Thursday, November 4, 2010

Something In The Water


All over Blogland people seem to be nesting, baking, and making yummy stick to your ribs meals these days.  Kim at Savvy Southern Style recently made some yummy soup...where does that girl find the time to paint AND cook?!  And the lovely Jane from Blondie's Journal made the cutest acorn sugar cookies!!  There must be something in the air...or something in the water that's making us all want to cook and bake!




If you come from the land down under I'm sure all of this seems silly since you are coming into your warmest months.  But for some of us, it's getting chilly and downright yucky outside.  Today it rained cats and dogs here and I had to wear my big warm coat to take the dogs out.




Miss Kylee hasn't been feeling up to snuff this week so I've stayed close to home just in case she needs me.  Today was more of the same, and with the bad weather I decided it would be a good time to make something to warm us up for dinner.




A big pot of chili sounded just right, so I made some using my mom's famous chili recipe.  My son Bugs loves it when the weather gets chilly, because he would eat my mother's chili every day of the week if he could!




It was just Bugs and me at home for dinner tonight and after he ate his bowl of chili, along with a big hunk of french baguette, he suggested I make something yummy for dessert.  As much as he loves my mom's chili recipe he also loves her apple nut cake recipe.  After a little persuading I agreed to make it for him and he was happy as a clam!




My mother was a wonderful cook, just like her mother, and she taught all 4 of us how to cook, including my brother.  When I was young I would watch my mother cut up vegetables as though she were a sous-chef at a busy 5 star restaurant.  Even Mr. Tide once commented on how quickly and efficiently my mother could cut up celery, carrots, onions...anything.

 


When I got married I would often call my mom and ask her for this recipe or that recipe and she would always give me the directions over the phone.  Usually the next time I saw her she would have the recipe neatly written out on a recipe card for me to add to my collection.   Her apple nut cake is one of those beloved recipes that still bears her handwriting, something I now treasure.

This cake is delicious, and the frosting will make you need to take a nap it's so sweet...and oh so good!

Apple Nut Cake

1 1/2 cups Wesson Oil
2 cups white sugar
3 eggs
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
1 Tablespoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups finely chopped apples
1/2 cup finely chopped nuts (I've used both walnuts and pecans)
3 cups flour (not sifted)

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

Finely chop the apples and place in a large bowl with the sugar
Add the eggs, oil, and vanilla
Stir in cinnamon, soda, salt, and nuts
Add flour and stir until thoroughly mixed

Pour batter into a greased tube pan and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out cleanly and the top is a nice golden brown.  Let cool.

Brown Sugar Frosting

1 cup brown sugar (packed)
1 stick butter or margarine
1/2 cup evaporated milk

Combine all ingredients in a medium sauce pan and boil for 4 minutes or until it reaches soft ball stage.  Let cool for 10 minutes and glaze the top and sides of the cake.

My frosting dripped quite a bit because a certain someone was too impatient to wait for it to cool.

It was a yummy meal tonight I must admit, but one small slice of apple cake is plenty for me...it's very rich!  I'd love to hear from any of you that decide to make this delicious apple cake!

And don't forget to enter to win my latest Giveaway... simply click HERE!!!

I heard this song recently and I thought it was cute...enjoy!

32 comments:

  1. For me it is soup - I could cry with satisfaction when I make something in my granny's tradition, usually a delicious thin broth with vegetables and meat, or a rich and fragrant lentil soup, with bacon. The chopping of vegetables is a ritual in itself. Soup.

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  2. That cake looks absolutely amazing...I have never made an apple cake but for some reason I have been thinking about making one for Thanksgiving and it looks like I just found my recipe!...and that brown sugar frosting...oh my goodness...I think I need to make a practice one or two!

    ~jermaine

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  3. Oh my - this looks so wonderful - this recipe is going straight to my kitchen - will be this weekends project! Beautiful photos - an amazing cake!! THANKS!!

    Vicki

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  4. Hi Kat. That made me think of when I find a note with my mothers handwriting on it. She cannot write anymore because of her stroke. We need to be grateful for the small things.

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  5. This looks like the perfect fall dessert. Yum!

    -Rene

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  6. Hand written recipes from people who we love and care about are so special. I'm happy you have some from your mother. You will always cherish them.

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  7. Hand-written recipes make a great gift for a bridal shower or any young woman starting out.

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  8. Looks absolutely delicious, I'll have to give it a try.

    I have recipes in my grandmother's handwriting that I still treasure.. I also have one she wrote on the back of an envelope that has her old mailing address on it...

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  9. What a lovely way to end a meal of delicious chili. That apple cake is definitely a keeper. I'm one of the very few people who are not chocoholics and this looks like such a great recipe. Loved your words too.

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  10. I love this post..it really is homey and hearty and heartwarming!
    that photo with your canisters is my favourite, although I must say they were all great!

    ciao bella
    I'll bet your home smelled wonderful during the production of this post!

    creative carmelina

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  11. I enjoyed every aspect of this post. The photos are so pretty in a warm and cozy way. I also enjoyed reading about your mom's recipes and how she taught all of her children to cook. She sounds like a very wise woman :).
    My mom is gone now, but I do have some of her handwritten recipes that I cherish.
    The apple cake looks scrumptious. Thanks for sharing.

