Grandma's Apple Strudel

 Last week, my 90-year-old grandma gave apple strudel making lessons! She was excited about sharing her knowledge, and we were excited about learning her technique. She had 3 copies of her recipe already handwritten for each of us along with a square of cotton sheet cut and hemmed for us to take home. The cotton cloth is the secret to successful strudel rolling!

 My step-mom(Barbara), myself, and my cousin's wife(Denise) watched intently as she rolled out the dough almost paper thin. Barbara asked how old her rolling pin was. Grandma Bessie replied, "You'd have to ask MY grandma". I think it is safe to say it is an antique!

 Here is mine all buttered and ready for the oven. We wrapped them and placed them in the freezer until the end of the day and baked them at home.

My most memorable moment of the day was when Grandma Bessie told me she was so excited to have been able to teach three teachers something they didn't already know! (Denise and I are currently teaching, and Barbara is a retired homemaking teacher and counselor.) Grandma's filling is chopped apples, crushed saltine crackers, chopped pecans, raisins, coconut, sugar and cinnamon sprinkled on the dough that is covered with melted butter.
I hope to make some strudel soon and take more photos of the steps involved. I was too busy watching and helping to take my usual photos!
Y'all come back!
Lorilee

Double-toe Jam!

Stars and Stripes Cloggers had a wonderful weekend clogging at the Double-toe Jam in Waco, Texas last weekend. Take a look.

Giraffe theme cake.

My son requested a Giraffe themed cake for his girlfriend's 16th Birthday. This is what I came up with.

I also decided to make the inside spotted like a giraffe. I didn't get a photo of it sliced because I was unable to attend the actual party. I was attending the Double-Toe Jam. I will post about it on the Stars and Stripes Cloggers blog soon.

The cake is frosted with buttercream, while the "spots" are done with homemade fondant using this recipe. The cake is a Duncan Hines yellow cake with whole milk substituted for the water.