Two other couples came over yesterday to play Canasta. We went out for dinner, & I made dessert. It was really good & tastes better warm. Despite the length of the recipe, it's easy to make, especially as it can be done a day ahead. There are a lot of apples, but the cake is better with a lot, & I rewarmed the leftover for breakfast this morning. Yum, yum. Brown-Sugar Spice Cake with Cream and Caramelized Apples from Gourmet, March 2006 For caramelized apples 8 Gala apples (3 1/2 pounds) 3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar For cake 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar 1 large egg 1/2 cup dark amber or Grade B maple syrup 1/2 cup sour cream 1 teaspoon vanilla For cream 1 1/4 cups chilled heavy cream 1/2 cup sour cream 2 tablespoons sugar Special equipment: an 8-inch square nonstick cake pan (2 inches deep) Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly butter and flour cake pan, knocking out excess flour. Make caramelized apples: Peel and core apples, then cut into 1/2-inch-thick wedges. Spread softened butter in an even layer over bottom of a 12-inch heavy skillet and sprinkle with brown sugar. Add apple wedges and cook over moderate heat, without stirring, until sugar is melted and apples start to give off Cook, stirring occasionally, until apples are just tender and juices become syrupy, about 30 minutes more. Pour syrup from skillet into a small heatproof bowl, then sauté apples, stirring occasionally, until caramelized and very tender, about 30 minutes more. Return syrup to apples and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes. Make cake while apples cook: Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices in a bowl. Beat together butter and brown sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until pale and fluffy. Beat in egg until combined. Add maple syrup, sour cream, and vanilla and beat until combined well. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture, then mix until just incorporated. Spread batter in cake pan and bake until cake is golden brown and a wooden pick or skewer inserted in center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool in pan on a rack 10 minutes. Make cream just before serving: Beat cream with sour cream and sugar using cleaned beaters at high speed until it just holds soft peaks. To serve: Run a thin knife around edge of pan, then invert cake onto a plate and cut into squares. Serve warm or at room temperature, topped with warm apple mixture and cream Cooks' notes: ·Caramelized apples can be made 1 day ahead and cooled completely, uncovered, then chilled, covered. Reheat over low heat. ·Cake can be made 1 day ahead and cooled completely, uncovered, then kept, loosely covered with plastic wrap, at room temperature.

Crunchy Fish Sticks and Smashed Potatoes Active Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 35 minutes Recipe Ingredients 1 1/2 lb red-skinned potatoes, scrubbed and cut in 1-in. chunks 1 cup (4 oz) shredded Cheddar cheese 1âÂÂ2 cup milk 1âÂÂ4 cup thinly sliced scallions 1âÂÂ4 tsp salt 1âÂÂ4 tsp pepper 1 large egg 1-lb flounder or sole fillets, cut in 1-in.-wide strips 1 1/4 cups crushed baked potato chips 3âÂÂ4 tsp paprika 3âÂÂ4 tsp salt o 1âÂÂ2 cup tartar sauce o 3âÂÂ4 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, cut up Recipe Preparation Heat oven to 450�F. Set a wire rack on a foil-lined (for easy cleanup) rimmed baking sheet; coat rack with nonstick spray. Cook potatoes in lightly salted boiling water 10 to 15 minutes until tender. Drain; return to pot and mash with a potato masher. Add cheese; stir until melted. Add milk, scallions, salt and pepper; stir to blend. Cover to keep hot. While potatoes cook, beat egg in a bowl until foamy. Add fish strips; toss to coat. In another bowl, mix crushed chips, paprika and salt. Put a few fish strips at a time into chip mixture. Using a fork, toss strips to coat. Place on prepared rack. Bake 10 minutes, or until coating is crisp and fish is cooked through. With a broad spatula, transfer fish to a platter. Mix tartar sauce and tomatoes. Serve with the fish. Sue

Here is a yummy Hot Fudge Sundae Cake recipe I am making on this cold snowy day in MA. Ingredients: 1. C. flour 3/4 C. white sugar 2. TBSP. cocoa powder 2.Tsp. Baking powder 1/4 teas. salt. 1/2C milk 2 TBSP. Wesson oil 1.Tsp. vanilla 1.C. chopped nuts 1.C. brown sugar. 1/4 C. cocoa 1 3/4 C. HOT tap water Pre heat oven to 350. In a 9x9 square pan stir together the flour,sugar, 2 TBS. cocoa, baking powder and salt. Then pour into that mix the milk,oil, and vanilla with a fork stir till smooth. Stir in the nuts, and spread evenly into pan. Sprinkle brown sugar and 1/4 cocoa..do not stir this. Pour the HOT water over all...do not mix. Place in oven and bake for 40 mins. let stand for 15 mins. Spoon into dessert dishes, top with ice cream and then pour some of the sauce over the ice cream... This is just like eating a Hot fudge Sundae... Delicious. This recipe goes back to 1977..that is when I first wrote it down. Excellent. june

I'm baking country style pork backbones, that has been marinated overnite in Papa Louie's Secret Baking Sauce. Sure smells good!