Spiced Apple Cake

Spiced Apple Cake

I do not know if it's because I've put on weight without even losing the bit (10kgs, actually) that I'm supposed to lose first, or if it's because it's winter, that I'm currently into a small baking frenzy. In the former case, it would be a sign of despair, that of me giving up this dieting business, you know, if you can't beat it, join in (getting fatter). In the latter case, it's no better, I'm cold, I need even more calories though since I do not seem to burn much of any it must be the mind cheating me. And yes, I have given in too easily.

Good Bye Cupcakes

In any case, I stayed up till midnight yesterday baking cupcakes for Eldest Son's class, as his teacher was supposed to leave after today. The boy very proudly brought my offering to school this morning and even got a hug from the lady for the pain. And then she announced to the class that she has decided to postpone her departure, that finally she would leave just before Christmas. I am really happy, of course, as the boy really likes her, but when I think of me falling asleep over my cupcakes last night...

This evening, I had a sudden desire to bake a Spiced Apple Cake. It's the season for apples and the markets are flooded with them. The other day I bought quite a number of Reinettes for the Tarte Tatin and still have a few left over. Am normally not a fan of cooked apples, but I'm OK with them as long as I'm the one cooking them. Funny, right?

Spiced Apple Cake :

200g Butter

200g Sugar

3 Eggs

225g Flour

2 Tsp Baking Powder

25g Ground Hazelnuts or Almonds

1 Tbsp ground Cinnamon

A pinch of ground Cloves

500g Apples

Beat the butter and sugar till creamy. Add the eggs into the mixture one by one.

In a separate bowl, sift the flour, baking powder and ground spices. Add in the ground nuts.

Fold the flour into the mixture gently. Cut the apples into small cubes and add them into the cake mixture. Mix well.

Bake in a preheated oven (180ºC) for about 1 hour.

I suspect that another reason why I'm enjoying baking so much nowadays is because it does fill the kitchen up with such a nice smell and I do so love watching the cake rise in the oven...From where I am sitting in front of the computer, I have a direct view of my oven. You know, from one screen to another. Still, I should stop this baking business. Sunday we have a VIP Ferrari outing and I'll be meeting all of Hubby's bosses, what am I going to wear? What can I squeeze into, to be more exact? Desperation...