Brunch with my Mom Friends

Our chapter of the International MOMS Club has a monthly "playgroup" for those of us whose children are in school. It's called MOMS Who Brunch. What a treat to get together with my mom friends without the kids being there! This month we met at my house. 

I decided to serve homemade applesauce. If you've never done it before, it is ridiculously easy and so much tastier than store-bought.

Applesauce

1) Roughly cut any number of apples into chunks. If you have a food mill, you do not need to peel them, nor do you need to cut out the core or remove any seeds or stems if you don't feel like it. Just wash the apples, then cut them in chunks. 

2) Add about 2 inches of water to the bottom of a pan, squeeze one lemon into the water, then add the apples. Place over medium heat, cover, and let sit for 20+ minutes.

3) After 20 minutes, stir the apples. If the apples are soft, continue. If some pieces are still firm, continue heating. Depending on the amount of apples, size of pan, and size of apple pieces, it could take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour. As a general rule, they're done when they smell really good. They'll look like this.

4) Transfer the apples into a food mill. Mine is a Foley food mill and I love it.

5) Turn the handle.

6).  You'll know you're done when all that is left in the food mill is peels, stems, and/or seeds. This goes into the compost pile or the green waste.

7) The pot below holds the applesauce. You may choose to add sugar and/or spices. I didn't add either one, but instead put out cinnamon sugar in a shaker so each person could add it if they wished.  

I also made my favorite coffee cake. It is so easy, can be made ahead of time, and is absolutely delicious. I got the recipe from Taste of Home.

Overnight Cinnamon Coffee Cake

                                        1/3 cup butter, softened                        1/2 tsp baking powder
                                        1/2 cup sugar                                           1/4 tsp baking soda
                                        1/4 cup packed brown sugar                 1/2 tsp cinnamon
                                        1 egg, lightly beaten                               1/2 cup buttermilk*
                                        1 cup flour

                           Topping:
                      
                                        1/4 cup packed brown sugar                1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
                                        1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
                       

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars. Beat in egg. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon; gradually add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition.  

Spread into a greased 8-inch square baking pan. Combine topping ingredients and sprinkle over batter. Cover and refrigerate overnight. 

Uncover and bake at 350º for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Serves 8.

*I didn't have buttermilk on hand. Did you know you can make a perfectly good substitute? Put 1-1/2 tsp. lemon juice or vinegar in liquid measuring cup, then add enough milk to bring it to 1/2 c. Let it sit for 5 minutes.