Just A Few Words

Hello, my dear friends
Perhaps some of you might wonder how am I holding up.  Well, one thing I know is that spring, fall, the smell of a rose, or the taste of an apple pie will never be the same.  How can it be, if part of my flesh is not here.  There are moments when the anxiety consumes me and moments which I will give anything to hear his, "Hey, Mom!" To think I won't hear his voice again is unbearable.  I am not mad, bitter, or even ask why.  Our lives revolved around him and now we must learn to live without him.  Is that even possible?  They say time heals; I'll keep you posted on that one.

Tomorrow, I will turn on the oven  to bake a cake for Dr. Michael Geraldi, a doctor who is the pure essence of what every doctor should be. Professional, loving, and caring.  A doctor who could have easily said good bye when Andy turned 18 years old; instead, he said, "As long as Andy feels comfortable with me, I will keep seeing him" and he did. To learn more about Dr. Mike, visit http://possibledream.org/home.php .  I will continue this post tomorrow.  Love you, all.

January 21, 2013, I conclude this posting. Exactly one week later.  I apologize, but I was not in the mood to write, as I am sure you may understand.  I did bake the cake the next morning and my husband delivered it to Dr. Geraldi.  I hope he  and his staff enjoyed it.

This cake smells amazing as everything with apples and cinnamon does.  Give it a try, I am sure you will enjoy it.
Talk to you later, friends.


                                                   Apple Cinnamon Streusel Cake

Ingredients:                                                    Yield: 12 servings (big ones)

3 sticks unsalted butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup brown sugar

3 eggs

3 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

5 medium apples peeled, cored and cut into 1/2 inch pieces

2 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract


Streusel 
Ingredients:

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 1/2 cups pecans, chopped

In medium bowl, mix all ingredients well.
(you will have have streusel left, which you can refrigerate for up to two weeks)  Sprinkle over ice cream, cereal, or unbaked sugar cookies.


Directions:

Heat oven to 325 degrees.  Spray a ten cup bundt pan with vegetable spray.
Peel and cut apples.  Set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and both sugars until light and fluffy.  Add eggs one at a time beating after each addition.
In  a large bowl combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.  Add to egg mixture and mix until combined.  Stir in apples and vanilla. Scrape batter into bundt pan, sprinkle streusel (about a cup) and bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until inserter comes out clean.
Let cool in pan. Invert onto cool rack and invert again.  Streusel should be on top.

Gotta love this cake!