LATVIAN APPLE TORTE

My grandma Milda Narbatovics brought this coffee cake to every family gathering.

Äpple torte
Makes 8 servings

SUPPLIES

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 cups flour, plus 1 tablespoon (divided)

1 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons (divided)

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature, plus 1 tablespoon (divided)

3 eggs

4 cups apples, peeled and sliced (about 5 medium)

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine salt, baking powder, cinnamon and 2 cups flour in a bowl. In another bowl, cream 1 cup of sugar with 1 cup of butter until smooth, then add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in dry ingredients by hand, stirring just to combine. Do not overwork or mixture will be tough. Stir in apples.

Prepare a 9 x 13 pan by rubbing it with remaining 1 tablespoon butter and dusting with remaining 1 tablespoon flour. Knock out excess.

Add cake mixture to pan, spreading it out evenly. Place sliced apples in rows on top of batter, then sprinkle top with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, and an extra sprinkle of cinnamon for color.

Bake in preheated oven about 45 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool on rack, then remove from pan for slicing and serving. Serve with ice cream, if desired.

CROCK POT MAC AND CHEESE

This is a great one dish recipe for those of you who hate boiling noodles . No boiling here, just throw it all in one crockpot and DONE!!! None of that out of the box crap. Remember, orange powder isn’t really cheese.

*Homefaker tip: I get my cheese from the deli and have them slice it super thin ,then I break it up when adding it to the crockpot. Works great with no grate  ! lol

INGREDIENTS
2         cups uncooked elbow macaroni
12 oz.  can evaporated milk
2 1/2   cups 2% milk
8         drops Worcestershire sauce
1/2      stick butter
1          tsp. prepared mustard
1          pinch nutmeg
1          tsp. sea salt
2          large eggs
1/2      cup grated or diced fine onion
3          cups  grated cheese of choice. 
I like any of the cheddars, and pepperjack

Whisk milks and eggs together with a fork in  large crockpot.

Add all other ingredients except cheese . Mix well. Add cover and cook on low for 1 1/2 hours.

Remove lid and stir well adding grated cheese.Return lid to pot and continue to cook  on low for another 1 1/2 hours. Remove lid, and ENJOY!!

* You can also make this a one dish meal by adding cooked ham or chicken and a can of veggies to the pot at the time you add your cheeses.

CAR CHANDELIER

Today I was feeling a bit under the weather, but I still felt the need to accomplish a little somethin' somethin'.I really wanted a little chandelier for my car.I made one using little trinkets from my hoarding stash/ craft room.

The chandy arms are made from 3 metal ornament hangers glued onto a tealight using e6000 glue.I then built it up from there. The candles are from a really old confirmation cake top, and all the beads were wired on from an old  broken bracelet. The beads are faceted aurora borealis glass beads. You can't see the detail, but they sparkle like nobody's business.

It measures 6 x 4 inches, and the tea light has it's own timer that automatically comes on for 4 hours each night. 

SAUCY CHICKEN WITH HAWAIIAN ROLLS

Hawaiian Rolls and moist juicy chicken breast served with a smooth and creamy sauce for dipping.

Does it get any better? YES...

Top with melty cheese and crisp bacon .....

4 Chicken breasts brined overnight in 6 cups water and 1/2 cup sea salt, and 1/4 cup poultry seasoning.

Ingredients
4  skinless boneless chicken breasts
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup ranch dressing
1/4 cup sour cream 
2 T. bleu cheese dressing
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
4 T. honey
4 T. Mrs Dash
4 slices cheddar cheese
4 slices pre cooked bacon
4 thin slices red onion
4 thin slices tomato

Directions
Preheat oven 450 degrees.

 Mix together mayo, ranch, sour cream, bleu cheese dressing, mustard, and 1 T. Mrs. Dash. This will be your dipping sauce.
Put  brined  chicken breasts in a 9 x 13 pan. Drizzle each with honey.Spoon a tablespoon of dipping sauce onto each breast . Top with sliced onion and tomato. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove pan from oven and place cheese on top of each breast , then bacon. Bake for another  15 minutes .Remove and serve with  tossed salad, corn, and Hawaiian rolls. YUMMY!!

HOMEFAKER CRACKLE/CHALK PAINT RECIPES

Homefaker Designer Chalk Paint Recipe

3 cups flat latex paint (any color)
1 cup Sodium Bicarbonate
1/2 cup warm water
~mix until smooth, and paint.
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DIY Chalk Paint

4  cups latex paint
1 cup plaster of paris ,baking soda,OR grout mix
1 cup warm water

~mix until smooth, and paint.

After paint has dried overnight, you can distress with some fine sandpaper.Then if you want an antique look use a gel stain in a walnut color brush on, and wipe off with a soft cloth. Last step is to get a furniture wax. Brush on an ample amount  then wipe most of it off. IF YOU LEAVE TOO MUCH ON IT WILL BE STICKY. Let the wax dry overnight, and buff with a lint free soft cloth the next day.

The antique stain I used was a mocha glaze. Any dark brown glaze will do.Do not use a stain, it will absorb in the paint and you will not be able to blend or remove.( Learned the hard way argghhh..)

This is the wax...http://www.amazon.com/Minwax-78500-Regular-Finishing-1-Pound/dp/B000LNOZAW/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1358132504&sr=8-6&keywords=furniture+wax

You can also use a satin polyurethane clear coat, but not with the wax. One or the other.

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 Homefaker Crackle Finish

Apply a coat of paint  that you want your cracks to be. Darker colors work best.

Let dry completely

Apply a liberal layer of school glue using a brush. The more glue the bigger your cracks will be.I use the cheap dollar store glue cause it's thinner making it easier to work with.

Do not let the glue dry .Glue must be still tacky and wet when you apply your top coat of paint.

Apply your top paint color . Brush in same direction not overlapping brush strokes  for a more realistic look. 

Let the paint dry, and in hours you should have a beautiful crackle finish.

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This beauty will be in my Shasta camper..

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