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  12. You'd better stop with the food photos or I'm going to have to hurt you.... AND take your spatula away too!

    Di

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  13. My goodness that looks so good. It is the cooler weather making us nuts. I don't usually cook or bake much until this time of year. Thanks for mentioning me. I have a clone, don't you know that!

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  14. Recipe looks delish! I think I'll try it this evening! Big weekend ahead....2 daughters getting married next summer and all 3 daughters and I are going wedding dress trying on tomorrow. So dinner all together tonight since one daughter lives out of town and will be coming in tonight for a sleepover! How fun that'll be! Since there will be plenty here to eat it I'll try it on them tonight. Looks warm your belly gooey good! I'm with Bugs, can't wait to dive into it! hope he saved some for Dad!

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  15. My last day in
    paradise and I'm
    playing catch up
    on the computer
    before the sun is
    high in the sky : ) !
    Loved seeing your
    sweet--and beautiful--
    face behind the lens.
    This post has me thinking
    ahead to Thanksgiving
    and beyond. 'Lots of
    yummies. Like you,
    I want to be READY for
    it all this year, and
    able to enjoy the journey.
    Have a wonderful weekend!
    xx Suzanne

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  16. Oh wow...how decadent!! I love that frosting...I would be using my fingers. I have been seeing a lot of recipes with apples, I guess this is the time of year and somehow since it's fruit, it seems less fattening!! I bet Bugs was a happy camper! Thanks for the recipe. Your mom would be proud.

    XO,
    Jane

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  17. Yikes that looks good and so appropriate for the weather. We are looking for snow today, what better meal than a big bowl of chili and that cake? I didn't learn to cook at home when I was young so poor Mr. Hubby suffered through some horrible meals when we were first married. I finally got the hang of it and I love nothing more than to be in the kitchen on a snowy day baking. Thanks for the recipe!

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  18. Ooh Kat that looks so delicious!! I have an old notebook that is full of my grandmas recipes. She LOVED to cook and bake, unfortunately I missed that boat, but I do like to every now and then and this looks like a good one to do! I could eat chili everyday as well!! It is my favorite when the weather turns cold! Have a wonderful weekend and I hope that Miss Kylee feels better soon! hugs

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  19. Thank you for sharing your moms recipes with us. Isn't it nice that you have her handwritten recipe cards. I'll be adding these to my on-line recipe file. You had mentioned creating a line of cards, maybe copies of your mom's recipes would make nice greeting cards.

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  20. Yum. Thanks for sharing. Sounds so wonderful.

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  21. Oh, poor pup. I hope she's back to normal soon! Don't you just worry awfully when our four-leggeds aren't themselves?...it's like a light has gone out somewhere in them.

    I have a bit of a problem with cookbooks; I can't resist them. Last count...well, I don't count. One thing I always try to do when I get a new one is write a little something inside, about what's going on in my life; in the world; what kind of day it is; what, if anything, it's supposed to commemorate. My daughter is a "natural" cook, like her father; they can both whip something up with their eyes closed. I, however, need step-by-step instructions, preferably with gorgeous photos to inspire. I hope one day she enjoys her "inheritance" and the little notes I've written inside...

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  22. I was about to get up and make a cup of coffee for my afternoon treat. Seeing this made me wish I could just take my cup and walk down the street and your house would be there smelling sweetly of this yummy cake. And you'd graciously offer me a bite.
    Brenda

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  23. That looks delicious! I've been baking and blogging too. I may be making this this evening. My mom and brother are coming to visit and this will be a tasty dessert!

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  24. Oh my goodness.....that looks absolutely delicious! I'm printing this recipe off and will certainly attempt (I'm not a baker/cook by any means....) to make it look as good as yours! Thanks for sharing it!

    xoxo laurie

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  25. The frosting did it for me, as soon as I saw it I'm sure I put on several pounds. Love this time of year though! So glad for the handwritten treasures we have from our loved ones. xo ~Lili

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  26. That cake looks deliciously gooey!
    Yep, this recipe is getting tested out soon. :-)

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  27. mmmmm...all kinds of deliciousness:)

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  28. I know..., there's so much yumminess everywhere, which drove me to buy some starfish and shell cookie cutters..., so I'll be trying to bake something as well! Bon appetit -it's looking delicious!

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  29. There must be something in the water!
    I've made that apple cake with the caramel icing, from Martha's blog Lines from Linderhof - at least it's almost the very same cake. Yesterday I made three pies and stored a bit in the freezer - very nesty indeed!

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  30. Kat, that cake looks so yummy! I'm down with a cold and not that hungry but that cake has perked up my senses a little!

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  31. Kat,
    That cake looks amazing! My mouth was actually watering while I was reading this post. I am absolutely going to try this one!

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  32. My mouth is watering! I'm trying not to bake...to save a few calories! lol But this cake recipe is calling my name! It looks amazing! ♥

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