Over the past few months I've been feeling very much like Maria Portokalos - focusing on the hole in the cake, instead of like her husband, Gus, just embracing life. Many of you know that I had a sad summer - among other things....my Grams left us to go be with Jesus. And now, well, there is a big hole in the cake. I haven't blogged because I thought that I should write about it, but honestly, I don't want to. Not yet. My personal cheerleader is gone. So if you didn't know, now you do, and maybe someday we'll revisit it.
I will say, however, that I know that Grams would expect me to focus on the positive. And so for now, I'll share this with you : My favorite fall cake, I mean BUNDT.
Harvest Cake (adapted from Gooseberry Patch, Flavors of Fall)
Mix together:
1 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 t. cinnamon
2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. nutmeg
1/4 t. ground ginger
1 c. oil
1/2 t. vanilla extract
4 eggs
Add:
2 c. flour, 1/2 cup at a time
15 oz. pumpkin
Fold in:
2 apples, cored, peeled and chopped
1/2 c. chopped pecans (or walnuts, if you prefer)
Pour into a greased and floured BUNDT pan, bake 350 degrees for an hour and 10 minutes. Cool 20 minutes and remove from pan to finish cooling on wire rack.
BUT WAIT! your not done.. oh, no. This is the best part:
The Frosting:
Blend the following together and spread on cooled cake. Feel free to lick the bowl.
2 t. vanilla extract
1/2 butter, softened
8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
3 1/2 c. powdered sugar
Moist and delicious and tastes like Autumn. Grams would be proud.
