A Visit to Southwest Decoratives!

When I was in New Mexico, In between a morning guild meeting in Santa Fe, and an Evening guild meeting in Albuquerque, I had the opportunity to take a little side trip out to a very special shop!

Not that ALL shops are not special, but this one was something REALLY neat!

Southwest Decoratives might not even “SOUND” like the name for a Quilt Shop, but if you go to Albuquerque, please leave yourself ample time to wander through and be inspired by the many southwestern quilts, clothing items and other lovelies on display!

From the moment I walked in, I was ENCHANTED! New Mexico *IS* the Land of Enchantment, after all! I quickly found one of the ladies who works there and asked if she would mind if I took pics and wrote a blog post about what I found there!

((Always ask when taking pictures in quilt shops --- if you tell them you want to feature them on your blog, you may be given the go-ahead!))

You will NOT find “thimble berries”, “Civil War” or “1930’s Repros” here! You will find rich batiks, tone-on-tones, and wonderful prints and stripes with a Southwest theme, and GORGEOUS quilts resembling Navajo rugs and basket artwork—EVERYWHERE!

All of those rugs I fell in love with? Here they are in patchwork! Isn’t this awesome! These are the perfect designs for “Manly” quilts, for those who love Southwest or Cowboy style! These are DIFFERENT then all of the old traditional stuff --- This blew me away!

I remember back in the “90s” or whenever it was that Southwest meant peachy-terra-cotta and dusty sagey green or turquoise but with more muted shades. THIS IS NOT THAT LOOK! This is bold and vibrant and so full of life!

Everywhere you look there are more examples of Southwestern Lifestyle and Heritage ---and lots and lots of fabrics to recreate these wonderful images from!

I loved these samples. I’m such a Geometric girl --- Landscapes and applique just don’t charge me like the things that I can do with strips, squares and triangles do. That vibrant one to the left..Oh yeah…that just glows!

The classroom is large too, and there are even MORE samples in there! See that white sampler hanging to the right of the window? Those are tile replications! You know that those caught my eye right off!

Just look at that round mandala ---and the other navajo symbols! My next pic will give you a closer view of those lovely jackets on the wall in the background!

LOVELY LOVELY! I have to admit I am still in love with the prairie skirts and broomstick skirts I saw ladies wearing – complete with cowboy boots and a big silver buckle please!

I love this row quilt! Isn’t it awesome! I’m sure there are patterns for all of these available. Just check the shop’s website linked above.

For those who love to applique….these were impressive! I love the contrast between the white background and the black design work --- with either a punch of turquoise, or some red hot red!

I swear, around EVERY TURN…it was like being at a quilt show, I could have spent hours here!

Love that Navajo basket medallion there on the wall…..SO beautiful! Stunning!

Samplers, medallions, you name it --- there is something southwest to entice everyone who enters the door!

In perusing the shop's website I saw they even have some freebie patterns for you! Click HERE to check them out!

I loved what I saw here – I left so jazzed and inspired and ready to play with some wilder geometrics and wilder color combinations. New Mexico really IS the Land of Enchantment!

PS --- Happy 28th birthday to my firstborn Son, Jason! I love you more than my heart can hold! I'm so proud of you and the things you are accomplishing in your life. You are my shining star --- keep on keeping on! It will get better, I promise ---xoxox :c)

MMMmmmmmm! Mulled Apple Cider!!

Yes, I know that I’m out floating about on a huge ship with fruity frozen umbrella drinks, listening to the music of Caribbean steel drum bands, etc--- but I’m thinking of you folks back home!

This recipe is REALLY yummy --- I think it’s the cranberries and the lemon juice & peel that do it, so don’t skimp out on those! 

The Holidays are quickly approaching and I definitely want my hands around a warm mug of this when I get home!

Mulled Apple Cider

Here is an easy recipe that will keep your tummy warm and leave your house smelling wonderful.

Ingredients

• 1/2 gallon (roughly 2 liters) 100% apple juice or cider
• 3-5 whole cinnamon sticks
• 1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
• a handful of fresh or frozen cranberries (optional)
• 1-2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• strips of lemon peel (yellow part only, optional)

Directions

1. Pour the apple juice into a large pot on the stovetop (or in a small crockpot, set on Low or High, depending on when you want to drink your cider).
2. Add the cinnamon sticks, cloves, and cranberries when the juice starts boiling, and simmer for at least 30 minutes.
3. About 15 minutes before it’s finished simmering, add the lemon juice and strips of lemon peel.

