I don’t know how it is with anyone else, but we have had the most beautiful weather lately. Warm afternoons, chilly evenings, blue sky and gorgeous light. I just love fall. Taking a walk is a joy to thesenses. Crunching leaves, birds calling, the glorious colors above, the excitement of seeing a college football game and smell of burning logs…it makes my heart skip a beat. Sitting on my porch in the afternoon is just a great place to be…my window to the world. Come and join me on the porch, we can talk renovations, pumpkin spice and all things orange!
Fall colors are so cozyRocking in the beautiful weather Come on up!Geraniums still in bloom. Getting cozy on the couch.
Big happening going on in our cozy Annapolis home…and a whole lot of mess before the transition in over. My view from my kitchen window is not pretty at all right now, but I still cried happy tears at first glance.
Day 1
Give it a few months and it will start looking so much better…and a brand new kitchen window in a brand new kitchen!
As the back half of the house takes shape, the front is still dressed in its finest fall best.
Cozy couchPumpkins on the fireplace French Pumpkins Lovely fall elementsBrave Princess is recovering well.
It was a hard week. Our brave Princess had her 5+ surgery with a difficult recovery. She is a trooper, however. I greatly admire her strength and tenacity. I was eager to get her home to our cozy house. Cozy just in time for the start of fall…sweater weather! It is time to pull out the pumpkins and light the Cider Lane candle. Time to make applesauce and put away shorts. I love fall. It makes me happy. I’m hoping for a break in the rain to take a walk through the crunchy leaves. I am glad this rain is only a minor inconvenience. Prayers for those who have suffered from this storm.
Enjoy my fall touches!
I love my kitchen window dressed for fallI love all things pumpkins. Fall is meant for cozy family time. Greeting you in my foyer. I admire her bravery!
I will just admit it, I’m a fall junkie. I love it all, Navy Football, apple picking, pumpkin spice, boots, comfy sweaters…you name it I adore it. So, although it is still 78 degrees out and shorts are still the wardrobe of choice, I am baking today! Inspired by the cider doughnuts we traditionally enjoy while picking apples and, of course my love of all things cake, I present the Apple Cider Doughnut Cake. Not for nothing, even my house smells like fall!
The Usual Cast of Characters
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for pan
3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for pan
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 3/4 cups natural cane sugar
1 cup apple cider
3/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 large eggs, room temperature
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.Generously butter and flour a 12-cup Bundt pan; use a pastry brush to be sure to get into all the crevices.
3.In a large bowl, whisk together flours, baking powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.
5.In another bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups sugar, cider, oil, applesauce, vanilla, and eggs.
6. Add egg mixture to flour mixture; whisk until combined. Transfer batter to prepared pan.
7. Bake, rotating pan halfway through, until a tester inserted in center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes.
8.Transfer pan to a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet; let cool 15 minutes.
9. Meanwhile, mix together remaining 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.
10. Invert warm cake onto rack. Brush with melted butter, then sprinkle liberally with cinnamon sugar. Let cool completely before serving. Cake can be stored, covered, at room temperature up to 2 days.
A Day of Small Things... 