family / IN MY KITCHEN

grateful hearts and full bellies

Yesterday afternoon while my girls were snuggled beside the woodstove "studying" an episode of Little House on The Prairie, I slipped off into the kitchen to make a little thank you gift for my favorite veteran. If you didn't see the video I shared yesterday, that my father shared with me, I hope you'll take a few minutes to watch it. I tend to think I'm a pretty grateful, patriotic person–yet watching that video reminds me of how easily we take our freedoms and safety for granted. It is important to see the faces, hear the words and memories of a generation that has kept our generation free.

So, this little "Veteran's Day Apple Cake" is a good one. Simple, quick, and best of all it's a "one to keep, one to give" kind of cake. The recipe makes two loaves. I owe the discovery of this cake to my sister–who made it for me on our last visit. And I'm pretty sure it comes out of her church's recipe book. I swear, those little church recipe collections are full of culinary greatness. 

for my favorite veteran

:: Veteran's Day Apple Cake ::

p.s. this cake does not fall in the low-fat, low-cal category. but it is high in the yum-factor.

1 1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 cups sugar (see what I mean?)

3 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

3 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 cups chopped, peeled apples

1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Combine oil, sugar, eggs and vanilla. (I mix the whole cake by hand, and don't bother getting out any kind of electric mixer or my kitchenaid). Sift dry ingredients and add to wet. Fold in apples and nuts. Pour into two greased (or parchment lined) 9 x 5 loaf pans. (my pans are different sizes, I just monitor their doneness at the end.)

Bake for 1 hour at 350. Turn off the oven and let stand in the oven for five minutes or until loaves test done. The tops should be nice and dark and crunchy, the insides will stay moist (one of my all-time most despised words) and delicious.

Now, I know it will be hard, but wrap one of those loaves up and share it with someone special. And enjoy the other one yourself.

Yum.

Yesterday afternoon while my girls were snuggled beside the woodstove "studying" an episode of Little House on The Prairie, I slipped off into the kitchen to make a little thank you gift for my favorite veteran. If you didn't see the video I shared yesterday, that my father shared with me, I hope you'll take a few minutes to watch it. I tend to think I'm a pretty grateful, patriotic person–yet watching that video reminds me of how easily we take our freedoms and safety for granted. It is important to see the faces, hear the words and memories of a generation that has kept our generation free.

So, this little "Veteran's Day Apple Cake" is a good one. Simple, quick, and best of all it's a "one to keep, one to give" kind of cake. The recipe makes two loaves. I owe the discovery of this cake to my sister–who made it for me on our last visit. And I'm pretty sure it comes out of her church's recipe book. I swear, those little church recipe collections are full of culinary greatness. 

for my favorite veteran

:: Veteran's Day Apple Cake ::

p.s. this cake does not fall in the low-fat, low-cal category. but it is high in the yum-factor.

1 1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 cups sugar (see what I mean?)

3 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

3 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 cups chopped, peeled apples

1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Combine oil, sugar, eggs and vanilla. (I mix the whole cake by hand, and don't bother getting out any kind of electric mixer or my kitchenaid). Sift dry ingredients and add to wet. Fold in apples and nuts. Pour into two greased (or parchment lined) 9 x 5 loaf pans. (my pans are different sizes, I just monitor their doneness at the end.)

Bake for 1 hour at 350. Turn off the oven and let stand in the oven for five minutes or until loaves test done. The tops should be nice and dark and crunchy, the insides will stay moist (one of my all-time most despised words) and delicious.

Now, I know it will be hard, but wrap one of those loaves up and share it with someone special. And enjoy the other one yourself.

Yum.

13 comments on “grateful hearts and full bellies”

  1. Do you think I could use some apples that are a little past their prime for this? We picked a few too many and I don’t want to just toss them. It is either this or applesauce.

  2. Alright so I just clicked one of your little links at the bottom of the post that took me to your April post (before I discovered your lovely blog) you wrote about your Grandma right after her death. The comments on that post were closed, so I’ll comment here . . . My grandma died last April too. Although most of my life we lived geographically far apart (me in Minnesota and her in Connecticut) she meant so much to me. Your post also reminded me of my relationship with my other Grandma who lives near me, teaches piano to 3 of my 5 kids and who also means so much to me. I will savor her a little more next time I see her, know she won’t be here forever . . . thankfully none of us will! Thanks for the reminder and the great post. I’m so sorry about your grandma, but thankful that she is with the Lord and that you will see her again someday. Praise God!Blessings!Shana

  3. Ok, I just put one loaf and one pan of muffins/cupcakes in the oven. I only own one loaf pan! Thanks for the recipe.

  4. Success! I baked the muffins for 24 minutes, and they are great. My non-apple eating son even liked them. I did the sneaky mom thing and had him try it before telling him what was in it. I love that trick!

  5. I’m making this tonight!

    I am always thrilled to find a recipe that is non-dairy … I can actually eat the whole loaf. LOL I’m rethinking that … I still need to fit into my blue jeans tomorrow!

    Love your blog … I visit here a couple of times a month and enjoy your journaling and fabulous photography so much.

  6. k…i’m totally making that cake,it looks delicious!!

    and i have to tell you thati am refraining from calling my kids overright nowto show them your postand that i am not the only person in the worldwho despises the “m” word…they tease me allllll the time about that.

    :O)love your blog, by the way…i don’t always comment,but i am always reading.:O)

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