walnuts

Jewish Apple Cake (Bread)

/ Jodi / 39 Comments

jewish-apple-cake-3

What better smell is there in Autumn than cinnamon and apples baking up in yummy cakes and pies and breads?

This recipe for Jewish Apple Cake is one I got from my BFF Jill, who doesn’t necessarily love to bake or cook, but when she does, she has some amazing recipes.  This is one of them.  The first time I tasted it, I had to have the recipe, and now I make it more than her.

In fact, she texted me yesterday morning, and I said, “Guess what I just took out of the oven?”  She mentioned she hasn’t made it in “forever.”  (That might be why she is thin, and I’m – well  – Not!)

jewish-apple-cake-1

I’m not sure why this is called “Jewish” Apple Cake, so I did a little Wiki research (and I’m going to look forward to hearing what my BFF Bubby has to say.)

Per Wikipedia:  Jewish apple cake is a kind of dense cake made with apples and sold mostly in Pennsylvania in the United States. It has limited known connections to Jewish cuisine. It is thought that this cake is actually a Pennsylvania Dutch culinary item that was erroneously attributed to Jews because it seemed “old world.”  It may also be considered Jewish because it contains no dairy, and it may therefore be eaten with meals containing meat, in accordance with Jewish laws of kashrut.

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Seems most people make this in a bundt cake or springform cake pan, but Jill always made it in loaves of bread, so that is the way I do too!

Besides… when you do, you can keep one, and give two away… which is exactly what I plan on doing.

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This cake/bread tastes delicious with coffee or tea for breakfast or a snack or dessert.  It is not too sweet, but cinnamony, and apply, and nutty enough to rock your world!

Hope you’ll give it a try.  Let me know if you do.

Jewish Apple Cake (Bread)

Ingredients:jewish-apple-cake-3

  • 4-5 pared apples, sliced thin (I used Honeycrisps)
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
  • 2 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 4 eggs, beaten
  • 2 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 1 cup oil
  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease and flour 3 bread loaf pans (approx. 8″x4″).

Mix together, apples, walnuts, 1/2 cup sugar, and cinnamon.  Set aside for sugar and cinnamon to soak into the apples and nuts.

Whisk together 2 cups sugar, eggs, vanilla, orange juice, and oil.  Add baking powder and flour, and stir just until batter is incorporated.

Alternate layering:  batter, apples, batter, apples, batter.

Bake 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.  Cool  in pan 10-15 mins.  Remove from pans and cool on wire rack.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired.  Store in airtight bag.  Freezes well.

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Goji Berry Energy Bars – A Super Food Snack

/ Jodi / 21 Comments

Goji Berry Energy Bars 3

So this is pretty out of character for this cookie-baking, haluski and halupki making – lover of all comfort foods – but it IS the new year –

and we ALL seem to go off on little kicks….

Well, my son, Nick has been making healthy breakfast smoothies lately, so we bought him a Super Food Smoothie cookbook to go with his new Ninja for Christmas, and we’ve been discussing super foods.

We decided to try some new things like Goji Berries and Chia Seeds, and Cacao Nibs and Maqui Berry Powder.

I’m not really big on drinking my breakfast.

I like something I can sink my teeth into.

So I found and tweaked a recipe for these healthy, tasty, energy bars that make a great breakfast or mid-morning or mid-afternoon pick-me-up snack.

Goji Berry Energy Bars 2

I love all the ingredients in them – almonds and walnuts and sunflower seeds with a bit of sweetness from the cacao and goji berries and dates.

Goji Berry Energy Bars

Who says healthy and good for you can’t be tasty and comforting!?

Give them a try.  Throw them in a ziploc in the freezer and grab when on the go!  Let me know what you think about them if you try.   And keep in mind, this recipe can be tweaked and improvised in many ways.  Change up the nuts or berries.  Use local honey instead of agave, whole wheat or coconut flour, raisins instead of dates.  The possibilities are endless.  Just like the taste!

Goji Berry Energy Bars a Super Food Snack

Ingredients:Goji Berry Energy Bars 3

  • 1 cup walnuts
  • 1 cup almonds
  • 1 cup pumpkin seeds
  • 12 dates
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 Tablespoons almond flour
  • ½ cup agave
  • ½ cups cocoa nibs
  • 1 cup goji berries

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Grind walnuts, almonds and pumpkin seeds in a food processor or Ninja or blender. Add the dates and pulse, making sure not to pulverize, but leaving some texture.

Pour into a mixing bowl, and add the rest of the ingredients.  Mix well.

Spread into an 8×8 baking dish, and bake for 20 minutes.

Cut into squares, and serve.  Freeze in Ziploc bag to maintain freshness and have on hand for snacks on the go.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi