A Little Treasure

My grandmother sent me this little book the other day. It was made by my great-grandmother, for her sister, in...1915! I can't believe how well it's held up, especially considering it is in pencil. My great-grandma would have been twelve years old when she made it. The drawings are adorable, and it's so cool to see her handwriting.











I'm really glad to have this little piece of my great-grandma - she was so important in my life and I don't really have many mementos. She didn't like having her picture taken, avoided it like the plague really, and so I hardly even have any photos. This little booklet makes me happy.

Labor Day Campout

We had the best time camping at Ice House Reservoir! Got a late start on Friday, didn't get to the campsite until after dark but the giant full moon helped a lot. Fire restrictions meant no campfire - huge bummer, especially since it was pretty cold at night. Also, no charcoal fires - luckily our neighbors had a large gas grill that they let us use the second night, otherwise all that chicken we brought would have been useless. Realized the new air mattress I bought did not come with a pump (duh) and I forgot to pack syrup for the pancakes I made for breakfast. Funny thing though...none of that got us down.

The campsite was perfect, in the trees and a short walk from beautiful beaches on the super clear, sparkly lake. The sand was full of pyrite, so the whole beach shimmered gold. The kids spent a lot of time fishing, and Hannah caught her first fish ever! Actually, she caught two, looks like she's caught the fishing bug big time.

We hiked up the South Silver Creek, crazy beautiful. The hike was a little extreme as we were trailblazing most of the time, quite an adventure! Poor Jonesy slipped down a granite slope and fell in the icy water, Shane had to rescue him. That water is COLD. Hard to imagine the guys running that, of course the water is up much higher, but still...looks pretty sketchy!

So much fun, can't wait to go back!!

Do you Kindle?

I keep hearing about the Kindle lately - you know when something seems to be on your radar? So I've been doing a little research and while I think it's pretty damn cool, I just don't think it's for me. I like holding a real book and I often read in the bathtub. Plus, I'm cheap. I typically get my books from the library or bookmooch. But then again, maybe it's like when the mp3 player first came out and I thought I'd never get used to not having actual cds.

So, if you have one, let me know what you think. Maybe I'll ask Santa for one.

Gettin' Crafty Wit It

We have three birthday parties this weekend, so guess who's been crafty this week?

It's been quite a while since I did any little critters, they are so fun! Except for the hand cramping doing the tiny parts, that sucks.

For birthday boy #1:

This cute little turtle! Of course now my kids want one too. He is pretty adorable, if I do say so myself.



For birthday girl #2:

Pirouette! She is into ballet, so this should make her smile. My favorite part is the tail, so cute!





For birthday boy #3:


This hat, modeled by Hannah. I really love this pattern, it's a keeper. Probably the most "professional" looking hat I've ever made, and it's super thick and warm. Plus, the texture is awesome.


Phew! I think I'm ready for some birthday cake.

Sick Of Potato Salad?

Give this salad a try instead! It's super tasty and great with grilled food. Makes a giant batch, nice for a potluck.


Curried Rice Salad with Artichokes

• 4 cups chicken stock
• 2 cups uncooked white rice
• 3 (6.5 ounce) jars marinated artichoke hearts, chopped
• 2 cups mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• salt and pepper to taste
• 5 green onions, chopped
• 1 green red pepper, chopped
• 3 stalks celery, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley

Combine chicken stock and rice in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low. Cook until tender, about 20 minutes. In a small bowl, mix together artichoke marinade, mayonnaise, and curry powder. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside. In a large bowl, combine artichoke hearts, green onions, bell pepper, parsley, and celery. Mix in cooked rice, then mix in reserved marinade mixture. Cover and chill overnight. Serve cold.


From allrecipes.com.

New 'Do

I absolutely love Hannah's new haircut - it suits her perfectly!






Now she's all ready for back to school in a couple weeks. Well, almost ready - there is shopping for clothes, shoes, and supplies to be done. Yikes!

Speaking of supplies, I guess I'd forgotten how much college textbooks cost. Jordan's books for this semester would have been over $700 (even for used books at the school bookstore) if I hadn't spent hours finding them on ebay and various other sites for a fraction of the cost. Seriously? I know what I'll be selling on ebay in a few months...

Paddlin'

Check it out, I'm in a boat! Nothing too wild, we just paddled out in the marina to watch the Women's National Wakeboard Competition up close and personal. Those chicks get some mad air!





