HomeThings to Do on Whidbey September 11, 2023

Easy Apple Cake

As the chilly Fall months come upon us, there is nothing better than heading into the house for a little slice of warmth. This easy Apple Cake will quickly become a favorite. We know you are busy and think baking will take too much of your time. However, this simple and delicious recipe brought so much joy into our lives and we hope it will bring some into yours too. It is so easy to prepare, and you end up with a moist, tender cake that is perfect for any time of day! Having a cake that is snackable in the house is such a treat for yourself and loved ones. Warm it up, have a cup of your favorite beverage and sit down to a plate of goodness.

Ingredients for Easy Apple Cake:

1 1/2 cup softened butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/4 tsp vanilla

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

2 medium apples, peeled & diced

Directions for baking your Easy Apple Cake:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
  2. Mix butter & sugar, beat in eggs, and stir in vanilla, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and apples.
  3. Pour batter into pan, bake for 40-45 minutes – test with a toothpick. If it comes out clean it is ready!

Download your very own Easy Apple Cake Recipe card here!

Tag us in your Instagram posts at @windermere_whidbey_island don’t forget to tell us good it was!

Connect with us!

HomeThings to Do on Whidbey February 6, 2023

Valentines Day Recipe for Everyone

Valentine’s is a day to show your appreciation for those you love. However, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make Valentine’s special. Here is an easy non-alcoholic drink that will please children and adults! Start by making an area of your home festive, cut out paper hearts, use conversation candy hearts, a special tablecloth, flowers, or use whatever is special in your relationship. If you are able, buy a couple of special glasses to drink from.

Try this Valentines Day Recipe for Everyone

Making this drink is so quick and easy! Just measure out the ingredients, pour into glass with ice, stir, and top with conversation candy hearts, a slice of orange, add in a cool straw or sugar rim the glass before pouring. The best thing about this drink is it is good any time of day! This is a great way to sit and have a great conversation about love, whether its love for your parents, siblings, children, partner, friends, or pets. There is always room for love in our lives. Cheers!

Download your own copy of this recipe card here.

 

Tag us in your Instagram posts of you and your loved ones enjoying this recipe at @windermere_whidbey_island don’t forget to tell us what you think of it.

 

Connect with us here. 

HomeThings to Do on Whidbey September 26, 2022

Fall Season: Apple Pie Recipe

Fall has finally arrived!

Many people have their own way of celebrating the changes of the season, whether it be the pumpkin spice latte in place of their usual, the apple cider wax melts in their burners or the purchase of the burnt orange coats and warm fussy socks. For us… one of our all-time favorite ways of celebrating is with the smell of warm apple pie filling our homes with mouths nearly drooling till the vanilla ice cream is plopped on top and served.

…and we would like to share that experience with you.

Don’t have a recipe of your own? Give this quick and easy one a try. It will not disappoint.

Pre: 30 Min

Cook: 1 Hour

Servings: 8

Makes: a 9-inch pie

INGREDIENTS:

_ 7-8 Granny Smith Apples

_ 1/2 C unsalted butter

_ 3 TB all purpose flour

_ 1/2 C white sugar

_ 1/2 C packed brown sugar

_1/4 C of water

_ 1 thawed 9-in double crust pie pastry

INSTRUCTIONS:

_ Peel and core apples. Slice into thin strips and set aside.

_Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F (220 C).

_Press one pastry into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie pan. Roll out the remaining pastry and cut into thin strips to make the lattice topping.

_ In a pan melt butter over medium heat. Once melted add add flour to form a paste. Cook about 2 minutes until fragrant.

_ Add both sugars and water to the paste and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes then remove from heat.

_ Meanwhile place apple slices into the pie crust pie creating a mound.

_Pour the sugar paste over the top of the apple slices reserve a bit to brush your lattice topping with

_Using the remaining pie crust you cut into strips create a lattice topping and brush with remaining sugar mixture.

_ Bake in your preheated oven for 15 minutes. Then reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 C) and continue baking until apples are soft roughly 35 to 45 minutes.

 

TOP WITH:

_ Vanilla Ice cream

_Serve slightly warm

_ Tag us on Instagram @Windermere_Whidbey_Island

_Enjoy

Things to Do on Whidbey October 3, 2020

Squash

It is that time of year when the fruits of our labors begin filling up not only our dinner plates but also become an integral part of beautifying the spaces around us. You guessed it, we are talking about SQUASH.

If you are anything like some of these green thumb agents, you have spent the past several months pouring your heart and soul into your garden prepping to produce these beautiful and tasty gems. But it is quite possible that you now have so many you do not know what to do with them. If that is the case keep reading for places you can donate your extras…. like my office.

Perhaps you are more like those of us that take advantage of the local Farm to Table programs our local farm community has to offer. You may have begun to receive these tasty treats in your special boxes. Keep reading to discover one of my favorite recipes.

BUT….maybe your most like me and you are… “Growing them…well… in the grocery store”. Let’s be honest autumn is my favorite time of year, but I wasn’t blessed with a green thumb. I am more like a big kid eagerly waiting for Shermans Farm to open so I can enjoy the full experience of finding the perfect squash for tonight’s dinner. I like sipping my warm cup of cider while riding on the tractor taking in the beautiful Whidbey farm views and snapping pictures of my kids next to the biggest pumpkins they can find.

Regardless of who you are, there is one thing we all have in common this season. We will all come into contact with SQUASH!

The majority of people will likely only use them as decorations, and that is ok. There is no denying these power-packed veggies are beautiful and studies show that sprucing up the space around you will make you feel happier. So, first things first…

Let’s Get Crafty:

CENTERPIECE

It can take as little or as much creativity as you desire. Place a variety of squash together with some leaves, flowers, candles, or acorns to spruce up your gathering space. For more inspiration follow one of our favorites local to our area: Erin Benzakein, founder of Floret. Floret is a Skagit Valley family-owned farm and seed company and New York Times Best Selling Author of A Year in Flowers for tutorials on arrangements.

OVERSIZED ACORN WITH ACORN SQUASH

Acorn Squash,

Supplies you will need:

  • Hot Glue Gun
  • Hot Glue
  • Twine
  • Acorn Squash

Begin by placing a dab of glue at the top of your squash. Make a loop in the twine and attach the top of your squash. Place glue around the top ¼ of the squash and being laying your twine in a circular motion starting at the stem and continuing down to a ¼ of the squash, carefully laying each layer of twine up against the last.

 


For the Tummy:

Most importantly, squash provides a plethora of nutrients for our bodies. It is quite literally called a power-pack veggie. They are high in Vitamin A, B6, and C, folate, magnesium, fiber, riboflavin, phosphorus, and potassium.

The best thing about squash is that there are so many ways to eat it. I love it SO MUCH I am attaching one of my simple favorites.

Acorn Squash

BAKED ACORN SQUASH WITH BUTTER & BROWN SUGAR

Serves: 2-4     |      Preparation: 10min     |     Cooking: 1 HR 15 min

Ingredients:

  • 1 Acorn squash
  • 1 Tbsp Butter
  • 2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
  • 2 teaspoons Maple Syrup
  • Dash of Salt

DOWNLOAD THE FULL RECIPE CARD HERE!

 


Uplift the Community with Your Extras:

With all joking aside, if you have been blessed with having too much squash this year, the North Whidbey Help House in Oak Harbor, and Good Cheer Food Bank in Langley would love to have your donations.

 

Stay blessed. Have a favorite squash recipe or idea you want to share? Let us know in the comments below.

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