Spice Cake with Cardamom-Coffee Icing

I found this recipe on Pinterest and wanted to share it with you.

1 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

 1/2 teaspoon cloves

1/4 teaspoon cardamom

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 cup (1stick) unsalted butter

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla

1 1/4 cup buttermilk

Preheat the oven to 350°. Butter 4-6 inch round cake pans. Line bottom of pans with parchment paper. I only have two 6 inch pans so I bake the layers in two different batches. 

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, pepper, and spices. Set aside. Beat the butter and sugars together  with a mixer.  Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed. Then add the flour mixture alternating with the buttermilk. When the flour is totally combined beat the batter until smooth about 1 more minute. Pour the cake batter evenly into the pans. Remember if you were baking into batches save enough batter for the cake pans a second time. Bake until the surface of the cake gently springs back when touched with your fingers, 30 to 35 minutes, or you can use a toothpick to check for doneness. Cool the cakes in the pans for 10 minutes, then invert on a wire rack and continue cooling. 

Cardamom-Coffee Icing

1/4 cup whole milk

1 tablespoon instant espresso powder

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter

1 1/2 teaspoons cardamom

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

A good pinch of salt

3/4 cup powdered sugar

In a small saucepan, heat the milk and desolve the coffee in it, then set aside to cool. Beat together the butter, cardamom, the vanilla , and salt, then add the powdered sugar and beat until combined. Slowly add the coffee mixture and continue beating until fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Place one layer of the cake on a plate. With a knife or offset spatula spread the top with some the frosting. Place the second layer on top, and spread frosting evenly on top of that layer continue with the other layers. Make sure to save some frosting for the top of the fourth layer and the sides of the cake. I ended up using the naked icing technique for this cake.

Recipe borrowed from thevanillabeanblog.com 

RING IN 2016!!

Another year has almost come and gone. I hope 2016 is a happy and prosperous year for you. Last night the Christmas decorations were put away and I put out a few decorations for New Year's. Fortunately we have not had snow yet, but I'm sure it is on our doorstep.

Merry Christmas!

I'm a little late with my Christmas post, but it's been a little hectic this holiday. But better late than never! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and hope 2016 is a wonderful year for you. Enjoy the pictures and I have included a family recipe, that has been around for a long time, to share with you.

                RAGU DI SALSICCIA

1tablespoon olive oil 

1small onion, diced

2sticks celery, diced

1 large carrot, diced

1&1/2 lb mild or hot Italian sausage

1cup dry white wine 

1-28 oz can whole peeled tomatoes

        (Crush them with the back of a 

           Spoon before adding)

12 oz chicken stock

Salt and pepper to taste

1/3 cup half & half 

Add the olive oil to a large sauce pan or Dutch oven that has been heated to medium heat. Add the onion, celery and carrots and cook them for 10 minutes, stirring a few times so not to burn. Add the sausage and cook for another 10 to 12 minutes until the sausage loses its raw color. Next, add the wine and cook for additional 5 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and chicken stock, then cover with a lid and cook 1 1/2-2 hours. At the end, add the half-and-half and cook for a final 30 minutes. Serve on fettuccine noodles and top with grated asiago cheese. Makes 4 servings.

Happy Fall!

Autumn is definitely creeping in. I love this time of year, the cool mornings and the warm afternoons. I love taking a drive on the weekend to see the beautiful autumn colors. I have my decorations out and I actually made a pumpkin pie a few days ago. It made the house smell awesome! I hope you have a wonderful Autumn!

One of my favorite recent finds is this iron Crusty Corn Cob pan. I remember
seeing these in antique shops in the past but never purchased one. I understand they are still being made and you can find them in domestic
merchandise retail stores but it is so much more interesting to have an 
original. This one was made by Wagner Ware. They patented their Crusty
Corn Cob pan on July 6, 1920. From the research I have done, I believe
mine is from the 1940's. It makes the best corn bread!















                                       CORNBREAD RECIPE
   
2/3 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup reduced fat buttermilk or reduced fat milk
1 TBS melted butter
1 TBS canola oil
1 large egg, beaten

Mix all ingredients together divide among the corn stick molds. Bake at 400
degrees for 13-16 minutes or until lightly browned on top.

Recipe by Cooking Light, adapted by Lesley Stansfield

I found this spooner at a thrift store. "What is a spooner?"
you might ask. Back in Victorian times, spoons were
displayed in these vessels which was a clear sign
of ready hospitality as well as a status symbol
for the increased affluence among the expanding middle
class who could now afford silver spoons. Interest in the
spoonholders had almost vanished by the 1930's.  The
spooners were made in a variety of materials including
metal, ceramic and glass. Depending upon their
condition and desirability, they can range in value between
$10-$200+.  Because some dealers do not recognize
spoonholders, they are often mislabeled and underpriced.
They have a variety of uses, not only to display antique
spoons but they make lovely flower vases or cotton
ball/cotton swab holders for your bathroom vanity.

Beautiful spring afternoon sunlight!

Apple Crisp

This is an easy dessert to put together.
I usually bake this in individual ramekins
but you could make it as one larger serving
and divide after baking.

