Applesauce Buttermilk Spice Cake

This is a fabulous recipe to make a week or so after a fall apple picking trip, it includes fresh chopped apples AND apple sauce, so it helps you get the most out of all those apples!! I created this recipe to submit to Food52's Best Apple Cake contest. If this is the first you're hearing about food52, you need to bounce on over and check it out right now!! This is a website where each week Amanda & Merill post two categories, anyone can submit a recipe and then they actually make and taste-test the finalists!! Even better, once they select the top two, you and everyone you know can vote for the winning recipe which will be included in the cookbook published after a year, 52 weeks of this fabulous project.

My apple cake didn't make the cut, but it made Nate and my office pretty happy!!



Here's what you'll need;
2c cake flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
then 1/3 cup white sugar
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup butter, room temp
1 egg
1/3 cup applesauce
1 to 2 apples

This recipe will fit 1 8x8 pan + 6 muffins (that's what I did here)
18 muffins or a 9 inch bundt cake pan.

In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, ginger and set aside.
Finely chop 1 of the apples...it's ok if you eat some of this while you're baking, Nate ate about a 1/4 of mine and this came out fine!
Pre-heat the oven to 400. Prepare cake pan with non-stick spray and if you are making muffins only, line the muffin tin with paper liners.
Only if you are using the rectangle or square cake pan,and want the apple-topped cake, slice up the second apple using a mandoline slicer. This will make thin apple chips ;o)
In the bowl of a stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, combine the butter sugar and shortening until fluffy, then add the vanilla and mix until incorporated. Add the egg and mix, then the applesauce and mix. Slowly add the flour mixture and the buttermilk bit by bit alternating each, until all ingredients are mixed in.
Stir in the chopped apple bits.
Lay the thin apple slices all over the bottom of the pan, then pour the batter in.
For muffins and bundt omit the sliced apple chip step and just pour the batter in.
Bake muffins for about 18 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean, bake the 8 x 8 about 25 - 30 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean, the bundt cake may need just a bit longer than that about 30-40 minutes.



This was so delicious while it was still warm, it made Fall officially arrive in LA this week and I couldn't be happier!

Tuesdays With Dorie~ World Peace Cookies

This is a great recipe because, like so many in this Dorie Greenspan's; Baking from My Home to Yours, it is one that can be broken up in sections over days, even months if you go the freezer route! We try to DO as much as possible every weekend- really SQUEEZE every bit of fun, productivity, relaxing etc. as we can into those precious two days. Sometimes that curbs having 3-5 hours to bust out some fab baked goodness on a weekly basis. I highly recommend this as a SUPER simple cookie dough that is quick to throw together, and can be frozen for up to 2 months, so you can slice & bake anytime!! Love that. Seriously. Also an easy recipe to 1/2 for a smaller crowd, or bake half/freeze half (which is what I did).

This week's TUESDAYS WITH DORIE is the chocolatastic WORLD PEACE COOKIE, chosen by Jessica of COOKBOOK HABIT. Cruise on over to her blog to see these yummy peaceful cookies!!
THANKS JESSICA!!



We loved these cookies, they were awesome flavor and texture wise and would be fun to try some different add-ins with next time~
I will be out of town and miss next week so see ya for some SERIOUS cake the week after next!

Peace out~

Tuesdays with Dorie~ French Pear Tart

HAPPY NEW YEAR TWD!! I am so excited to be part of TWD as the group celebrates a whole year of baking fabulous recipes from the book "Baking; From My Home to Yours" by Dorie Greenspan.

I've been thrilled to be a part of this awesome group and could not think of a better way to kick off a new year - a second year of TWD - than with this delicious French Pear Tart. In addition to the excitement of the French Pear Tart itself, this weeks pick was one I've been looking forward to, because it was chosen by Dorie Greenspan!!
Visit Dorie's site to see the real deal, and the TUESDAYS WITH DORIE BLOGROLL to see everyone's tarts ;o)



I loved this recipe because it was perfect to pace out over a Sunday morning.
I made the crust first, then while it froze I made the Almond creme. (Thanks to Dorie suggesting in the recipe that the creme can be made ahead~)
Then the crust cooled and the creme fridged while we had lunch, after that, I poached pears and baked it up! My knife skills are a work in progress, but I think I did an ok job to be improved upon next time!

This tart is beautiful and INCREDIBLY DELICIOUS- Nate and I both love this tart and would make it again

If you don't already own Baking; From my Home to Yours...run on out and buy it, you will bake more in 2009 than ever before! WOOOHOO!!



Tune in next week for Savory Corn & Pepper Muffins~ I can't wait!

Tuesdays with Dorie~ Thanksgiving Twofer Pie

Nate was excited about this pie all week. Who wouldn't be? I mean it's such a great idea, and sounded so delicious!! Pecan AND pumpkin pie all in one crust is what this weeksTUESDAYS WITH DORIE is all about. The selection for the Thanksgiving Holiday edition of TWD was chosen by Vibi of LA CASSEROLE CARREE. Click over to h blog to see the full recipe~ and be sure to visit the TWD Blogroll for tons of stunning, creative, delicious versions on this pie!
I found that I agree with Dorie's hubby on this one and liked it much better the second day after it'd been in the fridge.



The next time I make this yummy holiday pie, I think I'll use my own pumpkin pie recipe for the bottom. I thought I was going to love the rum in the mix, but thought it was a little overpowering and wanted it to be more traditional pumpkin-pie-y.

I'd had this recipe marked since the day I bought this book and had a great time making it.

Tuesdays With Dorie~Rugelach

Alllllrightythen. A day late, but OH SO YUMMY!! This is a new favorite recipe/cookie for me and you will see them again at the Holidays, no doubt! The dough can be made ahead and frozen, they were freaking beyond easy and they are DELICIOUS!! I can't wait to try different variations of this sensational cookie! I had never heard of or tried Rugelach before so CHEERS to yet another spectacular discovery via Tuesdays With Dorie.



Head over to Grace's Blog Piggy's Cooking Journal to see a stunning version of these yummy cookies and to get the recipe! Thanks to Grace for a fabulous pick!



Don't miss all the other RUGELACH, visit the TUESDAYS WITH DORIE today!

Tuesday's With Dorie~Caramel-Peanut Topped Brownie Cake

While I do not have the beset photos of this delicious cake that I actually made back in April, I will say the only reason I didn't make it AGAIN to re-shoot, was because it was so delicious and we didn't have anyone coming over this weekend to help eat it, I knew I'd eat the whole thing...it's that good.

I was excited to see that Tammy ofWEE TREATS BY TAMMY chose Caramel-Peanut Topped Brownie Cake for this weeks TUESDAYS WITH DORIE because I loved this recipe and had to make it this past spring, but was saving it to post when it was picked...

April and March are chock full of Birthdays in our lives! Mine is March 16, then my sister-in-law's is March 31st, then my mom's is April 2nd, and Nate's is April 10th!!
So this cake was made to celebrate all of our birthdays this year!



It starts out with a super rich chocolate brownie-like cake...



Then comes homemade caramel sauce!!




The first time I saw (a much better photo than mine) this cake was on Peabody's Blog when she made it and I had been dying to make it! It brings together so many of my favorite things!



Head on over to the TUESDAYS WITH DORIE site to learn more about Tammy and visit all the beautiful TWD Cakes!!

Tuesdays With Dorie ~ Dimply Plum Cake

The past two weeks have been chock full of chocolate cookies! Which has been fun and fabulous, but it was nice to switch it up and bake a delicious breakfasty cake for this week's TUESDAYS WITH DORIE. This week's TWD selection comes to us from Michelle of BAKE-EN.




I did omit the cardamom from this recipe because I did not have any and it was really expensive at my grocery store!
Also, I figured since I took so much liberty with last weeks Chunksters, I pretty much stuck to the recipe with this one. You can find this recipe on Michelle's beautiful blog~
I will say I baked this bad-boy ten minutes longer than the recommended 40 minutes and it was still a wee bit under done in the center, but Nate was demanding PLUM CAKE!! PLUM CAKE!!! So be it. It still tasted very good!




Be sure to visit all the TUESDAYS WITH DORIE blogs that made this cake, many got into theplaying around section in the margin and made some awesome fruit and herb combos!

Tuesdays with Dorie~ Chocolate Whopper Malted Drops

I'm going to post this one ON TIME, so as not to continue getting more and more behind! This weeks selection for TUESDAYS WITH DORIE comes from Rachel of Confessions of a Tangerine Tart. When I saw the title of the recipe she chose, my jaw dropped. This sounded INCREDIBLE!

I can safely say I've never made a cookie with Whoppers in it, or using Malted Milk powder...I don't think I perfected this recipe this time around, I need to make it another time or two to figure out a few things. My cookies came out a bit flatter than I had hoped, and am not sure why...The photo in Dorie's book is stunning and they are big, thick, fat cookies. So, I'll try these again soon after I visit all the other TWD'er's blogs and get an idea of what I may have done to have big flat pancakey whopper cookies. They were DELICIOUS flat Whopper cookies, so that was good news.



Head on over to Rachel's blog to get the recipe and check out the TWD Blogroll for more awesome Malted Drops! I'll be right back with belated TWD editions (Blueberry Sour Cream Ice Cream and Granola Grabbers! New computer in full effect!)...

Tuesdays With Dorie~ Black & White Banana Loaf

YAY! I'm back!! We took a little vacation up North to visit Nate's best friend Charlie and had an incredible weekend with him, his wife Molly (who makes the best Bloody Mary I've ever had in my LIFE) and our first experience at the Oregon Brewers Festival. (more to come on that...)

So, though be it late, this marks my return from vacation, and return to TUESDAYS WITH DORIE

This weeks TWD recipe was chosen by Ashlee of A YEAR IN THE KITCHEN visit her site for the recipe if you don't have the fabulous book Baking~From My Home to Yours...You can also go to the TUESDAYS WITH DORIE site to see EVERYONE'S creations~



I LOVE banana and LOVE chocolate, though I've never made a bread combining the two flavors. Because I didn't want to eat the whole loaf myself, I opted to bake some muffins which was fun and easier to share with Nate's office!!

Thank you Ashlee for an awesome pick of yet another delicious Dorie recipe that I will no doubt make again!!

Running way behind, but I have CHEESECAKE!

Ok, so I have got a TON of catching up to do!! As you know, I fell off my blog-wagon back in April, with work, life and just WAY too much going on around me, I have stacks of drafts in my little blog-post-storage!! So, it's time I start getting caught up!!



This is actually my DARING BAKERS challenge from APRIL! (can you believe that, totally embarassing!) To keep it honest, I did not complete May's Opera Cake Challange, and I am doing my June goodness THIS weekend, but then I'll be all caught up, in the DB department at least!

These were probably my absolute favorite DARING BAKERS Challenge so far (since joining in December of 2007)



This challenge was chosen by Deborah of TASTE and TELL and Elle of Feeding My Enthusiasmshere are the links to their cheesecake pops, where you can find the recipe and many glorious versions of this super crowd friendly desert! This recipe comes from a must-own book of deliciousness, Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey by Jill O'Connor.



This was not too difficult, was SO impressive, and will be a go-to party desert for me for the rest of my life!! You can really go in any direction with these as far as decorating them- dark chocolate, milk chocolate, sprinkles, nuts, etc...the possibilities are endless!!

I did end up cooking mine about 15-20 minutes longer than the recipe called for, let it sit for 15 minutes with the oven off and door closed after cooking was complete.
I used straws from the grocery store that I cut with kitchen scisors, and mine are dipped in dark chocolate (some rolled in cut up reeses p.b. cups- but that didn't work too well, but well enough I think I'd just go crushed nuts & sprinkles next time...)

Tuesdays with Dorie~Peppermint Cream Puff Ring...

Ok, so I did not make a "ring"...I had to take a few liberties with this recipe, but in the end I was still a happy camper, as I always am when I make something from Baking; From My Home to Yours by: Dorie Greenspan.

This week's selection for the beautiful baking group TUESDAYS WITH DORIE comes to us from the lovely Caroline of A CONSUMING PASSION, you absolutely must cruise on over to her blog and check out what the REAL THING looks like!! (Mine are sorta-puffs).
Thanks for a fabulous pick Caroline, I have never made puff pastry before and was thrilled at how easy and fun this was!!!



As you know from last weeks TWD post- our little family has grown by one weenie, and I can't tell you exactly what it was I ate that tried to kill me this past weekend, but HOOO-BOY, it was no bueno. SO, due to these fun life obstacles, I needed to bust this one out quick-style on a Monday evening.

I don't own pastry bags and since I wouldn't be piping a whole ring, I decided to cut the puff pastry recipe in half and spoon the mixture into a well-buttered muffin tin (it made six big puffs).



Then I made the yummy mint-cream filling, which needed to chill out for 3 hours- but since it was 8pm and I'm not so much of a night owl, I will be completing this yummy pep-o-puff this evening while we watch the Lakers defy the odds and beat the Celtics IN Boston!! GO LAKE-SHOW!

So...Stay tuned for my finished puffers, AND don't miss next weeks edition of Tuesdays with Dorie, when the pick will come from yours truly, ME!

Tuesdays Wtih Dorie~ La Palette's Strawberry Tart

This should be called BEST, EASIEST TART EVER!!! What a perfect recipe to kick of summer with some fresh strawberries and a sweet crumbly crust!!
This weeks selection for TUESDAYS WITH DORIE comes to us from Marie of A YEAR FROM OAK COTTAGE, thanks for a fabulous selection Marie!!

If you have not visited Marie's blog, click the link above and go check it out! Visit often, you'll get totally addicted!! :)

I've been "away" for a bit, so before I get knee deep in tartiness, let me give a little blurb of catch up!
While I do have a slightly "consuming" job, that as I have mentioned, has nothing to do with baking, frying, glazing or whipping anything, I only have to travel for said job twice a year. Both of those trips, however, are a whole week long, and take almost two weeks of long hours and big tasks to prepare for. The good news is I have returned from the second of these two annual trips, just in time for summer, and ready to get back in the kitchen!!
On top of that fun time consumption, we are proud to announce the newest member of our family! This past Saturday we adopted AURTHUR an 18-20 month old red/tan weenie pup!! WELCOME TO OUR SWEET LIFE AURTHUR!! (I will do a separate, non-food-related, weenie post soon!)



AND, last but certainly not least, this post marks the first photos taken with my NEW CAMERA!! WOO HOO!!! Not that there was anything wrong with my old one, it was just time for a little upgrade and a few more mega pixels! Click HERE. to see the camera if you are interested...

WHEW- Now, onto the TART!



As I mentioned many words ago, this was super simple and VERY delicious!
For the recipe, you can visit Marie's blog or, as I always say, GO GET THIS BOOK.
CLICK HERE for a link to purchase Baking; From My Home to Yours by; Dorie Greenspan.

I actually recommended this book to several people I met on my business trip, because I have found it so much fun to bake from and know it will be a true "keeper" in our family for many years to come. AND the recipes are written out in a way that I've been able to follow them pretty well, which means so would most people :)

This tart consists of just a few very simple components;
1. A sweet tart crust (easy-peasy)
2. The best strawberry jam you can find (although I used preserves)
3. Fresh delicious strawberries

The rest is up to you! My husband said that he wanted to try it with pudding, so we made some mini-tarts. Also, I do not own an actual tart pan- so I used my 4 porcelain creme brulee dishes and made 4 little tarts! We did two as per the recipe (except for the preserves substitution) and the other two had a layer of banana pudding between the jamminess and the strawberries.



This is a "endless possibilities" recipe, no doubt!...Here's and update, this is a pick of Nate's tart with the pudding~

Tuesdays With Dorie- Peanut Butter Torte

Well this could not be more UP MY ALLEY! Of course it took me ALL friggin day to post this delicious concoction, but I did well time-wise in making it and did not stay up all night last night crushing peanuts!! After a pretty rough weekend, that I will absolutely not get into, I took a LONG nap after the Laker game on Sunday and then whipped this up, easy peasy!!




This recipe involved Peanut Butter, Cream Cheese, and Oreo Cookies. That's all I needed to know. There was also a yummy frosting included in the original recipe, but Nate wasn't into that AND I was lazy so I thought what better to top this with then a bunch of chopped up mini-Reeses peanut butter cups and chopped peanuts! This worked out famously and I have no regrets.



Thank goodness for Tuesdays With Dorie because the book we've been baking out of; Baking: From My Home To Yours, by Dorie Greenspan is an absolute MUST OWN GUIDE to BAKING GLORIOUS DESERTS!! I am so happy to be a part of this sensational group, and this weeks selection was picked by Elizabeth (what a fabulous name) of Ugg Smell Food.



She chose the Peanut Butter Torte, that is not only SUPER DELICIOUS, but also SUPER easy to throw together!! This is a desert I will no doubt be making MANY, MANY, MANY more times...I stuck straight to the recipe this go-round, but can't wait to make it again so I can play around with some of the flavors.

You can either visit Elizabeth's blog to see the recipe or as I said before and will say again BUY THIS COOKBOOK!! (it's worth it!!)




Also- go scope out the Tuesdays With Dorie Blog for every body's take on this yummy torte. The group has grown BIG TIME and it is filled with some pretty exceptionally talented and creative peeps~

BLOGGING BY MAIL- Happy Package Day!

I am vowing to SEND MORE PACKAGES, right this minute. I had a fabulous time participating in Blogging By Mail, hosted by the wonderful & delightful Stephanie of Dispensing Happiness. This is a brilliant event where bloggers are assigned a blogger-buddy to ship a package of goodness to! How much fun is that!?!



The blogger I shipped TO is Neha of The Literate and Liberal Foodie in Miami, Florida. Being on a recent health kick, and with summer right around the corner, I went to a local organic market and sent organic goodies of California origin :O)

I'm really looking forward to participating in this event again, I was flipping out excited when my package came.

It was from J of Have Fork, Will Travel one of my new favorite blogs. This was one PACKED PACKAGE, so detailed and SO fabulous!!

Here is what came to me from over the Atlantic.


Three fabulous vintage cocktail sticks!! I am head over heels for these, I love vintage glass artsy stuff of all sorts, so these were my favorite treasure in the package...even though EVERYTHING was awesome, as you'll see!


SMARTIES! Here in the US we have a sweet called Smarties, they are a little, sort of tart sugary candy, I like our Smarties, but these were CHOCOLATE, so these may be my #1 smartie now :)


J had checked out our blog before sending the package, and went on a search for a wiener-dog cookie cutter!! As I mentioned around the Holidays I don't own ANY cookie cutters and have been wanting to find one like this for a while! Leela & I have not made cookies with it just yet but we're planning to...


Especially because of these cool BONE cookie cutters! Leela's turning FIVE this October so I think we'll make her some fun gluten free (she is allergic) cookie-biscuits in these cute shapes!


WOO HOO!! A COOKBOOK!!!! We live in a pretty small apartment, with very little cookbook storage, so this is fantastic because I have never made any of Nigel Slater's recipes and it is his first book, and the perfect size!


Mini Cheddars~ I shared the Smarties with my co-workers, but hoarded this bag of Mini-Cheddar crackers until I got home so Nate would be sure to get at least one. I adore cheesy snacks and these were yummy! (although J mentioned the flavor has been "improved" since she was a kid), much like the Chex Mix they sell here in the store...


Alessi coffee spoons~ adorable heart shaped spoons!! I have an espresso maker that I love dearly and these little spoons will be so sweet when serving espresso after a little dinner get together! J suggested using them for rich chocolate deserts, which I will definitely do!


Gingerbread man cookie cutter & candles (the candles are behind the spoon-holding cookie cutter). This package really started me with a good arsenal of cookie cutters. There will be some fun cookie decorating around here this Christmas!! Nate thought the candles were candy, they are so cute, but fortunately asked before he ate one :)



Cupcake charm~ what a sweet lil' charm!! I shared this one with Lee and let it decorate her collar!! :O)


Little Lady bug clips to keep it all together!! These are super cute and perfect place holders in cookbooks!

Thank you so much J, for a wonderful package!! And thanks to Stephanie for a wonderful event, I can't wait for the next BBM exchange! :)