Holiday Hits: Happy New Year!

I hope everyone has a happy, healthy, prosperous, and fun new year in 2026! 🎉🐶🎉

Holiday Hits: Season's Greetings!

From Homemade Gifts Made Easy

Wishing everyone Season's Greetings, Happy Holidays, and Merry Christmas! ❄️🎅🎁🎄⛄️❄️

 

Holiday Hits: Happy Thanksgiving!

From Country Living

I hope everyone has a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

Holiday Hits: Halloween Has Arrived!

From 12542545

Here's to a safe, spooktacular, and happy Halloween for all! 🎃👻🎃

Foodie Fridays: Apple Cider Loaf Cake

Recently we had some neighbors over for dinner, and I had a lot of leftover apple cider, so I began looking for recipes that would help use it up.  Apple Cider Loaf Cake was one that I decided to make because I had just purchased a lovely loaf pan with a great autumnal pattern on the bottom and I really wanted to try it out.  I was a bit nervous that the loaf would not come out of the pan easily as I have had this happen before with Bundt cakes, but thanks to the instructions that came with the pan I figured out why I have had this problem.  It turns out that you should never use aerosol cooking spray to grease cake pans (aerosol baking spray with flour is fine), which is what I always used!  Armed with this new knowledge, I was able to get the cake out of the pan effortlessly, and cannot wait to try other loaf cake/bread recipes using this pan.

Since my new pan required turning the cake upside down after removing it, I did have to change the topping instructions.  Instead of sprinkling the cinnamon sugar on before baking, I simply added it after removing the cake from the pan and inverting it onto a plate (be sure to slice the rounded top off of the loaf to level it before removing it from the pan).  Otherwise I followed the recipe as written except for the flour, since the original recipe called to a special type that I did not have.  I also halved the amount of salt because I always do.  This is a light and mildly flavored cake that is perfect with a cup of afternoon tea, and I know that I will make it again.

Apple Cider Loaf Cake

½ C. unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
¾ cup dark brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs, at room temperature
½ C. apple cider
⅓ C. sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
1 T. vanilla
2 C. flour
1½ tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. ginger
½ tsp. nutmeg
Cinnamon Sugar (below)

Lightly butter a 9 x 5" loaf pan.  Line with parchment paper, leaving overhang on both long sides.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.  In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, cider, sour cream, and vanilla.  In another medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.

Alternate adding wet and dry ingredients to butter mixture, beating well after each addition.  Spoon batter into prepared pan, smoothing top into an even layer.  Sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture on top.

Bake at 350° F for 40-45 minutes (mine took 50 minutes), or until golden brown on top and firm to touch in center of loaf.  Remove from oven and cool completely before slicing.  Store covered at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Cinnamon Sugar: Combine 3 T. turbinado sugar. ¾ tsp. cinnamon, and ¼ tsp. nutmeg in small bowl.
 

This 'n That Thursdays: Could Our President Be an Illegal Alien?

From Fandom

From The Washington Post

 

 

 

Could our president actually be an illegal alien from outer space, possibly similar to the one on the left seen in the movie "Men in Black II" (2002)?  True, the president does not look quite as "robust" as the alien pictured, but they do shrink, you know, especially with age.  This could be a case for the Men in Black to investigate (provided, of course, the agency has not been defunded 😱)!  Time to cue the Twilight Zone theme music? 🎶🎶 Have a great spooky season, everyone - if you dare!

Foodie Fridays: Cucumber Corn Salad

I am harvesting the last of the vegetables from my garden right now, and one of the more abundant crops this year is cucumbers.  This was a big surprise for me, as in previous years my cucumber plants really struggled.  As a result I have been forced to find more cucumber salad recipes than just my usual Greek salad, and one of my new favorites has been Cucumber Corn Salad.

My version is loosely based on this recipe, but I have made numerous changes to suit my taste preferences.  I use thawed frozen corn instead of fresh, and I halved the amount so that I can increase the amount of cucumbers depending on how many I have harvested.  Instead of red onion I use a shallot, and I always have cilantro paste in the fridge which I substitute for fresh.  My dressing for the salad is a bit more complicated as I wanted to use ingredients I had on hand, and since I usually have lemons instead of limes that is what I added.  Instead of jalapenos, I used tajin, and since the flavors of this salad are more Mexican than Mediterranean I used queso fresco rather than feta cheese.  I think this is now my favorite cucumber salad, and considering I am not really that fond of cucumbers that is really saying a lot!

Cucumber Corn Salad

2 C. frozen corn, thawed
6 small cucumbers, diced
1 shallot, finely diced
⅓ C. chopped fresh cilantro (or 1 T. cilantro paste)
4 T. mayonnaise
2 T. coleslaw dressing (optional but tasty)
3 T. tzatziki or plain yogurt
juice of 2 limes or 1 lemon
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ tsp. chili powder
½ tsp. cumin
½ tsp. sea salt (optional)
1 tsp. tajin
10 oz. queso fresco, diced

Combine all of the ingredients except the cheese in a large bowl.  Stir until combined.  Gently stir in the cheese.  Adjust any seasoning to taste, or add some extra mayonnaise or yogurt for a creamier texture.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.  Serves 8.