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 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
Great books. I love it when the library has a supply like that. The apple cake looks delicious.
ReplyDeleteMmmm...apple cake and all the lovely reading. Sounds like the perfect way to spend an evening!
ReplyDeleteI'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!
ReplyDeleteKelli
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!
ReplyDeleteOoh, apple cake1 I'll defintitely try this!
ReplyDeleteI wish my library carried the same wonderful books that yours does!!
ReplyDeleteYour Apple Loaf Cake recipe looks delicious ~ I know what I'm making for tonights dessert...Thanks Deb.
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!
ReplyDeleteDoing 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!!
ReplyDeleteJackie in ON
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.
ReplyDeleteMust try the apple cake.
ReplyDeleteMary 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.
ReplyDeleteSounds lovely!!!
ReplyDeleteI have three of those books. I LOVE them!
ReplyDeleteI made the Apple Loaf Cake tonight.
It is fabulous. My husband enjoyed it too.
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.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the recipe. It sounds wonderful!