Russian Apple Cake

They callled it the Apple Thing or in Russian, Apple Sharlotka

I saw this recipe from Smitten Kitchen. This recipe calls for lots of apples and for a DESSERT to be without butter and being not too sweet, it is a WIN WIN situation. And if you want to top a slice of this cake with a scoop or two of ice cream, I say go for it.

Since apple is in season and what could be a better time to try out this recipe. I am using 4 gala apples and 2 1/2 golden delicious apples. I read that using 2 or 3 different variety of apples can enhance the favor of your bake and I agree with that idea., therefore I have 2 different type of apples.

I do not have a springform pan, I just used a regular pan, I was afraid that I may have a hard time removing and transferring the cake out from the pan but it was, shall I called it ... piece of cake.

Ingredients:
6 or 7 apples ( I used 6 1/2 apples)
1 cup of flour
1 cup of sugar
3 eggs.

Grease a  9 inch baking pan.
Peel and cut up apples, add apples to pan.

Beat eggs with sugar until well blended.
Fold in flour enough to incorporate the mixture.
Pour dough mixture over to apples.

Heat up oven at 350 degrees, bake cake for 55 to 60 minutes.
Let cake cool down and transfer cake to serving tray, cut into 8 to 12 pieces.
Serve as is or top with ice cream or whipped cream. Enjoy1

Like I said, I adapted the recipe from here.

Soft Stuffed Ole Miss Football

This is a very simple and fun football I stitched up, it took me 3 or 4 evenings. Though all are hand stitched, I didn't have much time to fuss so I kept it very simple but I still want to make sure it light hearted, hopefully a toddler would enjoy playing and for keep sake.

2 small quilted table runners

So thankful for my church friend to have given me these fabrics, I am in awe. I selected a few out of the bunch to make these.

I just completed these 2 small quilted table runners. Both designs are almost identical with a few minor differences. This time around, I believe I stepped up a little to a touch bigger quilt than my previously made quilt items. These are 2 small table runners, they are still small quilts, but hopefully these are practical items to my recipients.

Interestingly, I used some of scrap pieces and made a push pin custion , can be an ornament too. Take a peek :)

Push-pin cushion

managed to squeeze a few mins out (here and there) from my hectic schedule to put this together -- fun stuff -- 'push-pin cushion'. Now, I have so many ideas to make little ornaments or pin cushions as Christmas gifts!

Updated and added several more varieties below.

Please check out my other bigger project, 2 small table runners here here.

Here are 3 completed ornaments / pin cushions. 3 down, 15 more to go, my goal is to make 18 ornaments of sort by the week before Christmas. This is going to tough to make the deadline since not only are these tedious (though I am having a lot of fun sewing them). I will be sewing different patterns. As of now, I am done with this designs. I have a few other ideas and my next batch will be some kind of squares or half cubes, checker board pillows to name them.

As of today 11/2/2013, here are what I have accomplished ... should I stop now .... maybe ... nah.. we'll see. I have other projects I need to work on. Ok, ok, I will take a break .... to be continued.. until next time.

Artisan Bread

Plain artisan bread. It looks pretty nice, right? and guess who made this, yup I did it.

My first Artisan bread.

3 tsp yeast
1 1/2 cup of lukewarm water
3 1/4 flour.

In a mixer, stir together yeast and lukewarm water, let mixture stands for 5 minutes.
At a slow speed, gradually add in flour and mix into all flour is incorporated, this will take about 5 minutes. Dough will probably be sticky, either transfer dough into a big bowl or leave dough in the mixing bowl. Let dough rise in dry warm area. Dough will rise over double, punch down dough.

Cut dough into half with a knife. Fold dough into a ball shape, using a sharp knife cut/slit 1/4 inch deep cross line on the ball of dough. Set dough aside for 30 minutes.
Heat up oven at 450 degree for 20 mins, placing a pan with an inch of water at bottom rack of oven when you turn on oven.

Once oven is heated up after 20 mins, put dough on middle rack. Bake for 30 minutes and there you have it your Artisan bread.

Banana bread, 2 different versions

These are loaf breads, sprinkled with lots of coconut banana bread.

Updated:
6 weeks later, as I wanted to bake for office party, I made these banana breads, instead of sprinkling with coconuts, I dripped syrup over the bread top. Taste testers love them. Both versions are winners.

Potato Cranberry Braid

Freshly baked from the oven. Smelling good and tasting good too.
Found this recipe from the Bread Experience blog. Girl, does she know bread. I just found myself a real bread treasures. I modify her recipe (of Pumpkin Cranberry Braid ) with potato and fresh cranberries. She does not use any liquid. I add 1 cup of almond milk and some changes here and there which I noted in my recipe below.

Recipe:

A.
2 1/2 tsp yeast
2 cups flour
1/3 cup  + 3 tbsp sugar
2 eggs
1/3 oil
1 cup almond milk ( you can use water + 2 tbsp milk powder ), luke warm

B.
1 big potato ( cut in small cube, boiled separately till soft and tender, then mash with folk, add 2 to 3 tbsp of milk to soften mixture ).
3 to 4 cup flour
1 cup fresh cranberry (or frozen or 1/3 cup dried cranberries or 1/3 raisins) ... optional.

1. In a electric mixer with a hook ( or manually in a big bowl ), stir up all the items on A. except the milk, then add milk and mix it well.
2. Gradually add more flour from B to the mixer.
3. Add mashed potato to mixture, mix well.
4. Add in cranberry, mix well.
5. Continue to beat on medium speed for a total of 15 mins. (max)
6. Place dough in mixer bowl. Cover, let rise in a warm place until double.
7. Punch dough down. Cut dough into 6 pieces, form each piece into long strips.
8. Braid 3 strips to one loaf, makes 2 loaves. Let rise in a room temp or warm place for about 30 minutes.
9. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 20-25 minutes.

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