What Do Chickens, Apples, and Peaches Have in Common?

They're all right here on my blog, of course!

First the chickens. They're coming along wonderfully, if I do say so myself! I've finished the first 12. Yes, I said the FIRST 12. Because I've decided to make 4 more blocks. They're addicting, I'm telling you!

Next, peaches. Kim shared her recipe for making jam with me, so this morning, I whipped up a batch of peach jam. I ended up with six jars (one is missing from the photo below because I already gave one away--to my mother-in-law and father-in-law who came over for dinner tonight) as well as another jar that I didn't bother to seal--it just went directly into the refrigerator for immediate use. Yummmmmm! Thanks Kim!

Finally, apples. Remember I mentioned at the beginning of my vacation that I thought I might have a little giveaway? Well, here it is, coming up in this post--finally. I wasn't anticipating bringing home that box of peaches and thought I'd start on the apples right away, but they've been delayed until now.

After I finished the peach jam, I baked an Apple Hill cake. I have this handy dandy apple peeler, corer, slicer gizmo that helps me quickly make just about any apple recipe, and in very little time, the cake made it into the oven.

We had some for dessert tonight, topped with whipped cream. Again, may I just say yummmm?! Since the Apple Hill folks now print the recipe on free handout maps, I'll share it with you. I hope they won't mind.

APPLE HILL CAKE

In a largish bowl, combine 2 cups of sugar, 1/2 cup of vegetable oil, and 2 eggs. Add to that 4 cups of diced (or sliced) apples.

In a separate bowl, mix together 2 cups of flour, 1 tsp salt, 2 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp nutmeg, and 2 tsp baking soda.

Add the dry mix to the apple mixture. (It should look about like the photo below.)

Pour batter into 9" x 13" greased baking pan and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Eat. Eat any way you like--hot, cold, with ice cream, with whipped cream, or plain. Just eat it.

And here's the giveaway part. Leave a comment telling me you want to be entered, and on Wednesday night I'll draw a winner (the winner will be announced on Thursday's post). And what am I giving away? This "vintage" Volume 1 Apple Hill Recipes book--containing this and other apple recipes--and a spiced mug mat. I actually found the book at the thrift store a few weeks ago and it's in pristine condition--much nicer than the apple-splattered one that's been a part of my fall baking for the past 15 years or more!

Good luck!