Apple Cinnamon Cake

This recipe for Apple Cinnamon Cake is a friend's family recipe. The first time I ate a piece of this cake was about 24 years ago! I knew I had to have the recipe. This delicious, moist, cinnamon and apple cake is the perfect addition to your autumn meals and snacks.

Apple Cinnamon Cake

Topping
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 small package coconut
1 teaspoon Watkins Cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/4 cup butter, melted

Cake
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup Crisco shortening or butter
1 cup sour milk
2 eggs
2 1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon Watkins Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups peeled, chopped apples

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place rack low in oven.
Butter bottom of 9x13 inch baking pan.

For topping - In a small bowl mix sugars, coconut, cinnamon, chopped nuts, and melted butter. Set aside.

For cake - Mix flour, soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a separate bowl.

Mix sugars in a large bowl and cream with shortening or butter.

If you don't have sour milk, make the milk by placing one tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice in a one cup measuring cup. Fill cup with milk to make one cup. Let sit for 5 minutes; then stir.

Beat eggs and add with the sour milk to creamed mixture, alternately with the flour mixture and ending with the flour mixture.

Finally stir in the chopped apples.

Pour batter into prepared pan; then crumble coconut nut mixture over the cake batter.

Bake 50-55 minutes until golden brown.

Serve warm or at room temperature plain or with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Eleisia
www.NotJustVanilla.com
www.EverydayNecessities.com
Start a Watkins Home Business for just $39.95 (plus tax)

Black Walnut Caramels

My mom made fudge, divinity, peanut brittle, and caramels for the holidays. My favorite was chocolate fudge with nuts. I couldn't stop with just one piece of fudge!

I make chocolate fudge every Thanksgiving and Christmas for my family and for gifts. Yesterday I decided to try my luck at making Black Walnut Caramels because one of Watkins' new holiday extracts for this year is Black Walnut Extract.

These homemade caramels are a chewy treat for Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas.

The caramels turned out yummy! Here is the recipe I used.

Black Walnut Caramels
3 cups brown sugar, packed
2 cups white Karo syrup
1 cup butter
1 can (14 oz/396 g) sweetened condensed milk
1/2 teaspoon Watkins Vanilla Extract
1 teaspoon Watkins Black Walnut Extract
1/2 to 1 cup chopped black walnuts

Butter a 9x13 inch pan or two 8 inch pans.

In a large heavy saucepan combine sugar, Karo syrup, butter, and sweetened condensed milk.

Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved and mixture boils.

Continue cooking until the boiling mixture reaches 248 degrees F/120 degrees C, stirring now and then to prevent scorching. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract, black walnut extract, and chopped nuts.

Pour into buttered 9x13 inch pan or two buttered 8 inch pans. When firm, remove caramel block from pan onto cutting surface, cut and wrap in waxed paper squares. Store in refrigerator or cool place. Makes about 96 caramels.

If you store caramels in the refrigerator let them come to room temperature before serving for optimum flavor and chewiness. Otherwise, caramels are too firm to bite. They soften up quickly.

Tips

• Line buttered pan with aluminum foil. Extend foil over edges of pan so you can lift caramel out of pan when firm. Butter foil. I did not line my pan with foil and had a little difficulty removing the block of caramel from the pan after it cooled and firmed. I used a long flat spatula to lift caramel from pan onto cutting surface.
• Make caramels with or without walnuts. Black walnuts are not as abundant as other walnuts. If you can't find black walnuts substitute with other walnuts.

• Use a candy thermometer to measure correct temperature. If you don't have a candy thermometer, cook candy mixture to "firm ball" stage (245-248 degrees F/118-120 degrees C). To determine "firm ball" stage without a thermometer, a small spoonful of hot syrup is dropped into cold water, forming a firm ball, one that won’t flatten when you take it out of the water, but remains malleable and will flatten when squeezed between thumb and finger. DO NOT cook caramel mixture above 248 F/120 C or the candy will turn out hard and not chewy.

Eleisia
www.NotJustVanilla.com
www.EverydayNecessities.com

Around the Kitchen Table Newsletter - October 2011

Welcome to another issue of Around the Kitchen Table!

October 1st. The days are getting noticeably shorter and cooler.

I have a favor to ask. If you are on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, or other social networking sites would you go to my Watkins Business web site and Like,

Watkins 2011 Seasonal Favorites Holiday Product Line is now avaialble. Order for holiday cooking and entertaining. Some products are new and some are old favorites.

Look at the delicious recipes we have for you this month - Crescent Roll Sweets, Mashed Maple Squash, Maple Apple Bread, and Pumpkin Butter Bread.

If you are considering a home based business please take a look at Watkins. I will give you a $30 gift certificate to buy products for yourself. Just join with me as your sponsor, Eleisia Whitney ID# 335001. Sign up at my business information web site http://www.vanillasage.com, at http://www.watkinsonline.com/eleisiawhitney under Join Us - As an Associate, or by calling Watkins at 1-800-928-5467. Give my name and ID# as your sponsor.

Watkins October Specials from Eleisia Whitney
Independent Watkins Associate ID# 335001
October Specials

Baker’s-Sized Extracts - NEW! 8 oz/236 ml	Save on USDA Certified Organic Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract	Save $2.00 on Original Double Strength Vanilla, 11 oz/325 ml
Limited-Edition Extracts, 2 oz/59 ml - Black Walnut, Danish Pastry, Hazelnut, Irish Cream - Seasonal items, limited quantities	Purchase one Pumpkin Bread Mix, get the second for $3.49 - Seasonal item, limited quantities	Purchase one Snickerdoodles Cookie Mix, get the second for $3.29 - Seasonal item, limited quantities
Cinna-Cream Sprinkles - NEW larger size - Seasonal item, limited quantities	Limited-Edition Hot Cocoa Mixes - Peppermint Stick, White Chocolate Almond - Seasonal item, limited quantities	Limited-Edition Snack & Dip Seasonings NEW - Garlic Parmesan, Jalapeno Cheddar - Seasonal item, limited quantities
Save on Baked Potato Soup Mix - Seasonal item, limited quantities	Purchase one Shortbread Cookie Mix, get the second for $2.99, Seasonal item, limited quantities	Apple Cranberry Butter NEW - Seasonal item, limited quantities
Pumpkin Butter - Seasonal item, limited quantities	Save $1.00 on Turkey Rub - Seasonal item, limited quantities	Save $1.00 on All-Natural Poultry Seasoning
Save on Roasted Turkey Gourmet Gravy Mix	Save on Country Gourmet Gravy Mix	Purchase One White Deep-Dish Pizza Crust Mix and get one for $1.49
Save $2.00 on Pain Relieving Liniment	Save $1.00 on our Hand and Body Lotions	Save on Ultra-Rich Hand Cream
Save on Aloe & Green Tea Deodorant	Save on $2.00 on Rezist Plus	Save $2.00 on Skin, Hair & Nails
Buy one Menthol Rub and get the second for 99¢	Save on All Purpose Cleaners	Save on Lemon Furniture Polish

Read this issue now:
http://www.everydaynecessities.com/october1-11newsletter.htm

Until next month,
Eleisia Whitney

Watkins Online Catalog:
http://www.notjustvanilla.com/
http://www.everydaynecessities.com/