  Oh well, at least I know that's the day the floor gets cleaned!  It makes me feel good to fill our cereal container once a week with fresh cereal.  Oats, nuts, coconut, honey & dried fruit are a great way to start the day.  This time of the year I put pumpkin seeds, pumpkin & cinnamon spices into the mixture - yum!

Lavender Sweeties!

Well, my new passion is our lavender garden. Oh, the scent of these flower buds is simply amazing. Seems as though everything around here is becoming 'lavender' related...from baking to crafts to sewing projects...yikes! I've been baking butter lavender cookies with white chocolate icing; sewing lavender & peppermint sachets to keep at the computer, in the car, in my purse & for gifts; crocheting lavender colored face scrubbies; sewing lavender cotton fabric wrap around skirts; who knows what else I will find to do with this inspiration....! I love using the things that grow around us, don't you? What are you passionate about??

Weekly Granola Project!

The oats & nuts are mixed & ready for baking!
All the dried fruits are diced & waiting!
Yum...It's baked & crunchy & warm!

I have made home-made-granola for our family every week, for the last 10 years (well just about!). The kids have become a big part of this project & I am happy to say that my daughter is now taking over this awesome responsibility! We enjoy this crunchy treat with soy milk or on top of yogurt or ice cream. And it keeps us from buying processed/boxed breakfast foods. Breakfast is such an important meal of the day & so many times it’s the easiest meal to skip or rush through. Consider trying this recipe as a simple cereal to add to your family’s favorites. Yum!

4 cups rolled oats, ½ c. roasted sunflower seeds, ½ c. raw cashews, ½ c. raw almonds, ½ c. roasted soy nuts, ½ c. roasted pumpkin seeds, ½ c. dried banana chips, 1½ c. coconut, ¾ c. honey, ¾ c. canola oil, ¼ c. brown sugar, ½ c. diced dried mango, ½ c. diced dried papaya, ½ c. dried cranberries, ½ c. currants.

Mix everything together, except for the dried fruits. Bake at 325 degrees on a baking sheet (you may need 2) for 30 - 40 minutes. Make sure to keep a close eye on it, as it likes to brown quickly. Stir occasionally to keep the cereal browning evenly. Once you take it out of the oven, mix in the dried fruits. Allow to cool on the counter. Place in a sealed container. This freezes well, if you’d like to make a bigger batch.

(Substitute any nuts or dried fruits to make this cereal fit your family’s needs!!)