I Heart Amazing Race

Hello World!

I love the Amazing Race! I watch it every season and would love to participate in the show..sans the bungee jumping type activities.  I think watching relationships being put to the test and people conquering their fears is great TV.  Event planner Mary Catanzaro runs events inspired by the CBS show.  If you are in the tri-state area check out upcoming races on her website www.theamazingnewyorkrace.com.  In the winter all the events take place underground in the subway so you don't have to be out in the inclement weather.  It's a great activity to do with friends and family.  I hope to rally the family and participate in the mother's day event.  Anywho... I was supposed to participate in a race this past Friday, but it turns out that ABC news wanted to do a piece about the event...SWEEEEEET! Yes world, I had about 5 seconds of being a superstar. It ended up not being a full race so that we could get shots for the news segment.  If you want to see me live and in person click here.

We made new friends and realized how often we don't pay attention to all of the magnificent things around us.  There is so much hustle and bustle in the city that I never realized all of the cool artwork right in the subways. Check out the pictures below of the great time that we had.

Lauren and Gus (Eyewitness News)

Smooches,


Keli
What would you do if you weren't afraid?

Apple-Spice Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze

Hello World!

I recently made Bone Appetit's Apple-Spice Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze. Once again they didn't disappoint. This cake was delicious, moist and a hit in the house.  I would definitely make this in the fall with a mug of steamy hot apple cider. Next time I'll add a little more apple and possible some chopped walnuts or pecans. Since this is a one whisk recipe it was definitely a very easy recipe to follow. Happy baking.

Cake
Nonstick vegetable oil spray           1 3/4 lbs Granny Smith Apples, peeled, cored, coarsely grated
3 cups unbleached AP flour            1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temp
1 tsp baking soda                            1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon                   1/2 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
3/4 tsp salt                                       1 tsp finely grated lemon peel
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg                    3 large eggs
1/2 tsp ground cloves                      1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp allspice                                 1 tsp fresh lemon juice

Glaze
1/2 cup (packed) brown sugar            1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup ( 1/2 stick) unsalted butter      1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream           1/4 tsp salt

Cake: Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 325 F. Spray 12 - 15 cup Bundt pan with nonstick spray.  Sift flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice into medium bowl.  Drin grated apples in strainer. Using hands or kitchen towel, squeeze out excess liquid from apples. Measure 2 cups grated apples.

Using electric mixer, beat butter, both sugars, and lemon peel in large bowl until fluffy.  Beat in eggs 1 at a time.  Mix in vanilla and lemon juice. Beat in flour mixture. Mix in grated apples.  Transfer batter to prepared pan.

Bake cake until tester inserted near center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool in pan on rack 20 minutes.

Glaze:  While cake cools, prepare glaze.  Stir sugar, butter, cream, vanilla, lemon juice and salt in small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves and mixture comes to boil.  Reduce heat to medium, whisk until glaze is smooth, about 1 minute.  Remove from heat.

Invert cake onto rack set over baking sheet.  Using small skewer, pierce holes all over top of warm cake.  Pour hot glaze over top, allowing it to  be absorbed before adding more.  Cool cake 30 minutes.  Serve warm or at room temperature.

Smooches,


Keli
What would you do if you weren't afraid?