The beginning of this video is super shaky so hold on to your guts!

Spidey Blanket

Evan's blanket it done at last! Actually, it only took a couple weeks, and it was fun to make. I got the pattern here. I chose orange and red to match his room, and I think it looks pretty cool!





The photos are kinda crappy but you get the idea. Next up: those lunchbags and a Hello Kitty ballerina for our neighbor girl. (really) Oh, and an earflap hat for Jordan's friend. I am not a machine, people!

Supastar!

Thursday morning Shane got up before dawn for a special live news broadcast from the new Rock kayak park here in Sparks. Apparently, it's all about "the love of the sport". I had to record it off the TV so I apologize if it's funky.



I think he looks pretty cute - and that change at the end from "fer sure" to "definitely" really classes it up. Nice job, Babe!

Busted

Most mornings before we leave for work, I write a chore list for the kids. Stuff like: water the garden, do the dishes, pick up the family room...

Well, the other night we couldn't find the remote. You know the routine - instead of walking to the cable box and turning the channel manually, we began an intense search and rescue operation. I got down to look under the couch and discovered that apparently someone's idea of picking up the family room is shoving everything under the sofa.




(The cat wasn't actually under there, she just came over to see what we found.)

When we called the kids in to clean up this mess, Shane said, "tell me you didn't just shove all that stuff under there on purpose." Hannah answered, "I didn't just shove all that stuff under there on purpose. What? You told me to say that!"

Oh, those silly kids.

Love These!

I'm all over this pattern for eco-friendly lunch bags. I'm not really into paying $15 for another new lunchbox, and we always seem to run out of brown bags. Plus, I really do want to limit the school lunches...they are pretty nasty. Nachos, nuggets, pizza - hmmm, is it really a mystery that so many Americans grow up addicted to junk food? I think not. Anyway, I like the idea of this little bag, it's cute and can be thrown in the washer - perfect.

To simplify, I will probably not do stripes. Now I just need to finish Evan's blanket so I can get on this - only 3 weeks 'til school starts!

Tag!

A speedy blog post, perfect for a lazy Sunday:

Saw this on Michelle's blog - a quick, fun tag:

1. Pick up the book that you have most handy
2. Turn to page 161
3. Find the 5th complete sentence
4. Cite the sentence on your blog
5. Pass it on to 5 other unsuspecting blogger friends.

From The Secret History by Donna Tartt, which I am currently reading:

"He lit another cigarette."

If you're reading this and you blog, consider yourself tagged!

House Guests

Woke up the other morning to find this downstairs:

Four giant boys crashed downstairs in the family room. Funny I didn't even hear them come in...bet they polished off an entire box of cereal once they came to.

We were in the middle of painting Jordan's room, which is why they weren't up there.

He chose this color...


and quickly realized that painting is hard work. It's all done now and looking good!

Shane's B-Day

Show me how old you are...yep, that's 40!



We celebrated by acting half our age: drinking Patron and going out to see Snoop Dogg. Snoop was fun (although he was an hour and a half late GRRR) but the highlight of the show was definitely Stephen Marley. So stoked we finally got to see him!



This pic just cracks me up.

Happy B-Day, babe. Gettin' better all the time.

Heaven On A Plate

Coconut Poke Cake

1 white cake mix
1 can (15oz) cream of coconut (not coconut milk)
1 can (14oz) sweetened condensed milk
1 container (16oz) Cool Whip
2 cups sweetened flaked coconut

Mix and bake cake as directed on package - I use a 13X9 pan because it's the easiest. Leave the oven on for toasting the coconut: place coconut in an even layer on a baking sheet and toast until golden brown (6-8 min. at 350). Set aside.

While still hot, poke the cake all over with a large fork. Mix cream of coconut and sweetened condensed milk together and pour over hot cake. It might seem like too much coconut mixture at first, but it will soak in. Cool completely in fridge.

Top cake with Cool Whip and sprinkle with toasted coconut.

Enjoy!

ATCs

From Danica's Retro Fabulous Swap II - a multiple choice type swap where you choose a vintage image, a color combo, etc. and make it your own. I think it's a cool way to do an ATC swap.

I keep saying, "no more swaps" but then I sign up for more. I think it's just so I can complain about them.

Guess which one is mine?

