Looking Forward to Fall

This hot NC weather needs to go!  So today I made apple nut cake to welcome in the start of Fall, even though we have 3 more weeks of summer.  I changed the recipe which I never do when it's one handed down but I was low on eggs and wanted to cut out some of the fat and sugar.

Enjoy :)

Apple Nut Cake

Original version:

3 eggs

1 1/2 C sugar

1 C oil

2 C flour

1 t salt

1 t baking soda

2 t cinnamon

2 C diced apples

1 C chopped nuts

Mix ingredients until blended.  Then add apples and nuts.  Spread in greased 13x9 pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

My version:

3/4 C applesauce

2/3 C sugar

1/2 C oil + 1/2 C applesauce

2 C flour

1 t salt

1 t baking soda

2 t cinnamon

2 C diced apples

1/2 C chopped nuts

Mix ingredients until blended.  Then add apples.  Spread in greased 13x9 pan and sprinkle nuts on 1/2 of cake.  Bake at 350 degrees for 31 minutes.

Cupcake Haven

My daughter's room is done in a cupcake theme.  I have loved the look of cupcakes and the idea of them for as long as I can remember.  But I didn't enjoy baking or frosting them.  This made me feel a bit hypocritical!  After using the boxed mixes (and loving the texture, by the way), I realized I had to find a homemade version that worked for me and here it is: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/vanilla-cupcakes-recipe2/index.html.  These are delicate, perfectly sweet, and they require only 1 stick of butter for the batter.  This is unheard of in the cupcake world!  You will not be disappointed with these gems.    

After finding this diamond in the ruff recipe, I was inspired to make a different cupcake every three months for the first year of my daughter's life.  Here are some of my creations:

cookies and cream cupcake

chocolate covered cherry cupcake

raspberry swirl cheesecake cupcake

peanut butter filled brownie cupcake

Constant Craving: Cake

Avocado Pound Cake

Hummingbird Cake

Orange Creamsicle Cake

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Cornmeal Cake

I am constantly craving cake.  That soft, fluffy texture that springs back when you bite into it is so comforting.  I've listed 5 recipes here.  I've made the first four recipes but have not made the fifth.  Doesn't it look gorgeous??  I am a huge fan of cornmeal too so I'm eager to try the last cake!  The avocado pound cake and hummingbird cakes are a bit heavier than the creamsicle and coffee cakes but all are equally delicious.  All depends what you're in the mood for: citrus notes (the first three have fruits involved) or coffee cake notes!  You choose :)