Grampa's birthday...

On February 2nd we celebrated Grampa Gary's 58th birthday. The day before Jordy and Isaiah came over to help. They were so excited! They set a beautiful table on the "big special table", using the "special dishes and silver ware", and made handwritten place cards. Jordy wrote most of them and Isaiah wrote his. Then they decided were everyone would sit.

Then we made three cakes; two heart shaped cakes which they got to decorate however they wanted to, and an Apple logo shaped apple cake which was served with freshly whipped cream.

With that said, most people that know me very well know I'm not a big sweets eater. Don't get me wrong, I love certain items, like my sister's Rocky Road, my cousin Trish's iced sugar cookies (the best I've ever tasted!), a great piece of homemade pie, and a small chunk of very dark chocolate. But otherwise I'm not much interested. A Kripsy Kreme donut will give me such shivers I can hardly even look at one let alone eat it.

But I do have a favorite cake, and it's this Buttery Apple Cake. It's moist, fruity with tart Granny Smith apple, and just a nice light dessert. Here's the recipe: And, if you don't own a springform pan, get one! I'm not into having all kinds of gadgets but a springform  pan is one of the most useful items I own.

Buttery Apple Cake 

The cake:

3/4 cup flour                                                                   Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

1# Granny Smith Apples, peeled and                             Grease & flour a springform pan.

         shredded on a box grater (about 2 cups)                Place on a rimmed baking sheet.

1/2 cup sugar                                                               Spread apples in pan and set aside.

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder                                          Whisk together rest of ingredients

1/4 tsp. salt                                                                         pour over apples.

6 Tbs. milk                                                                Bake until set and pale golden brown,

1/4 cup oil                                                                             about 40 minutes.

2 large eggs

For topping:                                                                  For topping stir together butter,

6 Tbs. softened butter                                                       sugar, salt, and vanilla.

1/3 cup sugar                                                                Remove cake from oven and pour

1 large lightly beaten egg                                                 topping over the cake.

1 tsp. vanilla                                                                  Bake until golden brown, 

                                                                                          about 25 minutes.

Whipped Cream (if desired):                                         Cool completely BEFORE removing

1 cup whipping cream                                                         springform ring.

1/4 cup sugar                                                      Cut in wedges and serve with whipped

1 tsp vanilla or almond extract                                           cream.

                                       This cake is SO delicious! It’s really more like a baked apple                

                                         torte. Not super sweet...very dense and satisfying...

                                                especially with home made whipped cream!