Facebook Fatigue

My love affair with Facebook may be waning a bit. Sure, it's nice to connect with people you haven't seen or heard from in ages, and the flair always gives me a chuckle. But really, it's just a giant time sucker. The games, the "gifts", and the energy spent keeping in touch with people that you, ummmm, aren't really that in to - over it. 'Course, that's not to say that I don't get sucked into the vortex from time to time, but I'm working on it. Baby steps. Hey, is there a 12 step program? I bet there is.

Plus, I've been neglecting my blog - which is a shame since it's just for me.

Anyway, I was thinking about all this while having lunch and reading Reno News And Review and look at the article I found in there (love it!):




CrackBerry rehab

Try as we might, we’re now too invested in Facebook and the like to just shut down our computers or, worse, delete our accounts. Were it not for social-networking websites, how else would we keep up with who from high school had babies or got fat or married, what events are happening around town, who broke up with whom, and who’s going on vacation?

We need our online crutches, even as they slowly suck the life out of us.

ILLUSTRATION BY DON BUTTON

So how do we begin to take back our backyards and enjoy the precious few weeks of sunshine that are left of this wretchedly waterlogged summer?

The process of reclaiming social ownership seems more complicated than just chucking laptops and phones out the window and breathing a sigh of relief. It’s about asking ourselves, “Why is it more important that my online microcosm of connections knows that I’m eating this cheeseburger than it is to actually taste this cheeseburger?” It’s gooey and plump, and there’s juices from it running down my arm, and that’s what this simple pleasure should be about—not wiping my fingers on the side of my jeans in my haste to tell the world what I’m doing this instant.

(Easier said than done—over the course of writing this article, I’ve tweeted twice and checked my Facebook page about 40 times. Research. That’s what I’m calling it. Not pathetic, just research.)

Ultimately, there’s a decision to be made: Would you rather read a poorly spelled, hastily written one-liner about how your “friend” went to a movie, or would you rather go to the movies yourself? Click on a link to a blog about waterskiing, or jump in a lake? It’s a screamingly Pollyanna-ish notion, but the key to giving up online addiction seems to be to substitute it with real-time action, to remind yourself that, ultimately, your best moments will be actual, not virtual, and that it’s OK if your entire realm of contacts isn’t updated on how you’re feeling about the ice-cream cone you purchased nine seconds before pushing “send” on a text message to Twitter.

A few of my friends recently pared down their Facebook connections, “un-friending” anyone with whom they aren’t personally acquainted. Some have sworn off Facebook altogether. I may follow suit—at least until I can thwart my own “Look at me! Look at me!” compulsions to share my business with the world.

It’s the first step I’m making toward actually enjoying my summer. So, unless you hear about it directly from my mouth (not my fingers), you won’t hear a peep—or a tweet—about it. I’ll be outside, unplugged, hearing only the birds and the tourists, not my CrackBerry, chirping.

Will the forthcoming college co-eds follow suit? After all, the requisite “What I Did on My Summer Vacation” essay surely requires more effort than simply aggregating and printing your barbecue-related tweets. What are you going to write about, kiddies, if all you have to write about is writing about things? Meta? Yes. But, sadly, increasingly on point. Now, excuse me. I have to go create a TinyURL for this article and blast it to my friends on Facebook.

This story originally ran in the Boston Phoenix.

Summer Lovin'

Last night's free Smash Mouth concert was so fun! They played for over two hours, and there was a huge fireworks show at the end. Kids had a blast, danced their little booties off. My favorite part: the five song encore with lots of old school Van Halen...pretty rockin'. I'd say we definitely got our money's worth.

It has come to my attention that I complain a lot. No apologies, that's just the way I roll. However...today I'm going to shake things up a bit and take note of all the things I LIKE about summer.

• fresh tomatoes from the garden
• no early morning get-ready-for-school rush
• grilling
  
• sun tea
• camping
• trips to the lake
• thunder storms
  
• long days
• Big Brother
  
• cold beer never tastes so good

Off to the skate park, where I will likely get sunstroke. Evan and Hannah are all in the mood to skate/bike the halfpipe after watching the XGames on ESPN this morning.

August 1? For Real?

I can't believe how fast summer is going. After a weird rainy/cold start, it finally got hot and now it's blazing! Good for swimming and BBQs, not that great for working outside. Needless to say, I'm stoked it's the weekend.

Shane is playing in a pool tourney today (good luck babe!) and I'm hoping to get some housework done (big fun!) before hitting the scrapshack. Haven't been scrapping much lately, but I'm starting to feel the bug again.

