Monday, September 28, 2009

Apple Slice - Blue Monday



Mt. Rainier as seen from Orcas Island in the San Juan archipelago.


Apple Slice

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...
This is such a simple, old-fashioned pastry that I was hesitant to post it. I finally decided it was just too good not to share. Apple Slice was a feature in the bakeries and Mom and Pop groceries of my childhood. The folks who owned those shops often lived in the back of the stores with only a curtain separating their homes from their work places. You could buy a homemade Apple Slice in almost any store and there was very little difference in how it was prepared. It was usually smothered by a glaze of powdered sugar so sweet it hurt the teeth. Children, of course, loved it. Times and people changed and I had all but forgotten about Apple Slice until it was pulled from the recesses of memory when I had a piece on a ferry heading to Orcas Island a few years ago. The orchards of Oregon and Washington provide an abundance of apples and pears, so it's not surprising that some of the old desserts, still served in farm communities, are making their way back to the cities. I'm guessing Apple Slice came to this country with Scandinavian immigrants, but because it was easy and inexpensive to prepare it quickly spread from one home to the next. There are a couple of hints I want to share with those of you who are tempted to try this. The apples must be cut in paper thin slices for this to work. Most recipes that I've been able to find for this instruct you to roll the dough like a pie crust. Good luck with that. It doesn't work for me. I separate the dough into two portions and pat it into place. I've also tossed the glaze. The whole purpose of the slice is its wonderful apple flavor. I think the glaze overwhelms it, so I use a light sprinkle of confectioners' sugar instead. This is a dessert that is best served warm. One of its beauties is that it can be assembled in the morning and baked while you're having dinner. I must warn you that this addicting. I only make this when I have a houseful of people because I could eat the entire pan myself. Here's the recipe.

Apple Slice...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, room temperatue
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large apple, peeled, cored, thinly sliced
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch square pan. Line bottom with parchment paper. Grease the paper. Set aside.
2) Place flour, baking powder and salt in large bowl. Whisk to combine
3) In a separate bowl, cream butter and granulated sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla extract. Add flour mixture and stir just until blended.
4) Pat half of dough into prepared pan. Spread dough with thinly sliced apples. Sprinkle with brown sugar and nutmeg. Cover apples with remaining dough, patting it into place.
5) Bake for about 40 minutes, or until a tester inserted into center of cake comes out dry. Cool. Turn out from pan onto a dessert plate. Remove paper. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. Yield: 6-8 servings.

This post is being linked to Smiling Sally - Blue Monday

61 comments :

Stayathomemommy said...

Looks delicious! Happy Blue Monday.
~Karrie

Deb in Hawaii said...

I love anything apple and this looks so good--glad you posted it!

KathyB. said...

I am pretty sure I will be making this with your recommended changes. Having come from and marrying into 2nd generation Scandinavian immigrant families, and having an abundance of apples from our own orchard, this is a given! I will let you know how it turns out, surprised I have never heard of this before. I do however make many apple pies!

MaR said...

Beautiful shot of Mr Ranier!!
My mouth is watering just by reading your recipe and looking at the picture, thanks for sharing!

Happy Monday,my entry is here.

Cindy said...

Looks delicious!! Thanks
Cindy

Anonymous said...

Beautiful Blue sky, and that Apple Slice looks wonderful. As always, you have outdone yourself.

figtree said...

I have a HUGE bowl of apples in my kitchen..this looks delicious!Figtreeapps

Martha said...

Mary -- I fixed a version of this for dessert Saturday night! -- it is yummy! (only the name of my recipe was Oma's apple cake!)

Donna-FFW said...

You have so convinced me to try this. Looks easy and sounds ultra delicious!

Knitty said...

Oh, yum! Great photos, both of them.

Cathy said...

I love to try the old fashioned recipes that I run across every now and then. This one looks wonderful, Mary. There are a few recipes from my childhood I would love to duplicate.

Becky K. said...

My mother-in-law just gave us some very lovely apples. 'Tis the season!
Your recipe looks tasty.

