tarte tatin

I made the tarte tain this evening for dessert. It seemed to be a hit. The critics here usually share if they do not care for something, they are never too polite. I served it with ice cream, a perfect combination.

more about apples

We squeezed in a trip to the orchard today between soccer games, we were out of apples. We are now stocked up again and should be good for about ten days. It is crazy how many apples we go through.

I think I might try and make the tarte tatin that I saw on Smitten Kitchen for dessert tomorrow night. I think the kids will love it. The apple crisp that I made last weekend was a huge hit and I like to try and make them treats that are seasonal.

snapshot of fall 04

Number four had his field trip this week. The pre-school went to a local farm and did the hayride, apple and pumpkin picking thing. He had a ton of fun!

apples to apples

Yesterday I taught my first art class to little kids (a lifetime ago I taught undergraduate graphic design classes). The theme of the class is apples to apples. We are going to be doing a lot of apple themed projects. It was four little girls along with one tag along, my youngest. The girls are fun and had a great time.

I am looking forward to next week.

apple cake

Last Friday I was a bit burned out from making the cards and a bit bored as well. While looking on the Smitten Kitchen blog I came across a recipe for apple cake. Feeling a need to fill some time in my day I decided to make it.

The cake seemed to be a success, everyone said that they liked it (I do not care for cake, therefore not a valid tester). It is perfect for a fall day. As a treat I served it to the kids with some vanilla ice cream.

Apple Cake
adapted from smitten kitchen

6 apples, Mom uses McIntosh apples
1 tablespoon cinnamon
5 tablespoons sugar

2 3/4 cups flour, sifted
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup melted unsalted butter
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup orange juice
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
4 eggs
1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a tube pan. Peel, core and chop apples into chunks. Toss with cinnamon and sugar and set aside.

Stir together flour, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together oil, melted butter, orange juice, sugar and vanilla. Mix wet ingredients into the dry ones, then add eggs, one at a time. Scrape down the bowl to ensure all ingredients are incorporated.

Pour half of batter into prepared pan. Spread half of apples over it. Pour the remaining batter over the apples and arrange the remaining apples on top. Bake for about 1 1/2 hours, or until a tester comes out clean.

snapshot of fall 03

All of the apples are gone. I am planning another trip to pick this week. Perhaps we need thirty pounds...

snapshot of fall 01

I stuck some of the apples that were to small to eat in this nice silver bowl that I just got.

apples

The kids had off from school yesterday (and they are off again today). It was the perfect fall day, warm and clear. I decided to take them apple picking, a first for us.

They loved it. We took a hay ride out to the orchards and were left to pick on our own. We managed to pick twenty-five pounds of three different varities.

Now we have tons of apples. They ate three each before dinner. The girls brought a bag of them to their friends house and the boys and I dropped some at our neighbors. I arrange the really tiny ones in a bowl and we are still left with tons. I think I will make some apple butter, I just need to find a good recipe for it. My neighbor offered to drop off a supply of canning jars, I guess I should take her up on it.

Today we are off to the zoo and then lunch in the city.

toppings

I am always trying to come up with dirrerent ways to top the breakfast foods for the kids. In the fall I made an apple topping that I now put on top of pancakes, waffles, french toast, and oatmeal. They all love it.

apple topping
4-5 medium apples (i use granny smith or empire)
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

peel and cut aplples into 1/2 cubes.

in a small bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon

over medium heat melt butter in a non-stick pan. add apples and sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top. cook until apples until soft, but still hold their shape.