Also working on this blanket for Evan's room. Using red and orange to match his colors. It's turning out cute, but I must be insane for working on it in this heat.

Tonight we are going to a free concert at the new open air mall - Smash Mouth! Hopefully it won't be thunder storming, because the kids are super stoked to go and hear the Shrek song:

Grad Night

Jordan graduated from high school last week - honors diploma! How did we get here, where our baby is a man? Crazy. Couldn't be prouder.

We didn't get any pictures of him in his cap - when he tossed it he lost it. Now he's ready to enjoy the summer before starting college in the fall. He's focusing on secondary education, wants to be a high school English teacher. I think he'd be great at it! The next chapter begins...

Blog? What Blog?

Yeah, so I'm a total blagger - haven't posted in months.

Excuses:

1. Work has been busy, we're out working every day. Still trying to adjust to that.

2. Facebook kind of fills the same roll as a blog, so sometimes this seems redundant.

3. Lots of crochet projects taking up my time.

4. Painting the kids' rooms is another major project.

5. Didn't have a camera and a blog post without photos is pretty boring. BUT, we do have a new camera now so get ready for some pics!


Surprised I still know how to upload.

OK, that's all for now, gotta ease back in.

Spring Break

We're halfway through spring break, but you wouldn't know it by looking outside. It's cold and windy, snowing yesterday. Not great window cleaning weather so we've had some time off. Hannah and Evan are at Grandma and Grandpa's for the week so it's very quiet around here. I miss them like crazy, kind of feel weird having them so far away. But I also realize that I really needed this break, and am trying to enjoy it.

It's nice hanging out with Jordan while the little ones are away. The three of us went out for dinner and a movie on Monday, saw Observe and Report, which was hilarious! Went to DMV yesterday, for the third attempt at his learner's permit test. Success! He drove the last couple miles home, only stalled the truck once. High five!

This one's for you, Jordan!

Stormy

We're not working today, it's pretty stormy out. Instead we went grocery shopping and took care of Easter shopping too. Walmart didn't have any jelly beans. Seriously?

Now I've got to get working on the taxes, oh joy of joys. Munching on some Jalapeno Popper Doritos and sipping a Rockstar to help me deal. Gotta throw on some good music and get to it.

But first - I have a little rant. I do not like earbuds, not at all. Whenever I move my head they fall out. Whenever I move my arm it hits the cord and they fall out. After a while they hurt my ears. But if I get the big earphones I'll look like a dork. It's a dilemma.

This song has been in my head all day. I like. And I really love that you can find live versions of pretty much anything on youtube instantly. Such great energy at a concert. Ok - I'm out.

Happy Saturday!

Totally enjoying my day off, waking up slowly and putzing around before tackling some housework. Had fun last night - pool + beer + food + friends = good times. I need to get some stuff done here in the office today, back out to work tomorrow and every day next week too. Yeah spring! So glad work is picking up, really relieved and optimistic about the summer season.

Almost done with Hannah's blanket, man what a project! It's taken me a couple months, I'll be pretty glad when it's finished. She will too - every day she asks me if it's done yet, and how much longer. Sheesh, I'm not a machine!

Here's a shot of my girl all dressed up for her friend's 80's skate party. The girls were so cute!



Here's the little guy I made for the birthday girl - isn't he cute?!

Earth Hour

We participated in Earth Hour last night, turned off all the lights from 8:00-9:00. Played Sorry, drew pictures, and just hung out together. We're going to try to do it more often, maybe once a week. I think that's do-able. The best part: everyone together in the same room interacting with each other instead of the computer, TV, or Xbox. Good times!

Remember that nice spring weather we was enjoying yesterday? Gone. Today is cold and super windy. Yuck!

Hannah and Evan are going to an 80s theme birthday party at the roller rink this afternoon. I made Hannah some legwarmers already and am about to whip up a headband, ala Olivia Newton-John.

Spring!

It sure feels like spring today, nice and warm and sunny. I know it will get cold again, that's the way the Northern Nevada weather rolls, but for now I'm going to soak it up!

I had a dream last night that I was shopping for plants at the nursery - so now I'm in the mood to get the garden patch in shape. Don't usually plant anything until May, otherwise it's in danger of freezing. Debating whether or not to start some seedlings in the garage or just wait and buy some plants. I'd really like to build a raised bed so we can have a bigger garden, but for now I'll just busy myself with cleaning up the yard. Might be time to come out of hibernation!