When ready to drink, pour the hot cider into mugs, straining out the spices, cranberries, and lemon peel.

Enjoy!

Harvest is Over!

Tobacco harvest season 2011 is now a thing of the past.

Remember when I wrote THIS POST about the fields that grew near my house?

Thearica over at Pigtales & Quilts has taken some videos for us of the whole process!

If you are interested, give her a little click and go see! There are two videos on her page, one on priming ((picking)) and one of loading the barn!

We emailed back and forth, her camera wasn’t cooperating and there were delays, and I’m so appreciative of the time she took to take the videos so we can share what goes on in her life, as the wife of a Tobacco Farmer!

As this posts, I’m sure you know, that there are a whole lot of us enjoying a Caribbean cruise! I’ve stacked the blog so there will be something new for you to read each day while I am gone….

If you enjoyed the videos over at Pigtales & Quilts, be sure to leave her a comment thanking her for her efforts! I think it is so fascinating to see what others lives are like, the things that go on in and around our quilting!!

Evening Edition --- Simmer All Night!

I’m lightening things up a bit here, there has been an awful lot of crime/murder/intrigue kind of books loaded on my kindle lately, and when this one came through I thought it would sweeten up my load a bit!

Simmer All Night by Geralyn Dawson is ((was??)) free in the kindle store ((before I left home!)) and I hope it still is for you!

From Publishers Weekly

Dawson (The Wedding Raffle) offers a breezy glimpse of Victorian England through the eyes of two Texans in a romance buoyed by lively characters and Southern lore.

When perpetual rebel Christina Delaney's unorthodox behavior gets her into trouble with her aristocratic San Antonio family, her parents send her to visit her grandfather in Derbyshire, England, accompanied by family friend Cole Morgan, with whom she has a love-hate relationship.

After making and breaking a marriage engagement, Chrissy realizes she's been in love with Cole all along. The only thing standing in her way is her rebellious nature: her mother would love for her to marry Cole.

Cole and Chrissy's squabbles wear thin, and their repeated couplings and breakups seem childish; however, a dramatic twist adds some much-needed action, and Dawson sustains readers' attention with her humorous dialogue and colorful narration. (Dec.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Bad Luck Abroad Trilogy: Book 1
From Romantic Times magazine~ 4.5 stars Top Pick.

"Once again Geralyn Dawson has come up with a winner. Chrissy Delaney is a strong and independent woman, while Cole is a handsome cowboy lawyer who is equally at home in the drawing rooms of England or a barn dance. Great verbal sparring, delightfully funny at times and also extremely touching at points.

Geralyn Dawson touches your heart and your funny bone. SENSUAL
Reviewed By: Jill Brager

From All About Romance
Geralyn Dawson's latest offering, Simmer All Night, is a wonderful concoction of Texas swagger and English sensibilities, with much of her trademark humor to warm up a chilly winter day.
Reviewed By: Claudia Terrones

I like humor, I like a bit of romance if it is touching and funny, I don’t go for graphic sex scenes, so I’m hoping this one doesn’t disappoint! I like some stuff left to my imagination!

As always – double check, make sure it’s still free before clicking!

Read on!

100 Blocks, Vol 4 Blog Tour!

***NOTICE*** The drawing for this magazine is OVER!!

Have you been waiting for my turn to post? IT’S TIME! Here is your sneak peek at what you will find from me in 100 blocks by 100 designers, vol 4!
This is my third issue as a designer for Quiltmaker’s 100 blocks by 100 designers magazine. I just LOVE doing these! I’ve found it very freeing to just work on ONE BLOCK….and see what comes out of the process. It gives me the push to PLAY.
Did you guess which block was MINE on the cover?

Midnight Flight!

With all the traveling I’ve been doing, can you guess how this block got its name?

I really love blocks that create secondary designs, and this one was made to be set block to block to block with no sashings in between as the criss-crossing checkerboard corners will join together and chain through the quilt! ((This is also something you have to pay attention to when you are sewing your blocks….the colors go in specific directions!))
I dug into my bins of pre-cut strips for the checkerboards, pulling out red, cheddar and neutrals --you know how I love my pre-cut scrap bins, all ready for me to sew in usable sizes!
I also dug into my bricks bin, and neutral squares, putting that Scrap User’s System to work for me!
I did use scrap strips and the easy angle ruler for the 1/2 square triangles, but you can use any method that gives you the size of triangles required.
Playing with color, value and contrast gives me a way to include all kinds of fun fabrics together. I’ve got recycled fabrics, florals, novelties, old calicoes, and newer finds as well. I love playing with variety!
Here’s a sample lay out for you! Yep! Those block corners join to make MORE STARS!

