Encouraging Hearts and Homes@Slices of Life

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 the senses. 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!

Metamorphosis Inspire me Monday. Inspire me Tuesday You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Wonderful Wednesday. Keep in touch. Beautifully made. Wednesday blog hop. Share your style. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Create bake grow. Happiness is homemade. Create with joy. Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Pink Saturday encouraging hearts and home Wednesday Centerpiece. Dare to share. heart and souls simple sunday silverado. The Fabulous Party. homestead blog hop traffic jam busy Monday. Love your creativity inspiration party share the wealth Karen’s kottage. Crafty creations sunshine Sunday potpourri creative muster. Homemade Monday

I was featured!

Senior Salon@Esme Salon

Full Plate@Miz Helen’s Country Cottage

What’s For Dinner@The Lazy Gastronome

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.

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.

Metamorphosis Inspire me Monday. Inspire me Tuesday .You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Wonderful Wednesday. Keep in touch. Beautifully made. Wednesday blog hop. Share your style. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Create bake grow. Happiness is homemade. Create with joy. Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Pink Saturday encouraging hearts and home Wednesday Centerpiece. Dare to share. heart and souls simple sunday Silverado. The Fabulous Party. homestead blog hop traffic jam busy Monday. Love your creativity inspiration party share the wealth Karen’s kottage. Crafty creations sunshine Sunday potpourri not just your mom homemade Monday

Anything Goes@How Sweet the Sound

You’re The Star@Stone Cottage Adventure

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!

Metamorphosis Inspire me Monday. Inspire me Tuesday . You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Wonderful Wednesday. Keep in touch. Beautifully made. Wednesday blog hop. Share your style. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Create bake grow. Happiness is homemade. Create with joy. Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Pink Saturday encouraging hearts and home Wednesday Centerpiece. Dare to share. heart and souls simple sunday silverado. The Fabulous Party. homestead blog hop traffic jam busy Monday. Love your creativity inspiration party share the wealth Karen’s kottage. Crafty creations sunshine Sunday potpourri creative muster homemade Monday

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.

Apple picking Princess!

Metamorphosis Inspire me Monday. Inspire me Tuesday . You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Wonderful Wednesday. Keep in touch. Beautifully made. Wednesday blog hop. Share your style. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Create bake grow. Happiness is homemade. Create with joy. Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Pink Saturday encouraging hearts and home Wednesday Centerpiece. Dare to share. heart and souls simple sunday silverado. The Fabulous Party. homestead blog hop traffic jam busy Monday. Love your creativity inspiration party share the wealth Karen’s kottage. Crafty creations sunshine Sunday potpourri creative muster full plate handmade Monday. What’s for dinner

Morning Cup of Joe@The Cottage Market

We had a wonderful weekend, a quick getaway to the Philadelphia area to visit family, pick some apples, arrange some flowers, eat the best pizza and visit some awesome scarecrows. The time was short, but lovely. I hope your weekend was grand as well.

Metamorphosis Inspire me Monday. Inspire me Tuesday .You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Wonderful Wednesday. Keep in touch. Beautifully made. Wednesday blog hop. Share your style. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Create bake grow. Happiness is homemade. Create with joy. Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Pink Saturday encouraging hearts and home Wednesday Centerpiece. Dare to share. heart and souls simple sunday silverado. The Fabulous Party. homestead blog hop traffic jam busy Monday. Love your creativity inspiration party share the wealth Karen’s kottage. Crafty creations sunshine Sunday potpourri creative Muster handmade Monday

Feeling a little Fall like today and it makes me want to bake! Thinking about coconuts and it makes me want to bake Coconut Pound Cake…why not. It’s sweet, moist, tender and oh so delicious. It is also wonderful to tuck into a lunchbox for a small sweet treat. It is kind of perfect, matter of fact.I may just have to try another piece…just to make sure.

The Usual Cast Of Characters

3/4 cup softened butter
3/4 cup coconut milk
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs (lightly beaten)
4 – 6 Tablespoons shredded coconut, depending on how you like it!
1 3/4 cups All purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

The Steps to Glory

• Preheat over to 350 degrees.
• Greese and flour 1 loaf pan, set aside.
• In a mixing bowl, mix softened butter and sugar together until fluffy.
• In a seperate small bowl, mix together flour, salt, baking powder, and shredded coconut.
• Add eggs, one at a time into butter/sugar mixture. Mix well.
• Add coconut milk, alternating with flour/coconut mixture (this will prevent lumps).
• Pour batter into loaf pan and bake for 1 – 1 1/4 hours.

So soft and delicious!

Enjoy with your favorite Fourth Grader who still looks tiny with her backpack.

Metamorphosis Inspire me Monday. Inspire me Tuesday . You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Wonderful Wednesday. Keep in touch. Beautifully made. Wednesday blog hop. Share your style. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Create bake grow. Happiness is homemade. Create with joy. Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Pink Saturday encouraging hearts and home Wednesday Centerpiece. Dare to share. heart and souls simple sunday silverado. The Fabulous Party. homestead blog hop traffic jam busy Monday. Love your creativity inspiration party share the wealth Karen’s kottage. Crafty creations sunshine Sunday potpourri what’s for dinner