Me Want Food!!

Not a lot going on the past few days.  I've been catching up on some serious reading as well as continually working on the house.  Matt has been working everyday this week and has a 12 hour job fair he is working today in hopes to find his new team members for the Lynnwood seafood team!  Good luck Matt!

As per usual, the food in the Hoffmeyer house never disappoints...so here are a few things we've cooked up this week:

Delicious Pot Stickers - not home made, but cooked to perfection!

Hand-made spicy tuna rolls by Chef Stormy (Matt)

Molasses Cookies to die for!!  Courtesy of Katie Crocker (Bettie's trainee - ME!)

Most importantly...the BEST apple cake I have ever tasted.  I will share the recipe below...believe it or not this is a GLUTEN-FREE cake!  I know, I know...I was VERY skeptical, but I didn't have anything to lose and now I have a KILLER apple cake recipe!

Gluten-Free Apple Cake Recipe:

Ingredients

◦                      3/4 cup rice flour

◦                      1/2 cup potato starch ( NOT potato flour)  

◦                      1/4 cup tapioca flour

◦                      3/4 teaspoon xanthan gum

◦                      1 teaspoon baking soda

◦                      1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

◦                      1 teaspoon cinnamon

◦                      2 teaspoons vanilla

◦                      1/2 cup butter

◦                      3/4 cup white sugar

◦                      3 tablespoons brown sugar

◦                      2 eggs

◦                      3 tablespoons milk

◦                      1 1/2 cups apples, peeled, cored, and shredded ( about 2 apples)  I used 3!  I also found out the best way to shred an apple is using a cheese grater!  Who knew?  But, it worked like a champ!

◦                      icing sugar, for dusting (optional)  I made a cream cheese icing to put on top.  That recipe is below as well!

This was definitely my first time working with some of these ingredients (rice flour, potato starch, tapioca flour, xanthan gum)  I was afraid too...but you can do it!!!

Directions

            

1.            Preheat oven to 350°F; grease either 9 inch round springform pan, or 8 inch square cake pan, and dust with rice flour.

2.            In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour mix, xanthan gum, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon; set aside.

3.            In the bowl of your mixer, cream the butter for about 1 minute or until softened

4.            Add both sugars,and beat for about 2 minutes

5.            Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat until well incorporated.

6.            Blend in the milk.

7.            Then turn mixer to low and add the dry ingredients half at a time, beating after each addition, until they are well absorbed.  Then add vanilla.

8.            Remove the bowl from the stand and gently fold in the shredded apples.

9.            Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until toothpick inserted tests clean and the cake pulls away from the edge of the pan.

10.        If serving from the pan, cool at least 10 minutes before removing.

                             Dust lightly with icing sugar, if desired -OR- Cream Cheese Icing!!

Cream Cheese Icing:

Ingredients:

•   2 tablespoons butter, softened

•   4 ounces cream cheese, softened  I doubled this

•   1 -2 teaspoon vanilla extract

•   3 cups powered sugar (more, if needed)

•   1 teaspoon lemon juice (lime or orange)  I used lemon juice and it really turned out great!

Directions:

•       For cream cheese icing, beat the cream cheese and butter until fluffy.

•       Add the vanilla.

•       Add the powdered sugar a cup at a time; squeeze a little lemon (or other citrus) juice

into the frosting and beat until smooth.

•       Add more sugar or juice as necessary  

•       Frost cooled cake.

I am always open to new recipes, so if you have any to share, please send them my way!

Have a great rest of your Friday and weekend!!!