This small version is set 3 blocks across by 3 blocks down for a quilt that measures 36” square before borders.

It’s a great baby quilt size! Of course, you can add sashing and/or more borders to make it bigger as desired! Or make less blocks to make it smaller…you choose!

Would you like to win a copy of 100 blocks, vol 4?! Simply leave me a comment below telling me something about YOU that most people wouldn’t guess about you. ((Like, I used to jump out of helicopters, or something!)) This will be fun!
Please leave your email address at the bottom of your comment if you don’t have email visible in your blogger or google settings. If you get stuck in the google sign in loop, leave the "KEEP ME SIGNED IN" box UNCHECKED. If you comment as anonymous ((Sometimes blogger is tricky and that’s all it will allow)) be sure to leave your NAME and EMAIL so we know who you are!
Because I’m at sea as this posts, I’ll be drawing for our winner upon my return on November 14th. Or November 15th if I’m still comatose after too much sun and sand! One lucky winner will get a signed copy from me, and the other lucky winner will have theirs sent directly from Quiltmaker Magazine!
And the fun doesn’t stop there! Be sure to check Quiltmaker’s Blog every day during the tour for your chance at sneak previews of other blocks in the issue, as well as your chance to enter free drawings on those other featured blogs as well!
If you are new here, welcome! Be sure to check out YESTERDAY’S POST for information on the FIRST EVER 100 blocks retreat scheduled for August 2012 in Williamsburg, VA! I’ll be there, and would love to meet you! Look for the special ad on page 13 of 100 blocks, Vol 4!
Watch for QM’s 100 Blocks Volume 4 at quilt shops and on newsstands Nov. 15. Previous issues of 100 Blocks are available at QuiltandSewShop.com.
Enjoy!

Evening Edition --- Free Kindle Book!

Just passing on another freebie to those who love mystery/crime/who-dunnits!

Fool me Twice by Paul Levine is free in Amazon in the Kindle Store.

There wasn’t a whole lot about the plot of this one written, but here is what I got from Amazon:

BESTSELLING MYSTERY BY EDGAR NOMINEE PAUL LEVINE

"Wildly entertaining blend of raucous humor and high adventure." - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Take one part John Grisham, two parts Carl Hiaasen, throw in a dash of John D. MacDonald, and voila! You've got Jake Lassiter." - Tulsa World
"Delicious." - Los Angeles Times

MURDER TO GO: FROM MIAMI TO ASPEN

A witness is dead and linebacker-turned-lawyer Jake Lassiter is the prime suspect. If he doesn't find the killer, he'll face a murder charge. A bloody trail of evidence leads to an abandoned silver mine under the Colorado ski slopes and an explosive finale.

If you enjoy John Grisham, Harlan Coben, Carl Hiaasen, and James Patterson, you'll love "Riptide" from Paul Levine, winner of the John D. MacDonald fiction award.

Levine has also been nominated for the Edgar, Macavity, International Thriller, and James Thurber prizes. A former trial lawyer, he wrote more than 20 episodes of the CBS military drama "JAG."

It has all of those elements I love in a good novel --- I love John Grisham, Harlan Coben has such a unique style in his writing, I’ve loved his Myron Bolivar series. James Patterson? Classic! And OY! I loved everything about the series JAG ---So I’m on for this one!

As always…you know the drill, check to be sure it’s still free before clicking --- I’m posting blind here so I hope it still is for you when this post airs!

Toodles!!

Quiltmaker Magazine 100 blocks Retreat!

August 2012 is going to be a busy busy month!

Williamsburg,Virginia has been named the site of the FIRST EVER Quiltmaker Magazine 100 blocks retreat! In my OWN neck of the woods! Okay, well a short 6 hour drive away, but I can be there --- and hopefully SO CAN YOU!

Plans are just now jelling for this. So far the plans are that I will be the featured key note speaker on one of the nights--The OTHER key note speaker? None other than Jennifer Chiaverini herself! Back in the good old days of an email list called InterQuilt, Jennifer and I emailed back and forth a few times. I'm sure she doesn't remember me..LOL!

I also have been invited to teach 3 workshops while I am there...These workshops will be BRAND NEW CLASSES, as I am working on the quilts using the blocks from previous issues of 100 blocks!

