Our family enjoyed a nice Christmas together and we also enjoyed our Annual Hors d'ouevre dinner - the 7th one! Here's this year's spread:
Mmmmmm.....everything was delicious!
- and just for fun - here's me posing in the beautiful mohair roving Janice gave me:
When I think back on Christmas 2008, what I'll remember most is all the cooking I did. We had ham and turkey. I did two loads of dishes every day! I love having all the boys home, including John, but they can really eat & make a mess! I even made six (6) fresh apple cakes - my mom's recipe which she borrowed from Mrs. Virginia Pugh's entry in the Rodes Family Night Favorites cookbook. I've plurked about the cakes several times, so as a New Year's present, I'm going to share the recipe.
Fresh Apple Cake
First, peel & chop about three cups of apples - I use Granny Smith's and find that two apples usually do the trick
In a large & deep mixing bowl combine & mix well:
1 & 1/2 cups of oil
2 cups of sugar
add 3 eggs and mix well-
then add 3 cups of flour - mix well
then...
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp. vanilla
a dash of cinnamon
Finally:
add 3 cups of chopped apples - mix well
a cup of coconut
a cup of nuts (I use walnuts)
a cup of raisins - but I use a cup of chocolate chips instead-because I am not fond of baked raisins!
Bake in a mold, (bundt, etc...) at 350 degrees for 1 & 1/2 hours or until done.
Icing:
1 cup of brown sugar
1/4 cup of sweetened condensed milk
1 stick of butter
Combine in saucepan. Stir until everything has melted. Boil gently for 1 & 1/2 minutes. Ice cake while still warm, slowly, so mixture will run into cake.
You can even make cupcakes!
I never made this cake until after my mom died. I remember her saying that it wasn't hard to make & it isn't. I hope you and your family will enjoy it as much as we do!
Best wishes for a happy, prosperous, & peaceful 2009.
God bless!
