my latest version of our favorite apple cake

I am revisiting our family favorite fall cake:

apple cake or as we call it at home harvest cake!

By changing the pan (and the amount of the dough)

I change the cake:

this one is like an easy apple tart.

It does look different depending on how the apple slices are arranged on top of the dough:

But it tastes just as good as the original harvest cake,and the perfect cake to make at the last minute,it takes longer to heat up the oven to 350 than making the dough!
for this larger pie pan:3 eggs150g of sugar150g of AP flour1.5 tsp of baking powder0.5 tsp vanilla0.5-1 tsp cinnamon3 tbsp of milk 150 g of melted butter
mix together, one after the other,pour into greased pie pan,and arranged the sliced apples (1.5 apples for this size)

bake for 30-35 min at 350,enjoy warm or cold.
We also make it in a loaf pan:

harvest cake



Happy thanksgiving!

pumpkin kisses quilt: 102 pumkins!

It has been a while since I made a large quilt,

I sewed many smaller quilts and projects,

but not a large quilt.

I saw that quilt on IG and right away I wanted to make it,

and even more surprising I wanted to make it in with these fabrics,

so I bought a kit, which I have not done in years!

The pattern is Pumpkin Kisses by Coach House Designs.

 

It was quite an easy sew, but lots of pumpkins,

102 precisely!

Then lot of rows,

and finally a big quilt!

(before adding 2 borders!)

Finding space to pin the back and batting is always

a challenge, but with both kids in college,

I get to use some of their floor space!

I kept the quilting simple, just in the ditch,

and hand stitched the binding,

I found that part quite relaxing even with Bosco's help!

Finally I took my new quilt to the botanical garden for some pictures,

normal stuff!

Happy sewing!

 

a new Halloween pennant with felt appliques

This is my second Halloween pennant,I made it for Miss C. to decorate her dorm room,she is a huge Halloween fan,so it is a perfect little present:

Fun and not too spooky!
Two years ago, I made 2 for myself:

here for the post
Both are pretty fast to make,I used my old Sizzix cutter for the shapes,cutting them out of felt, 

and I followed this tutorial from Ameroonie Designs for the little flags.All is machine stitched, not time for handwork!

I used the same mix of Halloween prints that I used for this little pumpkin(also with her at college):

 Party pumpkin pattern from my Sew Quilty Life

Happy sewing!

fall sewing: mug rug, more mug rugs and mushrooms!

Over the past few weeks,I have been sewing lots of mug rugsor coastersto use and share with friends and family:

pattern from the Seasoned Homemaker
fancy one like these acorn ones:

in traditional, whimsical and modern fabrics,or this apple one,

pattern from The Seasoned Homemakerwith my favorite apple cake (recipe here)
or simpler like the fall theme ones!

Who doesn't love some cute fall friends?

I also have been playing with paper piecing,and making mushroom pincushions!!

pattern from Joe, June and Mae
And finally doing some more mushrooms sewingin the form of cross stitching!

pattern from a 2023 agenda book, from Veronique Enginger (aka Les Brodeuses Parisiennes)
that one is an on going project,as it takes me a while to stitch it all!
Happy sewing!

picking chestnuts

Earlier in the fall, I went chestnut "hunting" in Brittany!

It requires walking under chestnuts tree and some good gloves!

It was a little too early in the season,

but we were able to gather quite a few:

We didn't roast them

(as I have previously done in the past: here),

but instead removed their hard shells

and boiled them with some salt.

The boiled chestnuts have to be eaten warm,

as it is easiest to pill the last skin before eating them.

It is a little messy, and fun and delicious!

And with a glass of cool hard cider it is perfect!

I hope I will be able to find some at the grocery store for Christmas,

other wise I know I can always find the candied version 

and make more Buche de Noel aux marrons:

Another version that can easily be found is those little bags of ready to eat roasted chestnuts,

they are ok, not quite like the fresh ones but better than nothing!

And I enjoy eating them with Beaujolais Nouveau!

(Here for last year Beaujolais nouveau celebration!)

Happy Thanksgiving!