Random Tuesday Thoughts

Yes, I am very late with this post. I had issues today, ok? This was supposed to post hours ago. Anyway I have other far more important thoughts for the day. How about:

Christmas is coming in like 72 days!!!!?? Jeez, how did this happen so quickly? I think I was just picking pine needles out of the carpet last week! I had better get busy. Last year I did 90% of my shopping online, yay! I can guarantee I am intending to do the same this year, so easy. Amazon here I come! Only if you give me free shipping though.

I used to love the winter, the bundling up, the snow. Now, not! I'm so over it and my knees complain heartily about the chill that is already here! I think I could enjoy moving to a warm weather climate; Florida...no, Arizona...ummm yes. It would be a little weird come Christmas but I think I could get used to it, it's like 80 degrees there right now. I could enjoy sitting out in my garden all year round, how about you?

Solicitation calls on my cell phone! Does this make you nuts? Do not dare use my minutes to try to sell me on some crap I don't want!

My Mother's birthday is next week, my Sister's too (same day) I think I'll make that great apple cake for them. Everyone loves that cake.

Caramel Glazed Apple Cake

Seriously this is the best cake I have ever tasted. I am a pastry connoisseur so I know my cakes! My hubs actually found this recipe in a magazine and he asked me to make it. He doesn't usually go for sweets (don't know how we ever got together) so when he asks for a cake I'm willing to give it a try. If you decide to try this cake you will not be sorry. There are some things I did that may not seem worthwhile but I think they were.

Cake:

1 C packed light brown sugar

1 C sugar

1.5 C vegetable oil

3 eggs

3 C flour

1 t baking soda

2 t cinnamon

1/2 t nutmeg

1/2 t salt

5 apples, cored, peeled and cut into 1/2 in pieces.

1.25 C chopped pecans or walnuts

2.25 t vanilla extract

Caramel Glaze

4 T butter

1/4 C sugar

1/4 C light brown sugar

pinch of salt

1/2 C heavy cream

Preheat oven to 325. Prepare a 9 x 13 pan. Beat both sugars and oil in a mixing bowl until very well blended. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. I used a hand mixer with batter beater attachments. Sift together all dry ingredients and gradually add to egg mixture, mixing just until blended. Stir in apples, pecans and vanilla; pour into prepared pan. Bake for 50-70 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

To prepare the glaze, melt butter in a saucepan over low heat. Stir in both sugars and salt; cook over med-low heat for 2 minutes. Add cream and boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Poke holes in the cake with a skewer or toothpick. Pour on the glaze. Use the leftover carton of heavy cream and whip it along with 1 t. of vanilla extract.

Serve warm with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon. My hubs thought he was in heaven!