Jewish Apple Cake (x2)

So I found this recipe for apple cake (also on Smitten Kitchen) and dare I say I love it. It comes together in no time, you can't add too many apples, and it. is. awesome.

The first time I did one layer of apples in the cake dough, and then another on top.

The second time I just mixed them all up -- I preferred it this way. Apples everywhere!

Sigh -- no pictures of the finished product, which was eaten just as fast as fast could be. Wouldn't change a thing...

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Apple Tarte!

I saw this on Smitten Kitchen, and had to try!

It is simplest apple tarte, and it was lovely. Dough came together no problem, no problem at all:

Maybe I didn't roll it quite thin enough. (I'd like to take the opportunity to blame this on a lack of counterspace.) But the apples nestled in easily

She sprinkles only with sugar, but I just couldn't help myself and added cinnamon.

And? It was lovely! I wouldn't say the crust kept crisp two days later, but it was no matter -- it was delicious and so easy!

A practice baby bib

Inspired by some very sweet handmade bibs that Baby Erik has, I decided to try one myself. I have a bevvy of adorable fabrics and flannels waiting to be made into baby projects (hmm, now why would that be? perhaps a really, really big project is coming up?), but I thought better than to dive in to the nice fabrics and decided to practice on something a little scrappy first. And good thing.

So, here are my thoughts:

My top stitching is not great! I think I can stitch together something straight well enough, but even these simple curves are testing me... On the other hand, I could coordinate the thread so it doesn't show as much and it would probably be fine. I think 1/4 inch is too much of a seam allowance. Hmmm.

Should one wash bib fabric before sewing it? It's something that will obviously be washed many times, so yes? I don't know the answer. Maybe a sewing guru can tell me...

And isn't it funny that the ends don't seem to meet? The pattern calls for a snap, but I'm thinking velcro is the way to go. In any event, shouldn't they meet up? I'm pretty sure I cut it properly...

Alora, a little more futzing before I go into full baby bib production, but i'm probably not too far away : )

First quilt is done : )

I'm pleased and proud to annouce that my very first quilt is completed! It has come a long way...

It's a simple design, but I loved all the squares and I think they are highlighted nicely

The back is just a yellow and white stripe; I was worried any non-90-degree sewing would be obvious, but it's not. phew.

I wanted to machine quilt this, but I couldn't get my hands on a machine to do it (mine doesn't have a walking foot... i'm working on it). So I just went with yarn and knots. I hear babies like to play with tags and strings and such, so this should be good for Baby Erik!

And here are some shots of the munchkin enjoying. He did a good job for the camera. Thanks, kid.

(for the love of god why can't i rotate images in blogspot? ugh!)

So voila! What will the next quilt be???

Summer peach pop tart (aka slab pie)

Summer day. Peaches. Three friends. What to make? A giant pop peach pop tart of course!

Carefully preparing the pie dough...

Carefully pressing the pie dough into the big pan...

Mixing up the farmer's market-fresh peaches...

Roll a second pie crust on top, put an egg wash on, and...

Voila!

Let it cool... put on a lemon glaze (it's always lemon, isn't it?)

And GO FOR IT!

Yes please, more please!

And we are baking prodigies...

Raspberry Buttermilk cake

Inspired by Smitten Kitchen (and really, how could you not be?), I endeavored to make this lovely, simple, Raspberry Buttermilk cake. And? It's divine!

Not only that, but I now think that a small, elegant cake like this one is the perfect finish for a meal (excepting, of course, birthdays and important celebrations that call for things like candles and multi-tiered projects). Add some fresh whipped cream and maybe just maybe a raspberry for garnish, and dare I say this is a perfect end to a summer meal! Mmmm!

I followed Smitten Kitchen's raspberries right-side-up technique, as I like the holes in the cake.

This one I did with a little sugar sprinkled on top; the second one I did (yes, two in one weekend) did not have the sugar, and I think I liked it just as well. The top was a little browner and smoother.

I served it in my favorite tart dish from Les Terps, where my cousins have a beautiful french country home.

Campfire cornbread!

Well folks, I know you've been waiting a long time for this, but hungry campers had to wait through one burned campfire cornbread, and then a second successful campfire cornbread.

First I brought the flour/cornmeal/salt etc pre-mixed from home in a bag

Add eggs

Milk

Oil

Heat your pan on a fire (note, not too hot!)

Add the lovely batter

Cook it with the lid on about 8 - 10 minutes or so (now, it's hard to smell if it's burning, as the fire is burning so the cornbread smell is masked. Very tricky baking...)

Et voila! No need to be pretty about it now folks, we're camping! Rip it up and pass it around. It was some fine campfire cornbread. Mmmmmm