food

The Best Loaded Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever

As the holidays draw near, I just had to share this recipe for the best loaded chocolate chip cookies I have ever tasted! A friend shared these with us as part of a meal she made during Ernie’s recovery. The recipe came from Deede Hinson, Innkeeper at …

The Gluttonous Pig

If I have to be out of my bed right now*, I might as well use my time productively and productive to me, as I sit in the clinic waiting for my dose of thick bleach, is thinking about gluttony, specifically, my gluttony. Two months ago, I was a rather smug, newly diagnosed healthy eating […]

Pasta Carbonara…Pioneer Woman Style

So, what are you having for dinner tonight? I’ve made this recipe a couple of times and it’s always a hit with our family and guests. Simple, tasty, not too many ingredients, and filling…especially if you love bacon like we do! I’ve been using thick…

Fresh Apple Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze

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A friend shared this delicious cake recipe from Pinterest, and I have made it for dessert many times now (thanks Shelley!). It’s simple to make and a great way to use apples and satisfy the sweet tooth. I have to admit…I even ate a piece for breakfast one day and it tasted great with my coffee! A reader asked me to share, so here you go. I know you’re gonna love it! (Feel free to double the recipe and use a 13 x 9 pan if you are feeding a larger crowd.)

Fresh Apple Cake w/ Brown Sugar Glaze adapted from Southern Cakes
Uploaded by Monica H at www.lickthebowlgood.blogspot.com
Apple Cake:
●      1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
●      1 cup sugar
●      1/2 teaspoon baking soda
●      1/2 teaspoon salt
●      1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
●      2 eggs
●      1/2 cup canola oil
●      1 teaspoon vanilla
●      1 1/2 cups finely chopped apples
●      1/2 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped (optional)
Brown Sugar Glaze:
●      1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
●      3 Tablespoons butter
●      1/2 teaspoon vanilla
●      1 Tablespoon heavy cream
For the cake: Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch pan (round or square) and set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.Stir with a whisk to mix everything together.
In a large bowl, mix the eggs with a hand mixer til light in color and foamy. Add the oil and vanilla and beat well.
Stir in the flour mixture with a spoon and continue stirring the batter til the flour disappears. Add the apples and nuts (if using) and stir to mix them into the batter.
Scrape batter into prepared pan and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Place the hot cake on a wire cake. While it’s still hot, prepare the glaze.
For the glaze: Combine all the ingredients into a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the mixture comes to a gentle boil. Cook for 3-5 minutes.
Spoon the hot glaze over the still hot-from-the-oven cake. Let the glazed cake cool completely before serving straight from the pan.

New Cookbook and Summer Foods

As much as I LOVE the Pioneer Woman cookbooks and recipes, I decided it was time to set them aside for a bit in order to boost our metabolism and try some healthier options. It’s been fun for my mom and I to use new recipes from a cookbook she recently…

Black Bean Confetti Salad

I recently found this salad recipe, gave it a try, and was really pleased with how delicious it was. So, I thought I would pass it along. Colorful, fresh, flavorful, and good for you…what more could you want on a hot summer day? Enjoy! Black Bea…

Comfort Food – Perfect Pot Roast

Sometimes you just need a little comfort food! That was the case last Friday for me. So what recipe came to mind? Pioneer Woman’s Perfect Pot Roast. So easy, so wonderful to smell cooking for 3 1/2 hours, and delicious once it is time to serve it up. N…

Mother’s Day Weekend in Boone

This year we were able to spend Mother’s Day in Boone. Leah, Kyle and Emery came up on Saturday, along with my brother, David, and his wife Shannon. So though we were missing the Dew Crew and Nick, and my brother Johnny and his wife JoAnn, we were able…

Fabulous Italian Food NY Style!

Mom and I got up early Saturday morning to make the drive from New Jersey to Long Island. We gave ourselves 5 hours to make the 2 1/2 hour trip because I am truly directionally impaired. Even with lots of prayer, a Garmin, our iPhones, and Mapquest dir…

The Best Strawberry Pie!

It’s that time of year again…time for fresh strawberries! I love the fruit stands that are popping up all over town to sell fresh strawberries, but more than that, I love to go strawberry picking. I clearly remember the days when our three were young…