Apple Streusel Bundt Cake

Apple Streusel Bundt Cake

Apple Streusel Bundt Cake

I found this recipe on the back of the Zulka brown sugar bag.  The cake looked great on the package, I happened to have apples in the refrigerator, and I wanted to try something new.

The instructions on how to make the cake on the bag make no sense, therefore, I changed it to the traditional method of creaming the butter and then creaming the butter and sugar together.  Okay, so you don’t know what creaming is?  It’s very simple.  Put room temperature butter into a large bowl, and then beat it with an electric beater until it is nice and smooth.  If you don’t have room temperature butter, you can cut the butter up into small pieces and then cream it.  The best way to beat is with a stand mixer, but a hand mixer will do just fine.  Don’t try this with a whisk, it’s too difficult.

This is a very moist cake, and may take quite a while to bake. The original instructions said 40-55 minutes, mine was in over 80 minutes, your mileage may vary.

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Cream Cheese Cranberry Stuffed Celery

Cream Cheese Cranberry Stuffed Celery
Cream Cheese Cranberry Stuffed Celery

Cream Cheese Cranberry Stuffed Celery is a healthy and easy appetizer to make. It’s great as an after-school snack or something to do with all that leftover celery. A little sweet, a little savory, it’s a perfect appetizer for the holiday season.

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Chinese Stove Top Barbecued Cornish Hen

Chinese Stove Top Barbecued Cornish Hen
Chinese Stove Top Barbecued Cornish Hen

With just the two of us, a regular chicken is just too big, so I started buying Cornish Hens. They come two to the pack, at 1 1/2 pounds each. A one-half bird is enough to feed one person. Cornish hens taste just like regular chickens and are not baby chickens. For more information, please see the Wikipedia article on Cornish Game Hen.

I love barbecued chicken, but barbecues have been outlawed in our city, so I am stuck with less conventional ways of barbecuing. Last year, I bought a cast iron grill/griddle just for the purpose of barbecuing steaks and making pancakes. It also does a fine job with chicken, and I use the top of my wok to cover foods so they can completely cook. Of course, I have to have my windows wide open, and I shut off the bedroom where the fire alarms are to prevent them from going off. My grill/griddle is easy to clean, just put it in water while it is still warm, but not hot.

I used Hoisin sauce because my son had expressed a desire for Chinese food the day before, but you could use whatever barbecue sauce is your favorite. I served it with Same Day Fried Rice and we had ourselves an Asian feast!

Chinese Stove Top Barbecued Cornish Hen YouTube Video

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Same-Day Fried Rice

Can you use freshly cooked rice on the same day to make fried rice? No, you can’t. But, if you use this same-day fried rice method, you can cure your craving any day. You will be surprised at how easy this is.

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Easy Puff Pastry Apple Pie


How to Make Easy Puff Pastry Apple Pie

It rained today, and it’s a bit chilly, the night before Halloween. Social media is talking about killer clowns coming out in my city, so I’m double-locking the doors, just to be on the safe side. It’s a perfect night for apple pie.

Someone gave me a can of apple pie filling and a package of frozen puff pastry. When I received the gift, I put both away, thinking I would use them for other things. But, today, I realized I could put them together and make a wonderful pie. There is no need for a pie pan, just a sheet pan, and some parchment paper to keep the pastry from sticking. Of course, you could use other fillings, cherry or blueberry would be great.

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