Completely unrelated, but you know what bugs me? When you get a soda at the fountain and all the lids are in a stack and you have to touch at least five to get one for your cup. That means that your lid has been touched by what? five people? GROSS ME.

Here's a recipe for you - brought home from school by Evan. We baked them together yesterday, so yummy! A perfect mixture of sweet & salty, definitely a keeper!

Chango Bars
1 cup butter
2 cups brown sugar
3 eggs
2 1/3 cups flour
1 TBS baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup mixed nuts (I took out the Brazil nuts b/c they are just too big)

Melt butter. Meanwhile, cream brown sugar and eggs together, stir in melted butter. Combine dry ingredients and stir into sugar mixture. Fold in chocolate chips and nuts. Spread into a greased 9 X 13 baking pan and bake 45-50 minutes at 350. Got milk?

The Day After Yesterday

Had tons of fun last night out on the town celebrating St. Patrick's Day. Didn't drink any green beer, but did have a couple Irish Car Bombs. There were lots of people out, quite a party. Check out our local newspaper's website - we made the photo gallery! (photo #15)

Pumped up for Brett Dennen tomorrow night! Thanks to Max for maybe the coolest Christmas present ever - concert tix! We're going with a group of friends, meeting up for a buffet dinner before the show. Locals eat for $7.77 at GSR - seriously can not beat that. So, it will be a great time on the cheap, which is just how I like it.

Top O' The Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all you Irish and wannabee Irish out there. Festivities under way including the wearing of green and the drinking of beer. We've got friends coming into town this afternoon, going to hit the pub crawl downtown. I've got a few hours to whip up a green hat or two - nothing like waiting til the last minute to stress a person out.

Totally unrelated - I HATE driving in roundabouts. What is the deal with those anyway? Why are they putting them in everywhere? Seriously, I can't stand them. No one seems to know how to navigate them, and the entire time I'm going around I cringe - just waiting for an accident. No love for the roundabout.

Check out the Urban Dictionary Word Of The Day, I love it!

March 17: bad economy

An all-purpose excuse that people use during a recession to justify doing things that are below their usual standard. Often these things in reality have little or nothing to do with the economic circumstances.

Harry: "You took your girlfriend to Applebee's on Valentine's Day? Pretty weak."
Larry: "Whatever man, I didn't have a choice. Bad economy."

Senator: "Mr. Paulson, you really want to give the greedy, soulless bankers who caused this mess $700 billion with no strings attached?"
Henry Paulson: "Hey guys, bad economy. Just do it."
Senator: "Good point. I vote yes."

Fred: "Dude, tell me you didn't go home with that broke down 300-pound whale I saw you with at O'Shea's last night."
Brendan: "Dude, it's a bad economy. I'll take what I can get."
Fred: "Yeah, I guess you have to."

I'm Back!

Took a little blog break, but I'm ready to get back at it. What have I been up to for the last month or so?

• Facebooking. The official timesucker of our household. It's pretty cool to catch up with old friends, and I'm way into Bubble Spinner. Also digging the My Farm application, really overly excited about checking up on my crops every day. I even sign on as Shane and send myself goats and apple trees and such. Shhh, that's a secret.

• Crocheting. Seems like all of Hannah's friends have their birthdays this month, and I've been cranking out the handmade gifts. Since last post I've made 1 dog, 1 scarf, 2 headbands, 1 wallet, 1 purse, and am in the middle of an octopus. Next up: a hat for Amy and finishing Hannah's blanket. The blanket is a big 'un, rainbow stripes twenty rows thick - I'm about halfway through yellow and still have orange and red to do. I love that it's big enough to cuddle up in while I'm working.

• Watching Too Much TV. Big Love, Rock Of Love Bus, Heroes, 24, Lost, Eastbound And Down, I Love Money, Life On Mars, Survivor, The Amazing Race, Man VS Food...yep, I'm a couch potato. Pretty much over Heroes and 24 though, and on the brink with Lost. My favorite right now is Big Love, this season has been INTENSE. And Eastbound is cracking my ass up, Kenny Powers is the man!

• Baking Bread. I just love the way it makes the house smell, and I feel so domestical when I pull that fresh loaf out of the oven. Thanks again to Kate for the secret book. It rocks!
  