You will need:

3 medium sized Granny Smith apples
3 medium sized red apples such as
   pink lady, jazz, or gala

Peel apples, dice into small pieces

Add to the apples 1/3 cup granulated sugar,
1/3 cup brown sugar, 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 
1/4 cup all purpose flour. Toss with apples.

Place apples in buttered ramekins.

Crumb topping:

1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 cup quick oats
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup melted unsalted butter

Mix topping ingredients together and distribute
evenly on top of apples.

Bake at 375 degrees for 50-60 minutes or until topping is golden brown. If using larger baking
dish instead of the ramekins, use the same
oven temperature and cooking time.


Recipe by shurgarysweets.com/adapted by Lesley Stansfield

Mahogany

Ok, I know that my blog started as a cooking and  
recipe site (hence the name) but I want to 
 share my love of vintage items that I find with you.
 A couple of years ago, I found a night stand at an
antique mall. My husband needed a new night stand. I never
really thought about mahogany wood, then I saw a beautiful
night stand in the shop. Since then we have added a bookcase 
to the living room and a mahogany piece over our bed instead
of having a headboard. My husband thinks that the piece over 

bed was once on a large free standing cabinet or wardrobe.

Spring Is Arriving!!

Finally! Spring is just a few days away, or according to the
calendar it is. Hopefully the cold weather and snow are gone.
As I am writing this, it is 80 degrees where I live. I love spring;
the cool mornings and the warm afternoons. The anticipation
of rebirth in nature is exciting and beautiful to watch.
Do that spring cleaning, make a fresh start, open the windows,
and add some color to your world.

We have a wet bar in our home, which I love and we use it all the time.

The other day I was dropping off a few donation items at Goodwill. I decided to go in and check out the merchandise.

I found this aluminum ice bucket for $6. After doing some research, I found out that it is from the 1930's-40's. On the bottom of the ice bucket there is a marking which helps in researching pieces. It was manufactured by the Cromwell Hand Wrought Aluminum Company.

I have already found a use for it. When we have a party or guests over for dinner, I can use it to serve the silverware and napkins from.

I have always loved the Moravian Star. I purchased this one about 5 years ago in a garden/vintage store. I placed a battery powered pillar candle inside. The candle has a timer that allows the candle to glow for 5 hours before turning off. The timer is designed to turn on and off at the same time daily once set.

The Moravian Star is an illuminated Advent, Christmas, or Epiphany decoration popular in Germany, the United States and Europe. The star takes it's English name for the Moravian Church in Germany. It is also known as the Herrnhut Star. The star was first commercially produced in Saxony, Germany. From sources that I have found, they were first produced around 1850.

I found this basket at a thrift store for 98 cents. What a deal!
It makes the perfect nest for an addition to my springtime decorating.

Spring is almost here so I have been switching some things around in my house. I love spring and Easter! It's so refreshing when the buds on the trees start to bloom and the flowers push their way out of the ground.

I have even refreshed that garden window that can be an eye sore unless you stay creative.

An alternative magazine rack for your bathroom. Use a toilet paper holder for magazines that you want in your bathroom. It takes up much less floor space.

Sausage and Hominy Hash

This is a hearty breakfast hash that is easy to make. Put a spoonful on a plate, sprinkle on some shredded sharp cheddar cheese, and top with a fried egg (fried in coconut oil for a healthier alternative).
Serves 4-6

1lb pork breakfast sausage
1 small leek or onion
1-4 oz container button mushrooms
1-15 oz golden hominy, drained
1 tablespoon fresh thyme
4 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese
6 eggs
salt and pepper to taste

In a large saute pan, saute the sausage until completely cooked.
Remove sausage from the pan. Add leek or onion and mushrooms
to drippings in pan, saute until soft and beginning to brown. Add salt,
pepper to taste and the fresh thyme. Saute 2 or 3 minutes then add
the drained hominy. Heat through for 5 minutes.
                                     
                                        While the sausage hash is cooking, fry the eggs. We like ours over medium.
I use about 1 tablespoon of  coconut oil to fry the eggs. Put a heaping spoonful of hash on a plate, top with some of the shredded cheese, and then place an egg on top. Serve with hash browns or toast.
Enjoy!

Love, love, love vintage stores, antique stores, consignment shops, &  flea markets. You never know what you are going to find. I found this vintage clipboard at a flea market. I love the wood that it's made out of but I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it but decided to purchase the clipboard because it was only $6. It's become a great place to hang to-do lists,  grocery lists, etc. I like to research vintage items that I find. I was able to found information on this clip board. It has the  brand name on the clip, which usually makes researching easier. It is from the 1940's.

About a year and a half ago, my husband and I bought a new home. In the kitchen there is a greenhouse window. At first I thought "what am I going to do with this window?, do they even make these windows anymore?!" With some creativity and a vintage lead light stained glass window, I love it now! It's a great place to put pots of herbs, succulents, or flowering plants especially in the winter time when it is too cold to plant outside. The window provides plenty of sunlight and warmth for the plants.

I am not a fan of winter, but what are you going to do? Make the most of it! Get the fire going, watch movies that you have not had time to watch, get organized, or be creative and check in to making a craft project or refresh some of your decorating. I have been trying to take my own advice! Try to stay warm and remember, the first day of spring is only 69 days away!!