Apple Butter Pound Cake

Today's post is a two-for-one, a table setting and a recipe!

 As I was browsing at the Goodwill last week I spied some random pieces of English transferware, two earred cereal bowls, a small platter and a vegetable bowl. Hmm, kind of an odd mix, but I loved the design.This is the Pomona pattern made by Johnson Brothers and features a basket of fruit and flowers in rich autumnal colors.They were only a couple of dollars each so I bought them.

 Then when I went back this week looking for picture frames, imagine my joy when I found two dinner plates to match!

This is a simple everyday table setting, perfect for a couple of empty nesters or young marrieds. No fuss, just pretty plates, pewter flatware, and chunky amber goblets

 Now for the recipe.

 I found on the back of my pantry shelf a jar of apple butter that I had canned several years ago. My mother-in-law makes a delicious apple cake using fresh apples. I thought I would try to duplicate it using the apple butter instead.

The directions are basic: Cream the butter and sugar, 

 add the eggs,

alternately add the buttermilk and flour/spice mixture.

 Lastly I added the apple butter and poured the batter into my favorite silicone

 mini loaf pan.

 They came out a lovely rich brown color, but a little deflated in the centers. Nothing a bit of cream cheese frosting can't hide!

Voila! This cake is very moist and rich. Enjoy!

I have doubled the recipe because I like to make enough to freeze, so if you'd rather, cut the recipe in half.

Apple Butter Pound Cake

3 cups flour
3 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp ground cloves
Stir dry ingredients together in a large bowl


1 1/2 cups butter 
3 cups sugar
6 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup apple butter


Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time and beat until creamy. Alternately add dry ingredients and buttermilk. Add apple butter. Pour into 3-4 large or 6-8 mini loaf pans. (Loaf pans seem to vary in size so you may have some variance here.) Bake at 325 degrees for 45-60 minutes depending on your pan size. If desired, frost with your favorite cream cheese frosting or glaze.




I will be joining:
Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Through Life
Flea Market Finds
Wow Us Wednesdays
Open House Party Thursday
Time Travel Thursday
At the Picket Fence
Potpourri Friday
Vintage Inspiration Friday
Show and Tell Friday

French Market Soup

Well the temps are down to the mid 90's which means

 Fall is in the air and I can make soup!

 I had a leftover ham bone from an event I helped with last week. Perfect for a crock pot of soup! I usually make traditional ham and navy bean soup but decided to try something new

French Market Soup 

from one of my favorite cookbooks Fix It and Forget It.

 Served with some artisanal crusty bread it made for a lovely simple supper.

 And since there are just the two of us I was able to freeze the leftovers for future easy dinners.

Here's their recipe with only a couple of small adjustments:

French Market Soup

1 ham hock

2 cups dried beans - I used garbanzos, lentils, red beans, navy beans and barley (it's what I had in the pantry)
2 quarts water
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 16 oz can diced tomatoes
1 large onion diced
1 clove garlic minced
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 bay leaf

Place all ingredients in crock pot and cook on low for 8 hours. Remove ham hock and remove meat from bone and return to pot. Turn crock pot to high and cook an addition 2 hours or until beans are tender. ( I actually made this the day before and let it cool in the refrigerator. I then skimmed the fat from the surface and reheated in the crock pot.

Bon Appetit!


I'm joining


Stone Gable on the Menu Monday

Playing with Pumpkins

Autumn is my favorite time of year. Growing up in Pennsylvania I have such great memories of apple and pumpkin picking, and walking to school gathering leaves of scarlet, copper, bronze and gold. Sadly in Arizona we don't enjoy such Fall delights. Nevertheless, I can pretend by filling my home with pumpkins, gourds and other signs of the harvest!

Herewith, my Autumnal tablescape...

 Remember I found these wooden chargers at Goodwill a few weeks ago? I knew I'd be using them a lot! The dinner plate is a deep brown with a black border made by Arabia of Finland. The little fruit bowl is Wedgwood Old Chelsea and features a crane sitting on a branch.

I found this wonderful casserole dish recently thrifting. It is Royal Worcester and the pattern is Evesham one of their most popular designs.

For the table runner I've used a pashmina that I purchased a couple of years ago in India

I wanted to incorporate lots of wood so I nestled my pumpkins into vintage dough bowls.

These two little carved ladies are from Switzerland. Aren't they adorable? Goodwill finds!

 My brother gave me this little lad when he returned from a stint in Germany. I love his knapsack!

Now for the sideboard!

So even though it's still over 100 degrees outside Fall is in the air inside!

I'm joining:

French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday

Open House Party Thursdays

Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Through Life

Savvy Southern Style for Wow us Wednesdays

2805 for Potpourri Friday

Pillow Project

When our youngest went off to college several years ago I commandeered his room and turned it into my office/workout room/storage room. Do you have one of those? I got rid of the twin beds that he had grown up with and moved in a sofa and coffee table, treadmill and t.v. I realized however, that when all of the kids come home for the holidays someone always ends up sleeping on the couch. So I finally decided to go the day bed route.

 It took a bit of searching, but I found this beautiful day bed on craigslist. I ordered a buttercream yellow matelasse bedspread from Overstock.com (they have some great deals!)   

These are the pillow shams that the bedspread came with. Nice, but it definitely needs more pillows!

So I got to work! Now I know most of you creative types have already done this, and all of your fabulous blogs inspired me to try my hand at iron on transfers. What fun! I had about 6 yards of a lovely nubby linen and silk fabric that I had found thrifting a couple of months ago. I wasn't sure what I was going to use it for  but then it became obvious - pillows! 

With the help of the Graphics Fairy and my Printshop program I designed Country French pillows with roosters, hens, honey bees and wheat. Added to the mix are pillows made out of authentic Provencal fabrics that I've been saving for something special. Oh, and a nice green silk dupioni 

pillow found at Goodwill for $1.99. It's also down filled!

 How many pillows are too many? I still want to make some with crowns, but maybe I'll save them for the living room!

I'll be joining:

Savvy Southern Style for wow us Wednesdays

Debbie's Newbie Party at Debbiedoo's Blogging and Blabbing

Honey at 2805 for Potpourri Friday

My Romantic Home for 

Show and Tell Friday

                      French Country Cottage for Feathering Your Nest Friday

Cake Plate Parade

A few months ago I shared with you my love of crystal cake plates.Is there any other way to make a simple dessert look more elegant? Well, my collection continues to grow as I simply cannot resist when I find one at a thrift store! Here then are my latest acquisitions.

I found this lovely ribbed beauty today at the Goodwill for $9.99!

And how about this darling pastry plate? I love the ruffled edge of the turquoise base. 

Although this was made in Italy,  I've added a "Frenchy" tag courtesy of The Graphics Fairy!

This piece I found thrifting earlier in the Summer. It has a wonderful cut crystal base .

Okay, so this isn't really a cake plate, but I had to add this covered bon bon dish to the collection!

So here they are all lined up on the wall that separates my living room from my dining room.

Cake Plates on Parade!

I'm joining Cindy over at
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home 

and  Feathering Your Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage.