Sometimes life gets a little crazy....

....and that's exactly what's been going on here lately!!! Some days there's just not enough time to get everything done....and on top of that I've got a major case of cabin fever!!! 
We've been taking the simple approach in the kitchen...just kind of going with easier, less time consuming meals...it's been kind of nice and it's given us some time to think about some other projects that we've got coming up!!!


So, even though I haven't done alot of cooking I've still got a couple of sweet recipes for you today....the apple tart was soooo good and the crust is super simple to make (thanks to Pioneer Woman) and the orange olive oil cake, may sound kind of strange but it is really yummy!!!

Apple Tart

For the crust:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. salt

1 1/2 sticks butter, cold

3/4 cup vegetable shortening

1 egg

5 Tblsp. cold water

1 Tblsp. distilled white vinegar

Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl.  Add the butter, shortening.  Using a pastry cutter, gradually work the butter and shortening into the flour until the mixture resembles tiny pebbles.  This step should take 3 or 4 minutes.

Lightly beat the egg with a fork and add it to the flour mixture.  Next, add in the cold water and vinegar.  Stir the mixture together until it's just combined (I prefer to use my hands), be sure not to over mix.  Remove the dough from the bowl and wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

For the filling:

4 cups apples, peeled,cored and sliced (I used Empire), but use what you prefer

Sugar, to your taste

Cinnamon, to taste

2 Tblsp. flour, enough to thicken the apples

Mix all ingredients together.

Roll out pie crust to approx. 9 or 10 inch round and put on baking sheet.  Pile apples in center of crust leaving enough crust to fold over the edges of the apples about 3 or 4 inches.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes, until crust is nicely browned and apples are tender.

Glaze:

2 cups confectioners sugar

Milk, enough to make a drizzle consistency

1 tsp. vanilla

Whisk all ingredients together and drizzle over cooled tart.

Orange Olive Oil Cake

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 Tblsp. baking powder

1 tsp. kosher salt

4 large eggs, separated

2 cups granulated sugar

1 cup plain yogurt

3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Zest from 3 oranges

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Generously spray a 10 inch bundt pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, whish together flour, baking powder and salt.  Set aside.

In another large bowl, beat egg yolks until they are pale and light; slowly pour in 2 cups sugar until it's completely incorporated.  Add the yogurt and olive oil and mix thoroughly combined.  Add the orange zest and vanilla, mix thoroughly.

Add the flour to the wet mixture in 2 parts, beating well after each addition, until just combined, scrape the sides of the bowl and beat an additional 5 seconds.

In a seperate bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form, Scoop 1 cup of the egg whites into the batter and using a rubber spatula fold into the cake batter, until combined.  Add remaining egg whites and continue to fold into the batter.

Pour the batter into the bundt pan and bake for 40-50 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.  Transfer pan to cooling rack and cool for 10-15 minutes.  Gently loosen the sides of the cake from the pan and turn onto the cooling rack. Cool completely.

Dust with powdered sugar or using the glaze recipe above, drizzle over the cake.

linking to: http://cozyhomescenes.blogspot.com and http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com

http://janesadventuresindinner.com

I wish I'd taken a before pic of this...

it started life as a very plain pine lazy susan that cost $7.95 from IKEA....it's amazing what a little paint can do!!!  :)

Next thing on my "To Do" list is my Spring/Easter Decorating....I'll let you know what I come up with!!

'Til Next Time....

Enjoy!!!

Update:  I linked my Lazy Susan re-do to the Copy Cat Challenge at Debbie Doos  @ http://debbie-debbiedoos and http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com, http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com, http://www.atthepicketfence.com, http://bringingbeauty.blogspot.com, http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com  
http://frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com
http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com
http://thespacebetween.wordpress.com