Monday, February 8, 2016

Heart And Soul

 As I am typing this post the local weather is being broadcast and it looks like we're getting more snow! Thankfully though it shouldn't add up to more than 3".  Back into bitter cold by the weekend again too:(:(  Well, I'll be busy inside preparing cake and a dinner for our son's birthday on Valentine's Day.

 Although Mardis Gras is tomorrow (Tuesday) we have never celebrated it nor have I done any art around it that I can recall. Also Fastnacht day around these parts but we don't eat donuts anymore either. So, I'll share some of the valentine projects completed...after I share my morning cuppa and delicious apple cake:






Had to share a close up because it is incredibly moist, easy peasy, and mouth watering! Of course it is a bit indulgent because there is butter in it-but everything in moderation n'est-ce pas?
                You can find the recipe for this apple cake at the bottom of this post.
       Sharing with Elizabeth and friends over at T Stands For Tuesday. Won't you join us?





  I used lots of scraps leftover in my Valentine themed folder. Top piece is a wood heart covered in tissue paper with a coat of sparkly glitter glue over it before adding the collage elements. Most every year I try to send out a little ornament along with a Valentine card and this year I cut out cardboard hearts, glued down dictionary papers and painted over them before finishing them. I had just enough of those glitter foam hearts-phew! The faux postage images are from ARTchix Studio and I have tons of ARTchix supplies still! The image on the bottom left is one I created for Helga (the owner).

 Linking to Mixed Media Mojo (hearts);  Moo Mania and More (use scraps); the Simon Wednesday Challenge (have a heart); and Try It On Tuesday (a fine romance).

 And what are you all up to? Making Valentines? Eating donuts? Enjoying a Mardis Gras party?

" FEED your heart and soul so that you can FILL your heart and soul so that in turn you can GIVE your heart and soul."



                                                             Apple Cake

 1 c butter, softened           2 c sugar        4 eggs           2 c flour     2 tsp baking powder

 2 tsp baking soda      2 tsp cinnamon       3 lg tart apples, peeled and coarsely chopped

  Preheat oven to 350 F. grease a  9" x 13" pan. Combine butter and sugar in lg bowl. Beat on low speed with mixer until creamy. Add eggs one at a time and continue to blend. Slowly add flour, soda, powder and cinnamon and mix well. Fold in apples and place into prepared pan. Bake about 45 min. or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool. This cake freezes well too:)

36 comments:

  1. Cake looks delicious and would taste good right now. We're getting that snow now too-up to 8 inches, and then that bitter cold, which I don't look forward to. Gorgeous Valentines! And happy T day!

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  2. Wonderful quote and your valentine's are positively precious Linda!
    Ooooh that apple cake looks delicious and oh so tempting.
    Thank you for sharing.
    Happy T Day and Happy Birthday to your precious son on Sunday.
    oxo

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  3. That cake has my mouth watering :) Love the Valentine's art :) It kind of snuck up me this year and I haven't gotten anything ready for it .

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  4. I can't wait to try this cake recipe. It looks so moist and yummy. It looks good with your tea, too (I think it's tea, at least).

    I am in LOVE with those Valentine hearts. I know it's late, b8ut I still haven't started any hearts. Yours are superb. It's ironic that you are the third person besides me, who has talked about ARTchix this week. The faux postage you created is beautiful, and I had no idea you had created that for Helga. I sure miss their weekly challenges.

    I'm enjoying Mardi Gras today, and enjoyed Chinese New Year yesterday. Seems a lot of holidays and festivals going on this month.

    Thanks for sharing your recipe, your beautiful hearts, and your cuppa with us for T this soon-to-be Tuesday.

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  5. Yummy, love the look of your apple cake, thanks for sharing the recipe. Your hearts are all gorgeous, so pretty, thanks for joining us at TIOT and Moo Mania and More, Happy T Day, hugs, Valerie

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  6. oh, i´m not into carnival and not into valentine either;) but your hearts look lovely and like you i still have quite some stuff from Helga strauss, too! i hope no more snow will come, winter could make place for spring... well i know, a bit early wish, but the crocus and snowdrops are all out meanwhile.

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  7. How good that I ate my breakfast already because this cake looks really delicious and I couldn't resist for sure ! Your lovely hearts are heartwarming!They all look precious!
    I am so happy to welcome you at Moo Mania & More today Linda and wish you a happy T-Day - I am not a friend of carneval etc. so I don't care as well.
    Our daughter celebrates her 15th birthday on the 21th of February as well as our boydog ( he will turn 10 this year) and our girl dog turns 6 on the 14th of February like your son!
    Happy birthday to all our lovely kids!
    Take care and have fun with the preparations for the birthday party - we will have some celebrations here as well!
    oxo
    Susi

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  8. Thank you for the recipe -- I have still many frozen apple-slizes .. will try it out soon!

