Autumn Walks

The weather this week has been unbelievable.

Autumn in Germany is usually dreary, damp, dark and dreadful.

This year, it is warm, bright, colorful and delightful.

Sebastian and I have been taking full advantage of the beautiful weather.

 Weather perfect for long walks.

Yesterday we walked into town for dinner at my favorite falafel place.

Today I slept in until naturally waking up around 8:30.

First thing on the agenda for the day, breakfast!

pumpkin pancakes

After a relaxing morning at home, I went to the gym for Body Balance.

Every time I walk out of that class, I feel better than I did going in.

I feel better physically, mentally and spiritually.

It’s amazing what an hour can do to you.

Add on a relaxing 15 minute sweat session in the sauna and I’m as good as gold!

Once home, I made a fantastic fresh juice.

I can’t seem to kick this cold and am hoping the extra vitamins and nutrients will help.

purple carrots, ginger, beet root, an orange and lemon

this combination makes a delicious and beautiful drink

Sebastian had to work tonight so we went on another walk before parting ways.

I couldn’t figure out how to get the color right on this shot.           Any suggestions?

Back at home, I made a cake for my colleague who just returned home after a month and a half away after her knee replacement.

Keeping with the autumn inspiration, I made her a Layered Cinnamon Apple Spice Cake with Caramel Apple Sauce.

She was so pleased to see me (or was it just the cake?).

We had a nice chat and then it was back to home for me.

Dinner was Kristin’s Sautéed Asian Broccoli Tofu!

My photos aren’t the best, but her recipe was quick and tasty.

The kitchen is clean, the garbage and recycling are out, I’m ready to relax with a book in bed.

Wishing you beautiful weather worthy of elongated autumn walks!

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Cinnamon Apple Spice Cake with Caramel Apple Sauce

One of my colleagues had her knee replaced a month and a half ago. After the surgery, she spent a week in the hospital followed by 5 weeks in a rehabilitation center.

Yesterday, she came home.

Returning home to your family is certainly worthy of cake.

Moist, seasonal, delicious cake.

simple ingredients for the cake

I made one layered cake for her and  a small single layer for us

Line, oil and flour your cake pans

whisk together the wet ingredients

 add in the spices and powders

incorporate the flour

whisk it all together

stir in the apples

the batter is ready

pour batter evenly into prepared pans

bake until golden brown and set then cool

prepare the caramel sauce

this job is done stove-top

 just be careful not to over-cook the apples (like I did) or else the peels will come off and your sauce will look like it has fried red onions in it.

No one wants to eat a cake that appears to have red onions on it.

place one cooled cake on a serving plate, bottom side up

2/3 of the caramel apples go on this layer

Place the second layer on top- allow the caramel to drip!

Can you tell it was getting dark? 

Top the cake with the remaining caramel apple sauce. 

Give to a friend to enjoy in the comfort of her own home! 

Cinnamon Apple Spice Cake with Caramel Apple Sauce

From Better Homes and Gardens, Nov. 2009

Prep: 25 min. Bake: 40 min. Cool: 10 min.

Serves 10

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 3/4 cup canola oil (I used 1/4 c. apple sauce & 1/2 c. oil)
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 cups packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose four (I used half 1 c.whole wheat, 1 1/2 all-purpose)
• 2 Gala apples, cored and cut into 1/2 inch chunks

For the sauce

• 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
• 4 small apples of firm pears, cored and sliced into wedges
• 1/4 cup granular sugar
• Drizzle of gold syrup (optional)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line two 8×8 baking pans with parchment paper. Grease and flour the pans, set aside.
2. In a mixing bowl, whisk buttermilk, oil, applesauce (if using), water, brown sugar, eggs, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and vanilla until combined. Whisk in flour; stir in apples. Divide evenly between prepared pans.
3. Bake 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire rack 10 minutes. Invert cake layers from pans onto racks; remove parchment paper. Cool completely on racks.
4. To prepare the caramel apple sauce, in a skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the apples or pears and sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, just until fruit begins to soften, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat.
5. Place one cake layer, flat side up on serving dish. Spoon on about two-thirds of topper. Top with second cake layer and remaining fruit topper.

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