Friday, August 15, 2014

Apple Cake - Baked Today

Here it is before baking. I used a corning ware baking dish that was the size called for in the recipe. An 8" round or square would have been better. There wasn't much batter. I used raw sugar and coconut oil in the batter and raw sugar/cinnamon and real butter for the topping. Granulated sugar might have been better. Not sure.

It was more like shortbread than cake. I used only one pink lady apple. It was rather dry but I liked it. My baking powder was probably too old because it didn't rise much. Ice cream on top would have been good but I didn't have any. Anyway, I baked it and ate it. Yum.

Indoor Geranium

My indoor salmon-pink geranium continues to make me happy. I've been watering it with "blue water" and it is loaded with blossoms. I wish people potions worked this well. 

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Every Morning

I usually have a hard time going back to sleep once I wake up. I'm trying something new to see if it helps me sleep later instead of getting up at the crack of dawn. For the past two evenings, I have done a short workout with my hula hoop and it worked. I slept better and later. I did 10 minutes the first night, 12 minutes last night and tonight I did 15 minutes. Fingers crossed!!!

Cool Photo

I wonder if this was planned? Isn't it clever? via

1965 German Apple Cake Recipe

I picked up a vintage spiral cookbook from 1965 today and this recipe was marked with a paper clip. I was impressed by the tiny amount of sugar called for and will definitely make this German Apple Cake. When in the world have you seen a recipe that calls for only 1/4 cup of sugar? Of course there is a little more, because you have to sprinkle cinnamon-sugar on top.

I will use coconut oil as the shortening and real butter to dot on top. This recipe will probably take at least 4 apples. I have Pink Lady on hand now and they are nice and sweet. I will probably cut my apples into 16ths -- not sure about that part yet. I will add the apples one at a time in case it takes fewer than my guesstimate. I will grease the pan with butter too. Yum!
I made this. See photos and my revised recipe here.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Lauren Bacall 1924-2014 RIP

CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD--the first paragraph of the Vanity Fair Article March 2011
To Have and Have Not
She’s one of the last of Hollywood’s golden-age stars, the girl who stole Humphrey Bogart’s heart at age 19 and has been grappling with their dual legend ever since. Now 86, Lauren Bacall looks back on a lucky, if often difficult, life as she gives it straight to Matt Tyrnauer, talking about the effect of Bogie’s fame on her and their kids; her very brief engagement to Frank Sinatra; her stormy second union, to Jason Robards; and why she hates the Oscar she received, in 2009.

Lauren Bacall with Sophie, her papillon, in her apartment at the Dakota, in New York City. She was 86 in this photo and doesn't she look great? She died yesterday, about a month shy of her 90th birthday. Vanity Fair Magazine did a feature about her in March 2011 - read it here. The article is six pages long and it's delicious -- enjoy.

Choices

Thanks so much for all of your positive comments and support regarding my recent problem. I have the best followers!!! xo

Great Country House

Image from The Fuller View on Pinterest
This gorgeous white on white colonial home is already all decked out for the Memorial Day Weekend that's just around the corner. The summer's almost over and it has really been a great one. I haven't had my AC on for ages! We had howling wind and a really rain last night. It was predicted so I had already closed all but my bedroom windows. The curtains were blowing at a 45° angle when I bounded out of bed to close them before the rain started. I'm enjoying an overcast morning and the sun has promised to come out this afternoon. xo