Apple and Pine Nut Cake

When I was driving home last night from my wine class, I couldn't help reminisce about my younger days on those innumerable times when I was driving home very late at night. I used to stay out until the wee hours of the morning and at quarter to eleven last night, I was already feeling uneasy that I was still out on the half empty roads of Rome. I felt old. The other drivers I passed had the same look as I had. It seemed like they also want to reach home and tuck themselves under their warm covers. That's one of the insurmountable pulls that our homes do to us.

And while I was reminiscing about all these, I missed the turn towards our house.  I had no choice but to take the longer route in the highway. A normal Italian would stop and try to reverse his way back to the turn but I am Ms. Cowardly so I just drove on and took in the extra kilometers. Lesson number one. Don't reminisce while driving!

Arriving home, the house was strangely quiet. Everyone was in bed. I took a peek at the 2 kids. They look like little angels while sleeping, but when they wake up, well, that's a different story. I'm a stay-at-home mom so it's a rarity for me to be out until late at night alone. They knew that I was going to my wine class and they actually love the idea that my version of classroom is full of glasses and wine. They are actually begging to see my classroom but I think just the sight of two kids outside the door will make everyone nervous because our tables are lined up with so many glasses. Even us adults have a hard time maneuvering ourselves in the middle of the tables and glasses.

My husband woke up and we decided to have a slice of apple cake and tea as I recounted to him what I learned in the class. The topic of wines is so vast that I am overwhelmed about the things we are learning and still need to know. I would think that this cake would go well with a glass of Asti because it has a simple structure. Our teacher was saying that we should drink only Asti with the panettone and pandoro because even if the rising of these cakes is long, the structure itself is simple. I had a feeling that he was frustrated about this topic because everyone pairs it with prosecco or champagne. Out of all the panettones and pandoros I have eaten, I have never had it with Asti. I will keep it in mind for next Christmas.

Going to this cake, I can describe it as very simple. I based it on an Italian classic cake that I love having with tea, sometimes for breakfast and sometimes for snacks or dessert. I added the pine nuts for extra flavor and the yogurt to make it a bit more moist and less crumbly. 

I created this recipe for She Knows so you can hop over to their site through this link to see the recipe or just scroll down. My profile page has the list of other recipes that I created for them and also some travel articles. You can find it here. Thanks and have a wonderful week! 

Apple and Pine Nut Cake 

Yields 8-inch cake
Ingredients:

• 4 medium apples
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 5 ounces (10 tablespoons) butter, diced and softened (not melted, plus more for rubbing on the baking pan)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup yogurt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• 1 tablespoon icing sugar (plus more for sprinkling on top before serving)

Directions:
1. Peel, core and dice 3 of the 4 apples, then mix in the lemon juice.
2. In a mixer, mix the butter, sugar, milk, yogurt and eggs.
3. Add the flour, baking powder, salt, lemon zest and 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder.
4. In a large bowl, mix the batter, pine nuts and apples.
5. Pour the mixture in a buttered and floured pan.
6. Peel and core the remaining apple. Slice it thinly then place them on top of the cake batter.
7. Sprinkle the apples with the 1 tablespoon icing sugar and the remaining cinnamon.
8. Bake at a preheated oven of 350 degrees F for 1 hour or until cooked through. Let it cool for a few minutes.
9. Sprinkle with icing sugar before serving.