Your blue Monday photo is lovely...very lovely.

Becky K
Hospitality Lane

Tracy said...

I love anything apple this time of year. Yours looks great.

Maggie said...

What a wonderful pic of Mt Ranier and the Apple slice looks & sounds delicious.
Thanks for sharing this vintage recipe today.
a bientot
Maggie

gengen said...

Yummy Monday...Love the recipe. Happy Blue Monday dear.

jeanne said...

Good Mary, I am home where my heart is but my visit to MI. was awesome. I want to thank you for your faithful visits to my posts while I was AWOL.

I came home from MI. with some Macintosh apples. When we lived in MI MANY years ago my father planted an apple orchard on our farm. When I passed our 100 year old farm the apple orchard was still there with homes built among the trees. The barns are gone but the farm house is still there. My mom and her nine brothers and sisters grew up on that farm. My dad bought it from my grandfather and I lived there until I was nine. Wonderful memories. Your apple cake brought them all back. You know I will be making that recipe.

Have a wonderful day.

Hugs xoxo, Jeanne

Unknown said...

Great fall treat; looks yummy!
Hope you'll stop by and check out my giveaway on this lovely Blue Monday.

SnoWhite said...

this looks so great! And, I love your photo of the mountain too :)

JLS Hall (Joysweb) said...

That looks and sounds so yummy! Just had breakfast, but now I'm hungry again! And that's such a beautiful sky, too. Happy Blue Monday!

Abatevintage said...

What a wonderful Blue Monday, and it looks so yummy. Have a great week.

Blessings,
Heidi

SmilingSally said...

I've seen Mt. Rainer; what a magnificent sight! Your apple dessert sounds like another good one! I'm wishing you a delightful Blue Monday.

Gaby said...

happy monday mary!! this looks so beautiful I could eat the whole thing for breakfast!

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Oh yum!! that looks good, Mary. I love anything with apples in it. Thanks for sharing and Happy Blue Monday.

Blessings,
Sandi

Claudia said...

I love this and I would also do away with any glaze and let the apple shine. I love the tales of when they were so prevalent, went away and are now returning. So sweet to see them back - it's like taking a bite of history.

Boo-Bah AKA Iris said...

I know I would love this recipe. I have a friend who makes something very similar.

One of my favorite things to do in Fall is to make things with fresh apples.

Iris

LV said...

Move over, I will be by for slice of cake. I can dream. It looks so good. I thought your photo was breathtaking. You did a really super job on it.

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

I am so glad you shared this. it does sounds perfect for my sweet tooth.

NKP said...

I just adore apple season. I actually made a similar cake this weekend, but yours looks so much neater. Simply delish!

Karen said...

Well, I for one am glad you decided to post this! I will definitely make this - it just looks wonderful!

Michelle said...

Oh, Mary I can't wait to try this one, I've never heard of it. I've had apple pie, apple cake, apple compote, apple strudle, just about any kind of apple, but this one. Thanks for the tips on preparation. Enjoy your comments on my blog when you stop by, ty. Have a great day and wow, what a great pic for blue monday. :)Michelle

Debbie said...

Thanks for a great apple recipe. This is the time of year I start baking using lots of apples that I pick!!! This looks wonderful!

Nina said...

Nice contrast between the green and the blue colors!

claudie said...

Hello Mary
You never disappoint me, ever. I could sure use a piece of that Apple cake right about now. YUM YUM
Love the pic of Mt. Rainier. We used to be able to see Mt. Baker from White Rock, B.C. where we used to live...I miss the mountains.
Happy Blue Monday
Love Claudie
xo

Diann @ The Thrfty Groove said...

That picture is beautiful! and the recipe looks delish!!

Have a wonderful day!

Megan said...

I can imagine this would be hard to stop eating. I would sliver this thing to death. It looks perfect for the season!

Shy said...

Your Apple slice sure is taste yummo. nice photo for blue monday, love the green trees and blue sky

The Blushing Hostess said...

