Iola Clayton's Apple Swirl Cake and One of My New Favorite Things

Hello!

My post today is kind of going to be two posts in one. Part one is about the apple cake I made last night. For Christmas John's parents gave me a bundt pan and the recipe for his grandmother's - Iola Clayton's - apple cake. Part two is about something I keep seeing all over the food section of the internet (yep, there is a food section, it's kind of like how bookstores have a cookbook section except on the internet). But for now, part one.

This is by far the most delicious apple cake I've ever had, not that I've had many, but trust me it's amazing how moist this is. I tweeked the

 recipe a little bit and added a layer of apples in the m

iddle. Without that layer it's a bit less apple-y than I like. Plus if it's apple cake I think there should be some real apples in it. Anyway, here's the apple cake; the recipe follows. Enjoy!

Iola Clayton's Apple Swirl Cake

1/4 c. granulated sugar

1 package yellow cake mix

1 2/3 c. apple sauce

3 tsp. cinnamon

3 eggs

1 apple (any kind you like - I used granny smith)

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Blend sugar and cinnamon.
3. Grease bundt pan and dust it with 1 tablespoon of the sugar mix.
4. Cut apple into thin slices (it is up to you if you want to peel the apples, I didn't peel them).
5. Blend cake mix, applesauce and eggs until blended and smooth.
6. Reserve 1 1/2c batter and pour rest into the pan.
7. Sprinkle the batter in the pan with half of what is left with the sugar mixture.
8. Place apple slices in a single layer in the pan, then sprinkle with the rest of the sugar mix.
9. Pour the remaining batter into the pan.
10. Bake for 35 - 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
11. Cool for five minutes in a pan on a rack, then invert.
12. Serve hot or cold, as is for breakfast or topped with a scope of vanilla ice cream and/or whipped cream for dessert.

Now for part two.

One of my new favorite things that I've been seeing everywhere (including on the Gilmore Girls episode I'm watching on ABCFamily right now, which is really weird) is candy sushi. This "sushi" is entirely made out of candy. What I've seen and will likely attempt first is a fruit roll up, layered with rice crispy treats (homemade, obvs.), then you put in whatever kind of candy you want, like gummy worms, twizzerls, swedish fish, things like that. I really excited to try it, but I won't get to until I have people to make them for. Here are a few pictures that I've found of it that really show how awesome it can be.

This one is a whole tray of different kinds. There are even some chocolate looking ones in there, awesome.

This is equally awesome.

Those are so cool, I love it. That is the next different thing that I want to try. The last one (egg roll cheesecakes) didn't work out as well in my opinion, other people liked them, but I wasn't a fan. Anywho, try the apple cake! It's delicious!