Monday, October 13, 2008

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!

42 comments:

Robin said...

Oooh, Kim, pick me for your entry. I hate being the first one to enter, though...I'll never get picked! Glad you had a nice weekend! Those chickens are too cute. I have one of 'crazy' Buggy Barn books, but have been afraid to try that switching method...

Anonymous said...

Hello Kim! I made your Blueberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake this weekend and it was very tasty. Now I am ready to try another your recipe - cinnamon almonds and of course todays´recipe - we love everything with apples! Thank you for sharing all those yummi recipes.
Jana from Helsinki, Finland

Anonymous said...

Good Morning Kim
I would love to win your apple recipe book. I'm anxious to try the one you've posted today. Your peach jam looks yummy. Have a great day!

Anonymous said...

Kim I would love to be in your drawing. Apples are everywhere here. Love this time of year. BTW the chickens are cute.

Linda Z

Carol said...

OMG that Apple Cake looks absolutely yummy! I'd be eating it right out of the pan. Your chickens look great!

Colene said...

I love how your chickens turned out, someday I need to try one of those buggy barn patterns. I've been thinking about doing the cats, have you seen them?

Nancy said...

Oh Kim..love the chickens. I myself am Buggy Barn Challenged...I have tried and tried and just can't do thier patterns...(sigh)...
The apple cake sounds wonderful. Will have to try that..
I WANT an apple slicer peeler, but will be content with the cook book. LOL

Penni Domikis said...

I must be entered in the drawing. We did our apple pickin' this weekend and I need a great new recipe. Something to get us in the spirit here at the cabin. The chickens are amazing. I did a quilt witha similar method (though it wasn't buggy barn). It was Christmas Trees. I'll have to send you a photo. It's hanging in the local quilt shop as a class sample. It should be coming home though. Enjoy the last day of vacation.

Vicky said...

Love your chickens. I need to take a Buggy Barn class because I get confused just reading the pattern.

Your cake looks wonderful!

Kristie said...

I just love your chickens!!! I may just have to make one of those! I have one of those apple slicer things, and I LOVE it!!! We have so many apples to put up every year that I end up with blisters from peeling them with a knife, this peeler is so much faster and easier!! Please put me in for your drawing, I would love to win it!!!!
Kristie

Kim said...

Your jam looks really yummy.. I am so happy you like the recipe. Now I need a recipe for Apple Cake..my DH loves apple pie so I know he will like the cake.. please enter me. Have a great week!

PunkiePie (Jen) said...

Sign me up! I love to bake. I truly love your chickens! They are adorable!! I don't know what I would do with a chicken quilt but I think I want to make one!

Jen :)

Jeanne said...

Your chickens make me smile :) The colors you're using are perfect!
Please include me in the apple drawing.
Jeanne

Julia said...

Love the chickens! I have an apple orchard just around the corner from, so I use lots of apples. I am going to try this recipe today. Thanks for sharing. I would love to win the little recipe book! One of these times I have just got to win one of your giveaways! :~)

MichelleB said...

Your chickens are adorable! I just love them. And that cake! - Yummo.

Please don't put me in your drawing. I've already won a couple of giveaways lately.

DPUTiger said...

I love apple recipes. Sign me up! Glad you're having a great vacation. I'm jealous! :)

Liz said...

We just went apple picking on Saturday and have more apples than we know what to do with!! That recipe book would be awesome! I hope I win!

Tamara said...

Your chickens are so cute. What pattern are you using? Oh do enter me for your apple drawing.

Richelle said...

I would love to be included in your giveaway.

Nancy said...

Oh i love apples!!! I remember coming home from college and my step-mom would have a deep-dish apple pie waiting. Yes please include me in the giveaway.... thank you so much.

Nancy

Jana said...

Love your post today! All eye candy! Don't those Buggy Barn patterns get addicting?! I have all the fq's to make the chicken quilt and just haven't done it....maybe after seeing yours I will get it out and get going on it. Thanks!

pam said...

That is the cutest quilt.
I went and spent a small fortune at
The Buggy Barn for this pattern book and a quilt kit.
This looks like a fun project to work on this winter.

Candace said...

I just love the chickens! Have to make that one for my friend who lives on a farm! I love apples, Kim! Eat two every day and make an apple pie at least once a month! And now I'm hungry after reading your post! Cheers!

Anonymous said...

Hello Kim,
I want to be entered. I have no cookbooks in english, only in swedish. But I live to make cake´s with appels.

Anonymous said...

I love your chickens! I like your choice of colors better than the Buggy Barn's choices. Is the pattern in a book or is it a separate pattern? Are the stars also pieced or are they appliqued?
Sounds like you had a great vacation. Or staycation like some of your readers called it.
Chris in Sacramento

Anonymous said...

Kim, I love the chickens and I'm now in the mood to bake apples. They look so good. I do enjoy your adventures. I think we would make a great friendship. So move to Kansas. Marylin

Bonnie said...

Please share pattern info or is it a book for your chicken. I can see a vertical quilt with 3 or 4 chickens on each other in my kitchen. Sign me up for the drawing. Who knows what will happen! Thanks for the recipe. I'll have to try it next time I get some apples.

And, if you couldn't tell -- I think the chickens are great! Wonderful fabric selections good looking chickens. Is there a rooster in the coop??

Anonymous said...

KIm, Just love your chickens and cant wait to try the apple cake receipe. Im going to look now to see if I have everything I need. I would love to win the Apple Hill Cookbook Please enter me in your drawing Sharon Mac

Anya said...

I'd love to win your drawing. The recipe you posted looked really yummy -- I'll have to try it.

Sherry said...

Kim, your chickens are so cute! That Apple Hill cake & that peach jam look so yummy..this post is making me hungry! Thanks for offering the giveaway.

Linda (Petey) said...

Please enter me in your drawing...Thanks for sharing the one apple recipe...there must be other good ones in that book!
Also, I love your chickens. Be sure to share when you have made them all.

Carol said...

Kim please enter me in the drawing. Your peach jam looks so good and I just love the chickens. Did you say the chicken pattern is a Buggy Barn pattern?

Anonymous said...

oh yum, oh yum, oh please, oh please let it be me!!!! Am going to make your apple recipe for dinner tonight. Why wait until desert!!!! Christy

Michele P. said...

mmm...that cake looks yummy! Please count me in!

micaela6955 at msn dot com

Busy Little Quilter said...

Thanks for the apple cake recipe.

I love my apple peeler, corer, slicer, too. It does make things easier.

Please enter my name in the drawing. I have an apple theme in my kitchen.

Amanda

Anonymous said...

Kim,

I'll enter. I don't have that cookbook. I love to make applesauce.....

Using the very same recipe for Apple Hill Cake, I always throw in a 1/4 cup of bourbon or brandy in my apple cake batter. It makes the best cake. I usually eat the cake unadorned, vanilla ice cream or whip cream go well. I want to run to the store and buy a bunch of apples! Yummmmmm.

Joyce said...

Kim, thank you for the recipe! Please enter me in your giveaway.
Joyce
joycee2561 at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the recipe, I copied it and will make one tomorrow. Please enter me in your drawing. Love your Buggy Barn chickens!! Sounds like you really enjoyed your vacation.

Unknown said...

Ooh count me in please Kim

Anonymous said...

Kim I would love to be entered in your drawing.

B. Joyce Cloud
cloudjj36@embarqmail.com

Anonymous said...

Kim,

I would love to be entered for the cookbook. Cookbooks are my thing.
Love your chickens.

Sandy

Kim said...

that recipe book would be quite handy with the big bag of apples we picked Monday with the kiddies