Apple Dump Cake

One of the things I love about cooking is taking an in-season ingredient and transforming it into something amazing. Last fall a friend gave me apples from his yard. I made apple pies and bread and still had some left over, so I peeled, sliced and froze the rest. I recently came across them and decided I would throw them in with some sugar and cinnamon for a quick dessert. Based upon what I had on hand, this is what I came up with, and it was wonderful! My apples were very tender and moist after being frozen, perfect for short cooking time.

5-6 cups of peeled, sliced apples
Hand full of raisins
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ginger
1 stick butter, divided
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/2 yellow cake mix

Preheat oven to 350 with 1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) of butter in a glass 9x13 pan. Mix sugars and spices in a large bowl, toss apples and raisins to coat. Once butter is melted, tilt dish so that it coats the whole pan. Dump apple mixture in. Sprinkle cake mix evenly over the top. Add pecans evenly. Melt remaining 1/2 stick of butter and drizzle over the top. Bake for 30 min or so on the lower middle of the oven. (don't want to burn the pecans!) If the top starts to brown before you think the apples are done, cover with foil and cook another 10 min.

Peach Cobbler

This was one of my childhood favorites, and whenever I eat it, it takes me back to the days of my mother's soft caresses and a cozy home filled with wonderful smells.

When I got old enough to start baking, I asked my mom for the recipe. After she told me how easy it was, I remember thinking, "if it's that simple, why didn't you make it more often?"

2 large cans of peaches in heavy syrup

1 box of yellow cake mix (Duncan Hines is my favorite)

1 stick of butter, room temp

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 glass pan, dump peaches in. In a bowl, cut butter into cake mix until pieces are the size of dimes. This is what a pastry cutter is for, but since most people don't have one, you can use 2 knives or a fork. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the top of the peaches, don't press or stir. Bake for 30-40 min or until top is golden brown. 

Nothing compliments this better than Breyers vanilla ice cream and a cup of coffee!

Thanks, Mom, for the recipe and the memories.