Brown Sugar Pound Cake

• 3 cups cake flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter (3 sticks), softened
• 2 cups light brown sugar (packed)
• 5 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup buttermilk

(I didn't have any buttermilk so I added a 1/2 a tablespoon of vinegar to a 1/2 cup of nonfat milk and let it set for 10 minutes......IT WORKED!)
1. Make the batter:
Preheat the oven to 350*F. Lightly coat four 5- by 2 1/2-inch miniature loaf pans with vegetable-oil cooking spray. Set aside. Sift the flour, salt, baking soda, and nutmeg together into a medium bowl. Beat the butter and sugars in a large bowl using a mixer set on high speed until light and fluffy-- about 5 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the flour mixture by thirds, alternating with the buttermilk and ending with the dry ingredients, mixing just until the batter is smooth.


2. Bake the Cake:
Divide the batter equally among the prepared pans and bake until a tester inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean-- 40 to 50 minutes. Cool in the pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Use a knife to loosen the cakes from the sides of the pans and invert onto the wire racks to cool completely.

This is DEEEE-LISH! Perfect little gifts!

I got the recipe for Country Living's book Merry and Bright

Fresh-Cut Friday #4

Thanks for joining in on another Fresh-Cut Friday! The linky tool will be up at 6:00pm tonight, Phoenix time, and then all weekend if you would like to add your flowers to the party list.
(I'ld be so happy if you did).
Remember to add a link back to my blog in your post. That way we can all share the pretties.

Today I'm showing the flowers that we had on our Thanksgiving table. I really went all out and got these at Target. That's right.... $7.99 a bundle for bouquets that included hydrangea. I couldn't believe it. And they lasted a full week! What a deal.

I got a little creative with my vases....er....cans...

We're so country in this house... it totally worked.

I did these keeping the Christmas season in mind...

So simple.

Miniature Carnations and Roses. These are called Arrow Follies.

I hope you like them. I can't wait to see your flowers.

It's Decorating Weekend!

Hope your little cottage is cozy and warm tonight!

Have I told you lately?

I'm awful grateful for every one of you!

Fresh Apple Cake #2

I hope that you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend! Whether you are shopping or decorating for Christmas. We'll be doing the latter. I'll show some of the pictures in the weeks to come. I also have a very clever idea for Fresh Cut Friday (on the 3rd) that I 'm excited to show you. So make sure you check back in this week and next. Hopefully you'll have flowers to share too!

But until then I thought I would share this vintage recipe...

One of the very first cakes that I learned how to make from scratch was this yummy apple cake. It comes from the very first cookbook that I ever had.

The Poll-Ette Hostess Cookbook (1974 edition)

If I had a Bed and Breakfast Inn, I would serve this for breakfast!

• 2 cups sugar
• 3 cups flour
• 1 tsp soda
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup oil
• 2 eggs
• 3 cups chopped apples (peeled)
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup chopped nuts (I used pecans)

Sift together in bowl all the dry ingredients. Add all the other ingredients at one time to the dry ingredients. Mix all together with a wooden spoon. Do not use electric mixer. Just mix until all flour, etc. are mixed in. Bake in a 15 1/2" cake pan that has been greased and floured for 55 to 60 minutes at 350 degrees. Serves 16 to 20

The top gets a crunchy texture while the rest of the cake is moist and heavy.

Enjoy!

Tamara's Tea

Last week I had the pleasure and privilege of attending a very lovely, personal tea given by my Sister-in-Law, Tamara. Let me tell you... NO ONE throws a tea like she does! She has more beautiful things... and man!... does she know how to use it all! I took a lot of pictures and thought that I would show them to you.
I hope you enjoy!
~*~

I am linking up with Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage for Tea Time Tuesday!
(Thank you Sandi)
and
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for TableTop Tuesday
(Thank you Marty)
Wanda Lee at the Plumed Pen for Two for Tea
(Thank you Wanda Lee)

Cheers!