Chunky Apple Cake with Butterscotch glaze

Addictive! That's one of many words I can use to describe this cake. I have TONS of cookbooks and magazines lying around, I pulled this one from A Taste of Home magazine and have been making the cake for about three years now with rave reviews. This year I went looking for the recipe and GASP, the magazine was no where to be found. So I franticly searched the website for apple cake recipes, and after sorting through what seemed like a million versions of apple cakes, I found the beloved recipe. I love it because my family always used to go apple picking every Fall. We would make everything from apple crisp to apple butter and still have apples left over, so it's just a feel good recipe for me. This cake starts with lots of tart apple chunks (so it's basically healthy right???) and a little bit of batter that expands around the apples as it bakes. It just smells like fall when it's in the oven! Then you pour the most delectable homemade butterscotch sauce over the top, GLORIOUS!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon Spice Islands®, All Natural, No Corn Syrup Added, Pure Vanilla Extract
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 6 cups chopped peeled tart apples
• 
  BUTTERSCOTCH SAUCE:
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions

• In a large bowl, cream butter, sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well (batter will be stiff). Stir in apples until well combined.
• Spread into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until top is lightly browned and springs back when lightly touched. Cool for 30 minutes before serving.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine brown sugar and butter. Cook over medium heat until butter is melted. Gradually add cream. Bring to a slow boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat. Serve with cake. Yield: 12-14 servings.

Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (1 piece) equals 365 calories, 14 g fat (8 g saturated fat), 68 mg cholesterol, 244 mg sodium, 59 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 3 g protein.

Chunky Apple Cake published in Taste of Home August/September 2006, p27

Cream Butter and Sugar, then add eggs

add the flour mixture a little at a time

The batter is very stiff

a total of 6 cups of tart Granny Smith apples, Mmmmm!

see I told you mostly apples = healthy (never mind that it's covered in a sugary sauce)

I poke holes so the sauce can soak into the cake.
I do this instead of seving the sauce on the side like the recipe does, it's just easier

Popcorn Balls with Reese's Pieces!

Sometimes I just have to satisfy my sweet tooth. Maybe it's because I worked in a bakery for years, but there are times when I literally can't help myself. This is a super easy treat that will satisfy that salty/sweet craving, I adapted it from a Paula Dean recipe that I found in one of her Holiday magazines from a few years back but you can find it online (just click here ). They are popcorn balls with Reese's Pieces. It's basically a different spin on a crispy treat. I used extra movie theater butter popcprn instead of kettle corn, and Reese's Pieces as my candy.



Melt 4 tbsp butter and 1 pkg marshmallows 30 sec at a time for a total of 2 min 



microwave popcorn, and pick out unpopped kernels

spray spatula with non stick spray

Add popcorn, mix well and let stand 5min before adding candy (so it doesn't melt)

form into balls as big or as small as you like
(wet your hands in cold water first to prevent sticking)

Girl Scout Cookies!!!

I used to be the little uniform wearing girl scout that went door to door asking all my neighbors if they would like to buy girl scout cookies! Now don't get me wrong I loved eating the cookies, as a matter of fact the worst part is that you could only get them once a year. Well, I stumbled upon a recipe for Homemade Samoas Bars (click link for the recipe) and had to try them. But don't worry girls I will always help out my fellow girl scouts and buy a box or two of cookies! They were a little hard to cut into bars with all that delicious topping, but they were still YUMMY!

toasted Coconut!

microwaved my caramels

so good!

Easy Entertaining Idea!!

Everyone always has that sad little veggie platter at every party right? And no one wants to set up a full salad bar with all the different toppings and dressing choices for a simple get together. So I've come up with a little healthy alternative so your guest can still get their veggies in while they mingle, cucumber salad cups! And they are easy to make ahead of time too, because who wants to be in the kitchen while your guest are having fun.



Place them in an air tight container lined with paper towel to soak up extra moisture



In a separate bowel prepare the salad ingredients and toss them with dressing

 

now all you have to do is fill them before the party and top with a crouton

If you want to go even easier you can buy pre-made chicken salad or pasta salad and voila you're done!

Rock the Cradle!!!

I really enjoy throwing parties, especially baby showers! I am always trying to find themes that have a personality of their own. My friend Ciji isn't really a frou frou kind of girl, so I decided to throw a Punk Rock baby shower in her honor. I knew her favorite colors were hot pink and black and she loves stars, so I took the idea and ran with it! The end result was a fabulous Rock the Cradle shower!!!!



I recommend labeling the bathroom before they open up the closet you hid everything in before the party!!!



The Cake Lady

The beginning of the red velvet pound cake

I reccomend powertools in the kitchen!!!!

I've been making cakes for as long as I can remember. I used to do them professionally, and I have worked at several bakeries from grocery store bakeries to high end custom bake shops. Now days they are just more of a hobby, and I don't get to do them as often as I'd like. However, every now and then a friend will ask for a specialty cake, and I just can't help myself. So here is a little glimpse into my world of edible art!