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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #28

Hey guys! Happy Friday! I hope you had a great week full of Galetineā€™s Day celebrations or a Valentineā€™s Day date night. I know I enjoyed spreading a little extra love this week and indulging in some sweet treats too. I did some baking before Valentineā€™s Day and enjoyed sending cards and some baked goods to family and friends.

Some Valentine’s Day treats!

During the winter months, I spend more time indoors, getting projects done, catching up on books, shows or trying new recipes. That being said, if my Friday Favorites seem similar week to week, thatā€™s why.

Hereā€™s what Iā€™ve been reading, watching, and enjoying for this weekā€™s Friday Favorites as I like up with ErikaĀ andĀ Andrea.

YOU-Part one of YOU season four came out last Thursday on Netflix and I finished it in two days, mind you, it was only five episodes, but once I started it was hard to stop. This new season takes Joe to a new country, with a new murder and a whole new cast of characters. Thereā€™s mystery, intrigue, romance and cliffhangers. Iā€™m excited for part two to come out next month!

Your Place or Mine– In a complete opposite genre, Your Place or Mine came out last weekend and it was the perfect way to get into the Valentineā€™s Day spirit with this rom com. I loved the storyline, the characters, and the chemistry between Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher. If you havenā€™t seen this movie yet, you are missing out! Super cute!

Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Raspberry Hearts– I indulged in all the sugar and sweets from Valentineā€™s Day. From heart-shaped cupcakes to homemade sugar cookies, it was definitely a sweet holiday. I tried these new chocolates from Ghiradelli and loved them. The blend of fruit and chocolate was the perfect ratio. I always enjoy anything chocolate so when I saw a pairing with raspberry, I knew I had to try it and was so glad I did!

Colleen Hoover Books– Late to the book party here, but I finally got around to reading some of Colleen Hooverā€™s books. I have heard about her for years, and decided to try some of them after a friend lent me them. I recently read November 9 and Verity. November 9 was such a sweet love story with an incredible twist. Verity was definitely darker and there were many times I wanted to put it down, but Iā€™m glad I finished it. The ending definitely raised more questions. Iā€™ll be looking into more Hoover books. If you have read her other books, what ones are your favorite and what should I read next?

New Wall Flower Scent– I swapped out scents for my wall plug in from Bath and Body Works last week and have been loving this new scent. I went from Pine which was very Christmasy to Spearmint and Eucalyptus. This scent is so fresh and perfect for the winter months. Thereā€™s nothing better than a new scent for a new week.Ā 

Thatā€™s just a look into life over the past few days. Tell me, how did you celebrate Galentineā€™s Day or Valentineā€™s Day? Have a great weekend!

Categories
Let's Get Cooking

Let’s Get Cooking: Apple Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Hey guys! Happy Wednesday! I don’t know about you, but there is something so sweet about baking in the fall and trying new recipes after a nice long walk!

Happy Fall!

After doing some apple picking, I couldn’t wait to search Pinterest for some new recipes to try. I made this Apple Cinnamon Swirl Bread a few weeks ago and it was a hit. Although it is a bread, it’s so sweet and flavorful, you can serve it as a dessert with a scoop of ice cream or on its own.

Without further ado, here’s a look at this tasty apple recipe.

Ingredients

1/3 cup of brown sugar

2  teaspoons of cinnamon

2 medium apples

2/3 cup of sugar and 2 tablespoons

1 stick of butter

2 large eggs

1 Ā½ teaspoons of vanilla

1 Ā½ cup of flour

1 Ā¾ teaspoons of baking power

1 teaspoon of salt

Ā½ cup of milk and 3 tablespoons

1 cup of powered sugar

Directions

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×5 pan with cooking spray, place parchment paper and then spray.

2) Mix brown sugar and one teaspoon of cinnamon in a bowl and set aside.

A look at your dry ingredients

3) Toss chopped apples with 2 tablespoons of sugar and one teaspoon of cinnamon and set aside.

Apple mixture

4) Beat butter and 2/3 cup of sugar with mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs one and a time and vanilla.

5) Whisk flour, baking powder and salt in another bowl, add to cream mixture and blend. Mix Ā½ cup of milk until smooth.

6) Pour batter into loaf pan, add half of the apple mixture, sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon mixture on top.

7) Continue to layer and swirl the mixture once complete.

8) Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes and check with a tooth pick.

9) To make glaze: mix powered sugar with milk and pour on top of bread once cooled.

10) Serve!

This recipe was so easy to make and so tasty! I know I will be making it more this fall season. You can eat it for breakfast, lunch, a snack or dessert.

Tell me: What are some of your apple recipes?