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  9. Yummy! Thanks for sharing, we are just having a hot drink. I make cake like that too. I call it my 12234 cake. As it's easy to remember. (if you put apples third on your list of ingredients)
    Your valentines are beautiful! I've never made any valentine things. I don't know what to do with them. (What do you do with them?) .
    Happy T-day,
    Lisca

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  10. Your apple cake look very yummy! I hardly ever make any valentine crafts either--except for a card for my dh. We got about the same amount of snow as you with a little more coming I have heard. It is the really cold temps I am not looking forward to after such a mild winter.

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  11. Oh and something else to mention:

    Congrats on being on the cat walk at TioT's!
    Your piece was fab!

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  12. We got about 3 flakes of snow here yesterday, and I think 3 inches sounds exciting!

    The cake looks wonderful :)

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  13. Great recipe and gorgeous hearts created ~ you are so talented!

    Linda ~ Happy Birthday to your son and Happy Valentine's Day xxx

    Wishing you a happy week ~ ^_^

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  14. Beautiful hearts! love the scrappy bits, wire and beads! cake? yes, please! happy T day!!

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  15. Yummy looking cake and very sweet valentines!
    Happy T day!

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  16. That cake looks very tempting! Might give it a try. And hearts are always fun.

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  17. 3" is a bit more manageable that your last lot :)

    Love how you love Valentines Day. Happy birthday to your son.

    That cake looks gorgeous and so moist....

    It's Pancake Day (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrove_Tuesday) today... so later we are having Pancakes.... is that like Mardi Gras I wonder? Back to Google;)

    Karen x

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  18. Well! They say you learn something everyday ;)

    I never knew Mardi Gras was like Shrove Tuesday! We don't have a carnival though.... it's a very tame affair (in our house anyway!)

    I think some people still have pancake races....

    Karen x

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  19. The cake looks delicious Linda. I think I have all the ingredients available too. I might give it a try.Your hearts look beautiful.
    Have a lovely week
    Hugs
    Susan

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  20. The cake looks fabulous and the hearts are pure magic.Our Valentine's Day is June. Have a creative week, my friend!happy T day!!

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  21. The valentine art looks great.
    The cake looks very tasty
    Wish I could take a bite :)
    Greetings

    www.jbshares.com

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  22. Love the look of your cake... mind you, all cake looks fabulous to me at the moment because I am on a diet. :( I will keep the recipe so that when it is time to add a treat into the mix I can bake it! Love your Valentine hearts, they look lovely. Happy T Tuesday to you, from Annette

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  23. Looks like several people are getting great Valentines from you. I like the fact that they can be hung up somewhere with the wire.

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  24. Hi Linda,
    Thank you for the visit and the lovely comment you left me. I ended up having to take care of rental problems all morning, then when I got back here I couldn't find my sympathy stamp set....LOL So still no cards have been made....ugh!

    I think this is the apple cake recipe my Mom used to make. You photo really makes my mouth water, but I'm trying to leave wheat alone......trying being the key word. Might give it a try with some coconut flour, any way thanks for the recipe.

    Your Valentines are beautiful, always a trick to use up all the scraps you can in a project.

    Happy Valentine's Day

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  25. Sadly Linda i'm not up to any of those things...lol just working on the house... its become our life..and it moves so slowly... Love your little Valentines as i'm sure everyone who receives them will love them too... Happy Belated Tea day! I say just blame it on the house.. lol Hugs! deb

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  26. Applepie so yum that makes my mouth watering here, haha, have to try it out for sure :) Love your sweet hearts too! ♥ Conny http://piaromsartjournaling.blogspot.de

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  27. Ooh! That cake looks delicious! I love your little hearts and so pleased you joined us again at Try It On Tuesday! Chrisx

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  28. What beautiful Valentine's hearts! Love all the lovely details on them.
    Your cake looks so yummy!
    Thank you for joining us at Try it on Tuesday. Mar xx

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  29. a very beautiful project and the apple cake looks delicous, thanks for joining us at mixed media mojo

    Barb Housner (DT)

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  30. Hi Linda, the Valentine projects look great - and that cake - just to die for!
    Thanks for sharing at TioT
    p.s.Congrats on your Top 5 place at TioT, could you please email me at:
    avril_branthwaie@hotmail.com.
    Thanks

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  31. Love your hearts! Stunning pieces! Thanks for sharing them with us at Mixed Media Mojo.

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  32. Lovely hearts, everyone who is going to receive one of those will be very lucky!

    I hope you don't get any more snow, and stay warm inside with your tea and cake.

    Thank you for entering them into the Mixed Media Mojo Challenge.

    Good luck with all of your challenges.

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  33. Gorgeous hearts and a yummy cake, thank you for sharing with us at Mixed Media Mojo.
    xxx Hazel.

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  34. Wonderful Valentine's Day ornaments, thank you for joining us at Mixed Media Mojo, Deb xo P.S. thanks for the delicous recipe too!

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  35. so creative and original idea . xxx MIxed Media Mojo
    loved your blog header picture.

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  36. Yummy cake and great group of hearts! Nicely done and thanks so much for playing along with Mixed Media Mojo this month.

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Thank you so much for your comments; it's a pleasure to connect with you!