Tuesday, November 28, 2006

some reading & apple cake

No Christmas decorating going on here yet, as I probably won't start until next week. Instead I'm spending this week giving the main rooms a semi-deep cleaning before I start hauling up the decorations from the basement. I've been working on gifts that I am sewing/knitting and gathering decorating/gift/recipe ideas. I picked up some books from the library....
ME's book is full of good craft ideas like the paper cones I've been wanting to make and good recipes ~ I would like to try the Winter Breakfast Frittata and definitely the French Apple Tart!
The Thimbleberries book is full of great decorating ideas. I love the mantle done with greenery, dried hydrangeas, and pine cones. Maybe I will do that with the hydrangea blossoms I dried...

I also picked up two Country Living books by Christina Strutt, which I had never seen. I love the vintage style decorating, and the Crafting Vintage Style book shows how to make many of the items shown in the Decorating Vintage Style book. I think some of the projects would make nice gifts like the ~ scented sachets, linen-covered journal, and gardener's apron.

I have a wonderful supply of apples to use, so I made this apple cake for morning tea today. The recipe is below if you would like to try it ~ it's a favorite here!

Enjoy!


Apple Loaf Cake

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar

3 teaspooons baking powder

1/2 cup butter, cut up

1/2 pound cooking apples, peeled, cored, & finely chopped (1 1/4 cups)

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

  • Butter and flour a 8.5 x 4.5 x 3.75 -inch loaf pan; butter & flour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Sift flour, sugar & baking powder into large bowl. With pastry blender or knives, cut in butter until mixture resembles fine meal. (I like to use my food processor ~ just pulse, don't overdo). Toss chopped apple in flour mixture. Set aside.
  • In small bowl, whisk together egg & milk until blended. Stir into apple mixture until mixed. (Batter will be stiff.) Spread batter evenly in dish.
  • Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 to 50 minutes until skewer inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven. Cool on rack 10 minutes. Remove from dish. Cool on rack. Yield: 12 servings

14 comments:

  1. Great books. I love it when the library has a supply like that. The apple cake looks delicious.

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  2. Mmmm...apple cake and all the lovely reading. Sounds like the perfect way to spend an evening!

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  3. I'll have to see if our library has those books, I love Mary Engelbriet! Your apple cake looks delicious, perfect with a nice cup of tea!
    Kelli

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  4. Anonymous8:36 AM

    Too funny Debbie, I just picked up the ME book at our library:-) I have to try that cake, love apples around here. We share the same china too---love blue and white!

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  5. Ooh, apple cake1 I'll defintitely try this!

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  6. I wish my library carried the same wonderful books that yours does!!
    Your Apple Loaf Cake recipe looks delicious ~ I know what I'm making for tonights dessert...Thanks Deb.

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  7. Anonymous12:30 PM

    Thanks for sharing the books you're reading. I didn't realize that Thimbleberries had books like that. I'll have to check into it as it sounds wonderful!

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  8. Doing a good cleaning before decorating is a good idea! Your recipe for Apple Loaf Cake looks great, I think I'll try that one! And you have my dishes, that very cup and saucer are sitting in my kitchen cupboard!!

    Jackie in ON

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  9. Ihe books look so interesting. All the Christmas books disappeared from our library a couple of weeks ago and probably won't be seen again until the New Year. The cake looks delicious.

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  10. Anonymous2:53 PM

    Must try the apple cake.

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  11. Anonymous3:08 PM

    Mary Engelbreit books are wonderful! Looking at them gets me into the spirit. I have "The Best Christmas Ever" sitting on my coffee table right now.

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  12. I have three of those books. I LOVE them!

    I made the Apple Loaf Cake tonight.
    It is fabulous. My husband enjoyed it too.

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  13. I love the Thimbleberries decorating books. Did you know that there is a bigger one that the pictures in this book were taken from? It's really nice and includes project patterns and recipes too.
    Thank you for the recipe. It sounds wonderful!

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Thank you for taking time to leave a comment--I love reading each and every one! I will try to answer any questions you have in the comment section. Due to the amount of spam, I am sadly no longer able to accept Anonymous comments....Kindly, Deb

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