nightdog_barks (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
nightdog_barks) wrote2018-01-08 06:21 pm
nightdog_barks) wrote2018-01-08 06:21 pm
Entry tags:
Monday
No sun yesterday -- it was quite grim and damp. Today is the exact opposite -- bright sun, and warm enough (almost 60 degrees) that we can have the back door open for a while (which makes Layla very happy). I was in a dour, cranky mood almost all day yesterday, probably because of that lack of sun, but today has been much better.
Mister Nightdog and I made this super-easy Apple Cake yesterday, and omg it is SO GOOD. I'm putting the recipe under a cut (with my annotations) --
Easy-as-Pie Apple Cake
1 cup/125 grams unbleached all-purpose flour, more as needed
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon kosher salt (did not use b/c Mister N accidentally bought salted butter)
2 ounces/57 grams unsalted butter (1/2 stick), softened
1 cup/200 grams granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for the cinnamon and nutmeg, we used 1 1/4 tsp of Penzey's Apple Pie Spice mix)
¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (see note for cinnamon)
1 large egg
2 cups diced apples (from about 2 apples)
½ cup/57 grams toasted pecans, chopped (optional) (did not use)
Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt.
In a mixer bowl fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add the egg and mix until smooth. (We use a hand mixer.)
With the mixer on low, beat in dry ingredients until smooth (at this point the batter will be quite thick). Fold in the apples and nuts by hand.
Spread batter evenly into a greased and floured 9-inch fluted tart or quiche pan with 1-inch sides. (Alternatively you can use a 9-inch cake pan with 1-inch sides.) (We used an 8x8 square cake pan and it turned out just fine!)
Bake until cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before serving. (I think ours took exactly 40 minutes, but don't be afraid to bake a little longer if needed.)
I finished Matt Ruff's Lovecraft Country last night and really enjoyed it (link goes to the tor.com review). It's horror/fantasy, not really too heavy on either, with an interesting twist -- the protagonists are an African-American family, living in 1954 America, so the enemies they face are not only Lovecraftian-type googly monsters, but home-grown racism. Kudos to Ruff for tackling such a difficult subject. I've read one of Ruff's previous books, The Mirage, but I think Lovecraft Country holds together a bit better as a story.
Also watched The Hours late last night -- one of my favorite melancholy movies ever. I love the women in it so much, and I especially love the way the Philip Glass score ties the whole thing together.
Mister Nightdog and I made this super-easy Apple Cake yesterday, and omg it is SO GOOD. I'm putting the recipe under a cut (with my annotations) --
Easy-as-Pie Apple Cake
1 cup/125 grams unbleached all-purpose flour, more as needed
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon kosher salt (did not use b/c Mister N accidentally bought salted butter)
2 ounces/57 grams unsalted butter (1/2 stick), softened
1 cup/200 grams granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for the cinnamon and nutmeg, we used 1 1/4 tsp of Penzey's Apple Pie Spice mix)
¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (see note for cinnamon)
1 large egg
2 cups diced apples (from about 2 apples)
½ cup/57 grams toasted pecans, chopped (optional) (did not use)
Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt.
In a mixer bowl fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add the egg and mix until smooth. (We use a hand mixer.)
With the mixer on low, beat in dry ingredients until smooth (at this point the batter will be quite thick). Fold in the apples and nuts by hand.
Spread batter evenly into a greased and floured 9-inch fluted tart or quiche pan with 1-inch sides. (Alternatively you can use a 9-inch cake pan with 1-inch sides.) (We used an 8x8 square cake pan and it turned out just fine!)
Bake until cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before serving. (I think ours took exactly 40 minutes, but don't be afraid to bake a little longer if needed.)
I finished Matt Ruff's Lovecraft Country last night and really enjoyed it (link goes to the tor.com review). It's horror/fantasy, not really too heavy on either, with an interesting twist -- the protagonists are an African-American family, living in 1954 America, so the enemies they face are not only Lovecraftian-type googly monsters, but home-grown racism. Kudos to Ruff for tackling such a difficult subject. I've read one of Ruff's previous books, The Mirage, but I think Lovecraft Country holds together a bit better as a story.
Also watched The Hours late last night -- one of my favorite melancholy movies ever. I love the women in it so much, and I especially love the way the Philip Glass score ties the whole thing together.