09.10.10

I've realized I'm not a very good blogger...weeks go by and I don't post anything at all! But lots of stuff happens every day; just nothing earth shattering.

The big thing - back in JULY on the 24th, 7 weeks ago tomorrow, my oldest son Josh got married to Megan Smith. The ceremony was in a Presbyterian church in Spokane Washington. The reception? Coeur D'Alene resort...the famous one with the golf course that has a floating tee. We rented a house for the week, and despite the problems Dan and I are having, the week went well! Tim and Mary, Sam, Dan and I stayed for the entire week - my mom came in for a short week, and we had Josh with us for 3 nights. The festivities went off without any hitch that I was aware of, they had an Alaskan Cruise for a honeymoon, and Dan and I managed to get through the week amicably.

I've been up to Lafayette a few times since we came home - staying over at Tim's once and at Josh's once. This past weekend, Mary's Mom, DAd and brother Elijah were visiting as well - dinner with them Saturday night and then a Flea Market on Sunday. Good times. Didn't see J & M tho - they were up in Chicago visiting friends. So i slept in their apt. Kind of nice having a key to both places...

I really like Lafayette...little neighborhoods here and there, Purdue of course being a big draw, and the real estate is affordable. I"m thinking once this is over? I'm heading up there. I'd be by the kids; mebbe I'd even go back to college, and get a master's.

anyway - the big thing of the week was this apple bundt cake recipe that I found. Took it to Tim's and it was a big hit! Easy to make and very much yum. I'll post it here! It's perfect timing as allll the apples are going to start arriving in the markets. I won't be getting any apples this year - it's been too dry and the apples are falling without sweetening up. NO apricots either. Not many pears - i gave most to a friend of mine. I just couldn't stand the thought of making jelly. i DID make raspberry and blackberry and grape jelly - and am hoarding all that.

the persimmons are starting to drop, heaven help me! doesn't seem to matter whether the summer is dry or wet, those things develop just fine.

Here's the recipe...

Blue Ribbon Apple Bundt Cake credit for this recipe to Crystal Villa
Preheat Oven to 350 degrees , Grease and flour a Bundt Pan,
Baking Time - 65 - 75 minutes

Ingredients!
STREUSEL
- 3/4 c sugar
- 3 tsp orange flavored instant drink mix (like tang)
- 2 tsp cinnamon

- CAKE
- 3 c all purpose flour
- 2 c sugar
- 3 tsp baking powder
- 3 tsp orange flavored instant drink mix
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 c vegetable oil
- 1/2 c water
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 lg eggs
- 4 c apples, peeled and thinly sliced

- SPICE GLAZE
- 2 c powdered sugar
- 1 Tbsp butter, softened
- 1/2 tsp apple pie spice or a combination of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg
- 2 - 4 Tbsp milk

DIRECTIONS!

1. Combine streusal ingredients and set aside
2. In a large bowl, combine all cake ingredients EXCEPT apples.
3. Pour 1/3 batter (about 1 2/3 cup) into Bundt Pan.
4. Layer 2 cups of apples over the batter.
5. Sprinkle with half the streusal
6. Layer another 1/3 of the batter
7. Layer the other 2 cups of apples over the batter
8. Sprinkle with remaining streusal
9. Layer the last bit of batter

Bake for 65-75 minutes. Use the toothpick test for doneness.
Cool in pan for 3 minutes and then invert and remove. Cool Completely.

After it's cool, prepare the glaze.
In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar butter and spice.
Add milk one tbsp at a time until smooth and of drizzling consistency.
Drizzle glaze over cooled cake -
I did NOT use the glaze...we used vanilla ice cream instead. :)