“In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It Goes On.”
Robert Frost

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Apple Cookie Cake Recipe

Yesterday was a cool rainy fall day....the perfect day to bake.  Since I promised you an apple recipe, I chose one that uses almost all of the apple. Most recipes call for peeling the apples and throwing away the most beautiful part! Not this recipe, that gorgeous red peel enhances the color and texture. Sometimes my husband fusses about my time spent blogging, except when I post a dessert! To my husbands delight, he gets to eat this yummy Apple Cookie Cake.

First let's talk about apples. I strongly urge you to use organic apples in the recipe or in anything where you will be eating the skin of the apple. My choice in this recipe was a local Paula Red apple. We visited several orchards and I picked up three varieties. They were the Paula Red, Chestnut Crab and Sweet Sixteen.




This first photo shows the gorgeous Paula Red apples.








These are the cute little Chestnut Crab apples.  They are about the size of a golf ball. They look pretty in my Mom's Fire King Jadeite mixing bowl.






All together now....
from bottom left.... Chestnut Crab, Sweet Sixteen and Paula Red apples.



Apple Cookie Cake

Base Ingredients:
     1/3          cup butter
  1                cup  all-purpose flour
     1/3          cup  sugar
  2                tablespoons  chopped crystallized ginger
                       
Filling Ingredients:
     2/3          cup  sugar (or a bit less if your apples are quite sweet)
     1/4          cup  all-purpose flour
     3/4          teaspoon  baking powder
     1/2          teaspoon  ground cinnamon
     1/2          teaspoon  ground ginger
     1/4          teaspoon  salt
  2                eggs
  2                tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
  2                medium  red skin apples -- (2 cups) unpeeled, chopped
                    (I used Paula Red Organic Apples)
 
                       
Directions:
Heat oven to 350°F. Melt butter in 2-quart saucepan over medium-low heat. Continue cooking, stirring constantly and watching closely, until butter just starts to turn golden (3 to 5 minutes). Immediately remove from heat. Add 1 cup flour, 1/3 cup sugar and crystallized ginger; mix well. This mixture will be dry and crumbly. Press into bottom of ungreased 8-inch square baking pan.

Combine 2/3 cup sugar, 1/4 cup flour, baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, ground ginger and 1/4 teaspoon salt in large bowl. Stir in eggs until smooth. Stir in apples; pour over crust. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons brown sugar evenly over filling.

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and top is golden brown. Cool at least 30 minutes before cutting.


Adapted from: Land O Lakes 

Craving to know more about apples? Click here for varieties and uses.




Before being eaten... crunchy cookie crust, caramel 
apple filling and whipped cream on top!




After.... yum.... My hubbies second piece; 
the empty plate next to his favorite coffee mug.



Next week .... more photos from the Autumn Market and a story about a Wee Old Woman! No, NOT me!! Hope you are all having a great weekend!              ~~Diane~~



Thursday, September 26, 2013

White Horses

Some days you are just lucky. I had a day like that last weekend. My husband and I were driving to an apple orchard outside of town and came across this lovely sight. Three gorgeous white horses in a pasture.

My husband stopped the car and I got out to take some photos. The horses were not interested in me too much, I think they may be used to people stopping and taking their pictures. Only one raised his head to look at me and then they went back to their beautifully choreographed grazing.




































I'll get to the apples next time, because I thought these gorgeous creatures deserved their own special post. I even found a nice poem to go along with today's theme.







White Horses

Let us ride white horses,
And pray the silver sand,
Beneath the hooves,
Hold us in high esteem,
And carry us loftily,
To mingle with the stars,
And dance on sunbeams,
Which tumble gracefully,
On a dusty wooden floor...


 

*** I hope you are enjoying your week.  I will be back in a few days with apples and maybe a recipe! Who knows! See you soon on your blogs!
 ~~ Diane ~~