Other teachers include Debbie Caffrey, Monique Dillard, Linda Howell, and Nancy Mahoney! There will be something for everyone, no matter what kind of quilting you like to do!

The Quiltmaker Crew is preparing all the info for the events team so we can get the publicity out and going. Watch for the latest issue of 100 blocks by 100 designers blog tour to begin on Nov 7th! When you get your issue, be watching for the ad or get more info at Quiltmaker.com :

And be sure to come back here TOMORROW, November 8th, for a sneak preview of MY block! Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 4, will be on sale hopefully near you on Nov. 15th--

You’ll want to leave a comment on that post as we will be drawing for winners who will receive copies of 100 blocks vol 4!

Happy Birthday, Little Sis!

I’ve blogged a bit before about My sisters ---- I’m the oldest of 8, the older three of us from my mom’s first marriage, and the younger five from her second. Three girls and five boys complete our eight!

I honestly don’t ever think of us being two sets of kids ---other than the age difference that separates us a bit, but never EVER EVER have I considered these brothers and sisters to be halves of any kind. They are all WHOLY mine!

This adorable picture is of three very important women in my life. My mom, My sister Joy in the center, and my baby sister Mary, and the reason for this post today is that I wish to WISH Mary a very very happy birthday!

Yes, November is a very busy birthday month in my family, Jason’s birthday is on the 10th, which is coming up too..and all of these birthdays, AND A WEDDING have fallen this week while I’ve been gone.

I feel like such a rat for being gone!

Mary, I’m so proud to have you as my book-end sister! We may be 20 years apart in age, but in every way that counts you are right here close in my heart!

It’s been a joy to watch you grow up to raise a family of your own --- I’ll never forget the day you were born and how the nurse handed you right to me. Being at your birth was so special to me --- it was such a healing thing. My own baby had died just 5 months before, and holding you filled so many empty hurts and eased so much longing.

I love you baby sis!! I hope your day is extra special and that we get some time to be together soon!

Xoxox!

Backing Battles!

Last July in Iowa, Jo, Amy and some others of us took time out from the Iowa State Guild Retreat to go hit the quilt shop…they were having a HECK of a sale, and I know I didn’t need more fabric, but when stuff is $2.00 a yard and they are clearing it out…I’m going –—whether I need it or not! A girl can always use backings--

And the backing fabric has ALREADY been used! In fact, it never even made it past the “dumping ground table” to be folded and put into the cabinets….and it’s just as well. There is no room left to put it IN the cabinets, so let’s not go there!

But instead…I’ll show you what I did!

This is the backing of the string star I showed you in the machine HERE--

This is NOT an accurate color portrayal of this purple fabric! It really behaved weirdly for my camera, but you get the idea…..I dug into the 6” orphan blocks and found enough that would extend this fabric to be big enough for the quilt. It was just a few inches too short otherwise. So even a pretty “plain and straightforward” back can be given a fun element by the simple addition of random blocks where the seam is.

This close up shows you the pattern of the fabric, it’s got purple, magenta and orange, but THIS is not an accurate portrayal either! Poor camera, it’s so confused, it doesn’t know which color to focus on!

The other end! Just simple little one-of-a-kind blocks….some of them the only remaining one of their “species” LOL! I’m so glad to have been able to use them up in this back!

And while on a roll, I pieced THIS back too:

I can’t show you the front yet, but look at that insert! I had 4 String-X blocks that were not all the same size, and I would have had to make more to make them be a real quilt….instead I took them apart into halves. Joined the halves and inserted this row Charlie Brown Zig Zag style between the two lengths of green…in this case the inset will go side to side across the quilt back, rather than down the back from top to bottom.

Dig into that orphan box and see what you can clear out! It just makes for a fun back, doesn’t it?

Evening Edition --- Free Kindle Book!

We are up to November 5th!  Are you counting down the days until Thanksgiving? Is Christmas music playing on radio stations in your area?

It started for me the day AFTER Halloween --- good thing it didn’t start BEFORE! I’m just not ready for Christmas music…I spent time before leaving on this cruise downloading all the Jimmy Buffet and other Caribbean laid back summer type music that I could find!  I’ll deal with Christmas when I get back home – but for now? It’s on HOLD, Baby!!

The Glassblower’s Daughter by Frances Clarke is free today from the Amazon Kindle store.