There. I did it, broke the blogger's block. Later!

Friday The 13th

It doesn't bother me that it's Friday The 13th, but I won't be going to see the movie today. I'm just saying. Actually I only watch scary movies at home while also reading or something. But I digress. Do you know the story behind the superstition? Here's what I found out:

FRIDAY THE 13TH - how did Friday the thirteenth become such an unlucky day?

Fear of Friday the 13th is rooted in ancient, separate bad-luck associations with the number 13 and the day Friday. The two unlucky entities combine to make one super unlucky day.

There is a Norse myth about 12 gods having a dinner party at Valhalla, their heaven. In walked the uninvited 13th guest, the mischievous Loki. Once there, Loki arranged for Hoder, the blind god of darkness, to shoot Balder the Beautiful, the god of joy and gladness, with a mistletoe-tipped arrow. Balder died and the Earth got dark. The whole Earth mourned.

There is a Biblical reference to the unlucky number 13. Judas, the apostle who betrayed Jesus, was the 13th guest to the Last Supper.

A particularly bad Friday the 13th occurred in the middle ages. On a Friday the 13th in 1306, King Philip of France arrested the revered Knights Templar and began torturing them, marking the occasion as a day of evil.
In ancient Rome, witches reportedly gathered in groups of 12. The 13th was believed to be the devil.
Both Friday and the number 13 were once closely associated with capital punishment. In British tradition, Friday was the conventional day for public hangings, and there were supposedly 13 steps leading up to the noose.

It is traditionally believed that Eve tempted Adam with the apple on a Friday. Tradition also has it that the Flood in the Bible, the confusion at the Tower of Babel, and the death of Jesus Christ all took place on Friday.

Numerologists consider 12 a "complete" number. There are 12 months in a year, 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 gods of Olympus, 12 labors of Hercules, 12 tribes of Israel, and 12 apostles of Jesus. In exceeding 12 by 1, 13's association with bad luck has to do with just being a little beyond completeness.

FRIDAY THE 13TH - how is fear of the number thirteen demonstarted?

More than 80 percent of high-rises lack a 13th floor. Many airports skip the 13th gate. Airplanes have no 13th aisle. Hospitals and hotels regularly have no room number 13. Italians omit the number 13 from their national lottery. On streets in Florence, Italy, the house between number 12 and 14 is addressed as 12 and a half. Many cities do not have a 13th Street or a 13th Avenue. In France, socialites known as the quatorziens (fourteeners) once made themselves available as 14th guests to keep a dinner party from an unlucky fate. Many triskaidekaphobes, as those who fear the unlucky integer are known, point to the ill-fated mission to the moon, Apollo 13. If you have 13 letters in your name, you will have the devil's luck . Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, Theodore Bundy and Albert De Salvo all have 13 letters in their names.

Interesting. Have a lucky day, y'all!

W.

We finally watched W. I really liked it, and was surprised by it too. I expected a lot of head-shaking laughs and some rage, which did pan out. What I didn't expect was to feel so much empathy for Bushy. I think he was seriously in way over his head. My favorite part: the horribly awkward press conference. The most enraging part: the strategy meeting about invading Iraq. All in all, it was pretty sad.



Daily cards, week 6:

Hello Hello

I've been working on ATCs for a Dr. Seuss swap at SIStv, tons of fun! Yesterday I painted all the cards and left them out to dry on the kitchen counter. Shane said, "they look kinda Miami Vice. I think I had some pants like that." Which in fact he did. They looked rad with that hypercolor t-shirt.


I've been baking up a storm lately, must be the cool weather (and my relentless sweet tooth.) This is my favorite butt cake ever. Remember my Big Fat Greek Wedding? I love that scene with the bundt cake confusion. Was looking for a clip but can't find one. Youtube has failed me.

Fresh Apple Bundt Cake

Cake:
3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
3 cups diced raw cooking apples
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts

Topping:
1/2 cup melted butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 Tbs light corn syrup
1 tsp vanilla

Sift dry ingredients together, add the rest of the cake ingredients and mix well. Spread into a greased and floured bundt cake pan. (batter will be thick) Bake for 1 hour and 15 min. at 350.

Mix the topping ingredients together until blended. Then pour over the hot cake in pan, letting it drizzle down the sides. Let cake cool about 30 minutes in the pan before turning out onto a plate. Dust with powdered sugar if desired. Great served warm.