German Apple Cake

Apples I didn’t want to go to waste. What a great choice if I do say so! The ingredients list is minimal … producing this beautiful and tasty cake. Oh yeah, have it for breakfast! Heavy with apples surrounded by a slightly sweet vanilla cake. Try it today!

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Scotch Eggs

The perfect answer to those hard boiled eggs. Or try this recipe with soft boiled! Great for a guest breakfast! Make ahead and keep up to 3-4 days refrigerated. I’m not sure about the traditional recipe but I like mine spicy, Italian spicy actually. If you’re not into it you can spice up your ground pork anyway you like. Maybe you’re a Jimmy Dean Sausage fan like my mother. It all works!

This isn’t a complicated recipe and you won’t need a deep fryer. Just simply use a small heavy saucepan with a couple of inches of oil for the deep fry process.

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Spicy Carrot Cake

A spicy recipe inspired by Fannie Farmer, and with my conversion whips up quickly. Just don’t get ahead of yourself like I did here and ice a too warm cake. I recommend two 8 inch round cake pans for this recipe instead of the two 8 inch by 4 inch loaf I used here.  Yes, I sliced each layer to increase to a four layer cake. The frosting is not exactly the traditional for this cake. I just simply combined a butter cream frosting with a cream cheese. Our family isn’t big on a strong cream cheese taste for this carrot cake.

The slices were served and no one was the wiser!

Perfectly Delicious

 

Try this recipe too!

 

 

 

 

 

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Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

These are the best! But don’t take my word for it … Bake them up today! Chewy Buttery Good … not too flat, not too thick, just right. I’m using the new Nestle Dark Chocolate Morsels. Make sure you try this recipe with your favorite chocolate chips. This way you’ll be able to taste test the best chocolate chip oatmeal cookies you ever ate. Seriously Good! Just can’t say it enough and I’m a chocolate chip cookie aficionado. If you’re into chocolate chip cookies with a touch of oatmeal and like the chewy variety these are for you!

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Chili Beans Portuguese Style

Margaret Costa’s beans to be exact! Margaret is my second cousin and I’m hoping she’ll forgive me for tweaking her recipe just a bit. Honestly, I just don’t cook for 10 to 20 people like Margaret did regularly. Again, the recipe calls for cinnamon. I’ve been questioned about the use of this spice in Portuguese bean recipes. I can assure you this spice was added to these recipes long before I began to cook. I explain the use on regional cooking to a fallback when other spices weren’t available. The originators of many of my Portuguese recipes are no longer living, and I just have no one to ask why they used cinnamon so liberally. It’s like all those photos with unrecognizable people. Why didn’t I ask when I could? I hope you will enjoy this very simple chili bean recipe that’s all about spices.

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Lemon Shortbread Cookies

Melt in your mouth! The perfect cookie for tea or coffee. This recipe is flexible. Add your favorite nuts or lemon chips (or here) to give it a little extra if you are into it, but it really doesn’t need more than the four basic ingredients to be delicious! Drizzle a glaze over the top for a designer look or simply swirl the warm cookie in a little lemon icing. Sometimes simple is the best!

For more lemony recipes place LEMON in the search box above. Enjoy!

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Blueberry Lemon Pound Cake

with Chantilly Cream

Lemon is my flavor of choice for the last weeks. It really isn’t random. I have a houseguest who’s into lemon cakes, breads and cookies. And I love to see someone enjoy a favorite. This recipe is a revision of James Beard’s Huckleberry Cake. First, huckleberries are hard to find and I’ve substituted blueberries, a similar berry. But most importantly I’ve added a big lemon taste!

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Apple Pecan Stuffed Cookies

It’s a toss up! The filling and the cookie are both a star in this recipe. Lightly sweet cookies similar to traditional chocolate chip cookies but without the chips and nuts. The small bit of filling is a perfect apple pie taste. These are a great Valentine treat … especially if a heart shape cookie cutter is used.

Enjoy!

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Coconut Lemon Cake

Perfect for your Valentine who’s into lemon. Typically a double layered cake but my guy likes a loaf cake he can whittle on all day. The batter is plentiful and for certain will overflow a standard loaf pan. Just make a couple of large cup cakes in addition. All this changes bake times. We are into the one layer of icing and love the look as it melts down the sides of the warm cake. It’s a homey comfort food recipe that leaves the kitchen smelling delicious, and palates pleasantly satisfied with the taste and flavor.

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