Some people decide to go on a health kick when their birthday rolls around. Make a resolution for their big day. I am not against that, but it is as if this year I unconsciously decided to do the opposite this year. Instead of walking a few extra miles each day to keep the hands of time from spinning past me, I dove right into a week of sweets, frozen confections and pie.
I am not much of a sweets lover by nature. I like a small slice of cake every now and then but it has to be just right. I don’t eat sweets just for the sake of eating sweets. I like a nice homemade pie or cake made from scratch. I can hold out until I see something I like.
The spent the day of my birthday at the Country Living Magazine Fair in Columbus, Ohio. I was surrounded by high end antiques, home decor and fine foods and the highlight of my day was the deep dish cobbler that I get there every year. I have never had anything like it. It is made, on site, in deep cast iron skillets over a wood fire. Later that evening we drove a few miles from our hotel to visit Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream shop. Jeni’s is a small chain of handcrafted ice cream shops that boasts such flavors as salty caramel, goat cheese and cherry ,and corn and blackberry. I sampled over 15 of her different flavors that day before I settled on dark chocolate and salty caramel.
We even went back the next day. I felt like I should live a little. We were out of state on my birthday after all! Who knew when I would be near another Jeni’s again? Later that day my kids and I toured the Graeters Ice Cream factory outside Columbus. Starting to see a theme here I decided to skip the tasting portion of the tour.
A few days later when I gathered with my family to celebrate my husband’s birthday, my mother came bearing pastries in honor of his special day. Not only had she made a deep, thick cheesecake, but she had also made me a Texas sheet cake! So of course I had to have some. I vowed that day that I would not eat another sweet for a month to balance out the fact that I had overindulged so much that week.
I had neglected to remember that I had been asked to be a “celebrity” judge for an event to raise money for Indianapolis School on Wheels, an educational charity to help homeless children in Indianapolis. I was asked to judge all of the pies in the fruit category. Well, my dessert hiatus would start after that.
My kind sister brought me over a bushel of ripe pears this week as well. I made a few dishes for dinner incorporating them but when I had 6 left over that needed to be used I thought of no better way to consume them than making a pear upside down cake. Just one slice and I was off the wagon again.
My kids and I visited Taylor Farm Market for some Fall corn and I left with a few large apples. I had an old recipe I wanted to revisit for this column, so I put the apples to good use. This easy Apple Brownie is really good topped with vanilla bean ice cream or some of the Best Boy & Co Bourbon Barrel Caramel that I have. This is the last baked good I am making for a while.
At least, until next week.
As seen in Martha Stewart October 2012
Ingredients
- 1 stick of unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1 C of all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1 C sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 C chopped walnuts
- 2 large, firm-sweet apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place rack in center position of oven.
- Butter an 8x11 baking dish.
- Whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and baking soda.
- In another bowl, beat together the cooled butter and sugar for 1 minute or until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and combine.
- Add walnuts and apples and stir by hand to combine.
- Add the flour mixture, and stir until combined, about 30 seconds.
- Spread batter in the pan, and bake until golden brown and firm, about 40 minutes.
- Allow to cool, cut and serve.
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Comments
Kimby
Heather, your post made me smile. Yup, “just one more…!” You picked some yummy ones to celebrate your birthday though — I loved your choice of ice cream flavors. Also, your website looks so nice!
P.S. I’m listening to last week’s ATKS broadcast now.
Liz
I made something similar last week…I’d fall off the wagon again and again for these
Stephanie
In this case, I fall off the wagon all the time!
Sounds like some great sweets were had though. =)
Nathan Miller
Sounds like the greatest week of dessert ever. Love the idea of these Brownies as well. Well played
Good Food Good Friends
Oh my, these look scrumptous!
Mary Jane
These are cakey and delicious! They disappeared when I brought them to our post Thanksgiving get together!