Looks amazing, will put it on my (endles) to-try list...

The Blonde Duck said...

I've never had an apple slice, and I must remedy that immediately.

Anonymous said...

Hi Mary! The blue of the sky and mountain are just so beautiful!
Oh, I want some of the apple slice! It looks delicious! Thank you for your visit today!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Fifi Flowers said...

This sounds sooo yummy!!! Photo is beautiful too! I fear mine would not look so good... I think I will stick with the guacamole recipe!

Carol at Serendipity said...

Mary,

That looks wonderful. As always your photos are exquisite.

Carol

Pam said...

Oh my kids would LOVE this! I may just make this recipe...soon.

lk- healthy delicious said...

this reminds me of something that my great grandmother use to make - and something I always crave in the fall. Delicious!

Anonymous said...

I remember those apple slices from my childhood Mary. Thank you so much for the recipe. I love it in the fall when the house is full of cinnamon and apple smells. To me there is nothing quite like it. I hope you have a wonderful week.

bj said...

O, Mary, O, Mary...you are SO a lady after my own heart. I so remember the little mom and pop grocery stores..I remember that exact curtain !! And, I REMEMBER APPLE SLICE. I can't believe I had forgotten it.
You know...I have a few apples left from my picking...guess what I will make for tonight!!

Thanks so much for sharing this memory with me...and thanks for coming by today.
xo bj

bj said...

Uh oh...parchement paper...I've never, in my long life, used this.
I will try Pam...I'll let you know...:O)
I don't even know just where to buy the paper....I am SO redneck in the kitchen.

bj said...

Sorry, just me again...I can't seem to get off your comment page!!
Did I ever tell you that I have a grandson DREW, too?? :O)and two more and 7 granddaughters and one great granddaughter....
AND, would you believe, your verification word right now is DISHES.

Mary Bergfeld said...

bj, I hope you come back to read this. You can substitute wax paper for parchment paper. To create a sheet that will fit the pan, place the pan on a sheet of wax paper and trace around the bottom. Then cut the paper. It will fit perfectly.

Heather S-G said...

I've never seen this before, it looks so simple and delicious :)

Miss Meat and Potatoes said...

Oh my gosh this looks so good. I agree with you about glazes - they do get in the way. Thanks for sharing - I've never seen this recipe before!

Mary | Deep South Dish said...

Now that is not a cake this southern gal is familiar with but I certainly should be. It looks wonderful!

Kathleen said...

That looks delicious..Not overpowering the flavor of the apples!
Did you email bj to tell her to sub waxed for parchment paper??

Foley said...

The apple slice looks divine - how appropriate for fall with all the apples we have!!
Love the photos!

La Cuisine d'Helene said...

That looks delicious.

noble pig said...

Apple season is by far my favorite and this looks incredibe!

Olga said...

That dessert looks so good! I spent 8 years in Seattle, but have never been to Orcas island :(

This recipe screams fall.

Patricia @ ButterYum said...

Lovely dessert. Reminds me of my good friend's apple pie (she's Dutch). Her crust is also made with room temperature butter and is patted into place. So unlike American crust.

Thanks for the delightful background. It's amazing how food can bring back such wonderful memories!

Maria Berg said...

Yes I do sound dangerous I will also eat all by my self!!!

Every time i come visit here i rely fell that it had been wounderful to meet in real life maybe one day, I hope so.

MB

Jennie said...

Well I'm glad you did decide to post this! It looks delicious! You have a wonderful blog! Very yummy indeed!

Anonymous said...

I love your blog & all of your recipes that I've tried have been wonderful - until this one. I was disappointed that the "cake" was heavy - more like shortcake. And there weren't enough apples inside to balance the amount of cake. Softened vanilla ice cream helped when serving, but we didn't finish the cake. Sorry - this is a no-repeater for me. Martha

Mary Bergfeld said...

Martha, I'm sorry the cake was not to your liking. I just made the cake to check the recipe and it is as it always is. I always feel badly when folks have expectations that are not met by my recipes.

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