Category: Mystery

Book Description:

Greta’s life is carefree until the abrupt disappearance of her elder sister, and all her courage can’t save her from the sinister shadows that engulf her. Even when she finds a way out betrayal and treachery threaten her.

‘This is a wonderful first novel and Greta is a winning heroine. The writing is powerful, lyrical and funny… ‘

(Rebecca Smith, author of ‘A Bit of Earth’ (Bloomsbury 2006; paperback edition, 2007)

I read the first couple of chapters already.  I love how the beginning starts out with the Father’s Scottish brogue --- I can hear it roll off of his tongue, just by the way things are spelled in the dialogue!  I’m not very far into it, but I bet it will be finished by the time I return home!

Double check before clicking that it is still free before downloading it – This has been in the queue a few days and it might not be anymore! I’m hoping it is for you!

Enjoy!

Ask Bonnie!

Today’s topic:

Washing old, musty string blocks!

I received an email the other day from Anna who has acquired some really great string blocks…but there is a problem. They are still attached to the paper ((Dated 1955!!)) and some have stains…and they smell musty.

Her question:

Hi Bonnie,

I just received two old string quilt tops that were sewn on the machine and pieced on newspaper. One of the papers was from 1955.

They have been stored in a basement and have a couple of small stains on them and are a little smelly. How do you suggest I clean them before are finished?

Thanks and Have a Great Day!

Anna S, Oakridge, TN

Wow! What GREAT blocks!! Can’t you imagine all the 1950’s dresses and skirts made out of these fabrics?

And just because these are 1950's blocks, I found this lovely 1950’s laundry ad just to put us in the mood! LOL!

I love old string blocks! These are so neat, and the fact that you can still read what's on the paper on the back makes it even more fun. The first thing you are going to have to do is remove the paper.

You can wash the blocks by hand, but edges can fray and seams may unravel.

If you think you can wait on the washing --- quilts wash BETTER after quilting and binding.

To minimize the musty smell, you can close them up in a plastic bag with a bar of strong smelling soap, like Irish Spring, for a week or so...that might be enough to make it so they are not so smelly, and you can stand to get the quilt pieced, quilted and bound before throwing it in the washer.

You can also, if you HAVE to wash them before completing and don't feel like doing a sink wash by hand...put them in a zippered laundry bag for delicate lingerie....wash them in the bag, in the washer, gentle cycle.

Vinegar in the wash water will also help remove smells.

I wouldn't dry them in the dryer, but lay them out on a towel to air dry when done washing. If you iron them while they are still a bit damp, you should be able to get all the seams pressed back into some order.

But I have to tell you, that my OWN preference is to quilt first, wash later!

Do you have any hints/helps experiences that can help Anna with her smelly dilemma? Leave comments below, I think this is info that we ALL need to learn from those of you who have been there, done that, and succeeded! ((Or failed!! Tell us about those too!))

Evening Edition—Free Kindle Book!

First off, A very happy happy birthday wish going out to my brother, Rick! Rick was born when I was 15, and I remember his birth so vividly! He has a special place in my heart, he and I are two of a kind, and the further we get into our middle age years, the more we have in common! I love you baby, bro --- Hope your day is wonderful! ((Pic from my 2009 visit to Idaho.))

Where are we now? As this posts we are just completing our first workshop day at sea!! Class goes from 9am til noon, with a 2 hour break for lunch, resuming our sewing at 2pm and we go til 5! After that, it’s go change into something nice for dinner, and meet everyone up in the dining room ---

I’ll get LOTS of pictures! ((Yes, I can hear you grumbling from where you sit right now…pictures?! Either you love them or hate them, and I love them!))

Tomorrow is a class day as well, and then we hit our first port of call, San Juan, Puerto Rico around 3pm on Sunday Afternoon!

So on to our freebie book! It was free when I set this post to go live in the queue, I’m just hoping it is still free now! I downloaded this one for DH --- I think it’s one he’d enjoy reading. If it is too chic-bookie for him, I'm happy to read it myself!

Hard Press’d by Linda Rae Blair is free today from the Amazon Kindle store, and has received an average user rating of 4 out of 5 stars based on two customer reviews.

Category: Mystery

Book Description:

Welcome to the beach–Virginia Beach to be precise.

The latest murder of a young woman in Virginia Beach has shaken both of his worlds. The FBI is in on the case for reasons they will not fully explain to Press. Determined to find the killer and cooperate with the beautiful FBI agent assigned to the case,

Press juggles the two sides of his life, but may find it is more than he can handle this time. Detective Preston Andrews (Press to his friends) comes from wealthy Virginia Society with a capital “S”. He is a man admired by women for his handsome face and well-toned physique. Men respect his opinion and skill on the job. Crooks cringe at his tough attitude and tenacity.

