Sweet & Savory ~~ "Honey Almond Cake"

Fresh honey, almond flavoring, applesauce and pecans make for a scrumptious combination in this moist, melt-in-your-mouth cake!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened to room temperature
• 3/4 cup honey (I used light colored clover honey)
• 1/2 cup applesauce, slightly heated in microwave
• 1 teaspoon almond flavoring
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 Tbsp. hot water

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease and flour a 9 x 9 inch square baking pan.
• Cream butter and honey until well blended in mixing bowl.
• Add heated applesauce along with almond flavoring and mix well.
• Fold the dry ingredients into the honey and applesauce mixture.
• Dissolve the baking soda in the hot water and mix thoroughly and quickly.
• Add to mixture inside bowl.
• Blend well.
• Pour batter into baking pan.
• Bake for 38 - 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Yields 10-12 servings.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS:

• Serve warm or cold.
• Delicious with ice cream or whipping cream.
• Iced tea or warm tea enhances the honey flavor of the cake.
• Iced or cold coffee is a nice beverage to serve with cake

Happy Baking & Enjoy!

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Sweet & Savory ~~ Spearmint Tea

There's nothing quite like a cup of hot tea on a snowy winter day!  It warms your body, soul, mind and spirit.

I grew the spearmint plant during the summer and fall months in one of my wooden backyard planters, trimming it before the first frost.

Secondly, I tied the bundle of leaves with a piece of string and suspended it from an old shower curtain until the leaves were completely dried.

I was in for a real surprise when I prepared my first cup of tea by placing a few of the dried leaves inside a tea strainer and poured hot water over the top. This yielded a far more intense flavor than making tea from the dried leaves inside a tea bag which I had purchased several months prior thereto. 

This whole exercise has given me some great planting ideas for the spring of 2017.  What variety of tea should I try next?

Stay warm, and enjoy!

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Sweet & Savory Tuesday ~~ Moist Molasses Marvels

STEP 1:

• Mix together in mixing bowl:
• 3/4 cup soft shortening
• 1 cup brown sugar (packed)
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup molasses

STEP 2:

• Sift together in another bowl:
• 2 1/4 cups Gold Medal flour
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. ginger
• 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
• 1/2 tsp. salt, optional

STEP 3:

• Mix dry ingredients into molasses mixture.

STEP 4:

• Chill dough in refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight.

STEP 5:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees.
• Lightly grease baking sheets.
• Roll teaspoonfuls of chilled dough into balls the size of large walnuts.
• Dip tops in granulated sugar, optional.
• Place cookies, sugared side up, 3 inches apart on baking sheet.
• Bake 10-12 minutes, or just until set, but not hardened.
• Cool on wire rack.
• Yields approximately 4 dozen cookies.

One of the major things I like the best about these cookies is that they do not dry out as some molasses varieties have a tendency to do.

Serve with coffee, hot tea, ice cream, iced tea or milk.  

Happy Baking & Eating.  Enjoy!

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Sweet & Savory Thursday ~~ Sundae Pie

There are desserts, and then there are desserts. This one has been around for decades, but is still an all time family favorite.  Every now and then it's okay to set aside your calorie counter.  You will need to do that for this recipe, too!

• STEP 1:
• Mix and spread in a 9 x 13 inch baking dish and bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes:
• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup butter (mix in with pastry blender or fork)

Remove from oven and place baking dish on cooling rack.  Cool to room temperature.

• STEP 2:
• Mix together and spread onto cooled crust:
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup whipped cream or cool whip  (if you whip the cream in a mixer, make sure to measure it after whipping)

• STEP 3:
• Mix together and pour over ingredients of Step 2:
• 1 large package vanilla instant pudding
• 1 large package chocolate instant pudding
• 4 cups milk

• STEP 4:
• Spread whipped cream or cool whip over the top and sprinkle with chopped pecans.

Serve with a nice cup of coffee or tea.  Enjoy!

Happy Reading & Eating.

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Sweet & Savory Thursday ~~ "Sour Cream Coffee Cake"

This is one of the best coffee cake recipes of all time! 

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup butter softened to room temperature
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt, optional

DIRECTIONS:

• Cream butter and sugar together in mixing bowl for 2 minutes on medium speed.
• Add eggs, one at a time and beat well.
• Fold in sour cream and vanilla.
• Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.  Add to above mixture, and beat until well blended.  Mixture should be satiny and smooth at this point.
• Pour 1/2 mixture into well greased and floured bundt pan.

Mix together the following ingredients and spread evenly in bundt pan.

• 4 tsp. granulated sugar
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 cup finely chopped pecans

Spoon remaining 1/2 of batter into pan and spread evenly across top.

Cook 1 hour @ 350 degrees. Insert toothpick into center of cake to make certain it is fully cooked throughout.

After removing from oven, cool on rack for 20 minutes.

Remove from pan, invert onto rack, and allow to cool to room temperature.  

Store in air tight container.  

Happy Reading & Eating!

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