Instead of simply making Irish Butter Shortbreads, this time I added 1 teaspoon of high fat cocoa powder from ‘Penzeys Spices’.
Whilst in Darien, Connecticut, I discovered these organic Mexican chocolate discs. By simply chipping away a few pieces of chocolate with coffee, this made a really different shortbread…..
Sandwich together with chocolate butter cream… Mmmm
Apple crumb cake
My oldest son, James , told me today that he simply loves days like today. Days like today…. a drizzly day, the typical Dallas temperature was dropping rapidly outside and darkness was setting in early. Perhaps for most, this is a sign of sadness and dreariness but to James , it meant something quite different. It meant baking, home made soups, cozy evenings and Sunday football. Almost an hour later, my youngest, Matthew, without any knowledge of the prior conversation said it was time for snuggly blankets, movies and my home made hot chocolate. My boys are 17 & 15 years of age. Fortunately, I have two teenage boys that, although they love their sports, friends and social life, they also love to be at home. They are comfortable at home. Ironically, I just submitted my article for Irish American News for December. Without giving too much away, I talked about the sense of smell and it’s magical powers. Then 24 hours later, both boys responded to smell in the same way ! Home baked goods have the ability to make you feel comfortable and safe. They were smelling an ‘Apple Crumb Cake‘
Baking a cake feeds and nourishes the soul………. I hope by baking this, people will respond in their own way to you.
CRUMB CAKE
2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup soft brown sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup apple juice
2 apples, peeled, cored and diced
Whisk together flour & spices
~ Preheat oven to 350 degrees
~ Peel,core and dice 2 apples
~ Lightly grease and flour a 5″ x 9″ loaf tin
~ Dissolve sugar in oil and whisk in a mixer
~ Add eggs and mix again
~ Add half the dried mixture, combine then add half the apple juice
~ Add the remaining dried mixture, juice and combine
~ Spoon in diced apple and gently fold into mixture.
~ Pour into prepared loaf tin
CRUMBLE TOPPING
5 tablespoons cold butter
1/4 cup soft brown sugar
1/4 cup oats
1/4 cup all purpose flour
~ Cut the butter into pieces and using the tips of your fingers, rub all ingredients together.
~ Do not overwork as you do not want the butter to melt
~ Sprinkle the crumble onto cake and bake in oven for 45 mins or until skewer or fork inserted comes out dry.
Oat crumb topping
Soup. Feeds the body and soothes the soul. It’s whats for dinner tonight.
‘Curried Parsnip and Apple Soup’
Curried Parsnip and Apple Soup
While in Ireland I purchased a copy of ‘Avoca Soups’. Unfortunately it’s not available here in the United States but you can purchase it from Amazon. Please be advised that the recipes are in metric.
Avoca Soups
Rachel Gaffney's Real Ireland 