Despite his refusal to accept the FBI’s efforts to recruit him, he remains with the Virginia State Police as their senior detective.

His career is a great success–much to his father’s dismay. U.S. Senator Andrews would prefer his son go into Foreign Service or politics.

A year ago, Press helped the FBI solve the East coast’s worse series of murders since The Boston Strangler. He carries the bullet wound to prove it.

His personal life is a mess. His younger sister won’t speak to him (his own fault), his live-in girl friend moved out, his parents are disappointed in his career choice, and the 180 lb. dog, Jones, who shares his beachfront mansion has failed multiple attempts at obedience training.

A young girl’s murder brings these aspects of his life all crashing together.

I especially was intrigued by this review:

Linda's Preston Andrews series delivers for those who want mysteries that shock and entertain, and never fail to take you to the unexpected. Once in a while a strong character comes along and you are willing to see the world through his eyes - and it changes everything! Preston Andrews is one of a kind.

As always, double check the price before clicking, just because it was free for me on Wednesday morning when I wrote this post, doesn’t mean it still is on Friday afternoon, right? Right! But hopefully it is for you!

Enjoy!

Apple Spice Coffee Cake!

Yes, I know, we are floating out here in the midst of a Caribbean sea in November, and you are at home in dropping temperatures and thinking of Thanksgiving around the corner!

When Carol was driving me from Portland Maine, up to Rangeley a couple weeks ago, we stopped at a little road side farmer’s market ---it’s apple season! They had people running the sorting belts in the back and the whole place had the smell of tart, sweet, crispness! I took this pic of the display there. MMMMMM!

In stacking posts for while I’m gone, I wanted to post a recipe or two for you to try. I love apple cake, and as soon as apple harvest starts, I am hankering for some of this! Nothing smells better baking than a spicy apple coffee cake baking when it is chilly out!

The ingredients are very simple….the only thing I didn’t have immediately on hand was the raw ((turbinado)) sugar.

Holiday Apple Coffee Cake

2 large eggs

1 Tablespoon veg oil

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 Cup sugar

1 Cup unbleached all purpose white flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice or nutmeg (note-I add lots of spices. I go for broke. Have fun with the spices, otherwise why bake?)

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 Cups peeled, cored & thinly sliced firm tart apples, put in the freezer til partially frozen.((Just believe me on this))

1 Tablespoon raw (turbinando) sugar for top of cake

——————- Instructions———————-

1) preheat oven to 350, grease & flour your pie plate. Use a big pie plate, as mixture rises while cooking. Also, I use a mix of whole wheat & white flour to line the pie plate, because it holds up better in baking. But you can use all white flour, no problem.

2) In a medium bowl, combine the eggs, oil, vanilla & sugar. Beat until thick, about 1 minute.

Add the flour, baking powder and outrageous spices of your choice into a second bowl. Don’t sweat it if your spices are a little different. Just think warm & homey & you’ll do fine. Beat until it’s got a crumble consistency, about another minute. You can use a sifter if you want to, but it isn’t necessary.

Fruit bakes better if it's a bit frozen!

This is how your wet mix should look before adding the apples.

Fold in the apples & keep folding until they are evenly coated with a nice smooth batter. There will be a lot of apples held together by very little batter.

3) GENTLY layer the batter into the prepared pan. -This is the hard part! DO NOT STIR! If you screw up the butter/flour coating on your pie pan, dump it back into the bowl & re-do your pie pan. Otherwise your cake WILL burn. Then sprinkle the unbaked top with raw bakers ((turbinado))sugar. Think smooth thoughts while baking!

The raw sugar gives it a crusty crunchy top!

4) Bake on center rack in oven -IMPORTANT- Check it at 30 minutes with a cake tester, or a toothpick. The tester should have a tiny bit of crumbs on it, but NOT wet batter. Most likely you’ll end up cooking the cake for another 10-15 minutes. Test again. DO NOT rely on the appearance of the cake, or the bounce-a-finger-on-the-top test to see if it’s done, or you’ll have a gooey inner-mess on your hands. Trust me on this! Think it's done? think again! TEST it!

5) When it’s done, let it cool (in the pan) for at least an hour. Then top with ice cream while still warm and watch it disappear!

Enjoy!!!