Weekend fun

I am so thankful that I do not have to work weekends any more (except for the occasional "on call" shift). All the other nurses out there understand how to rare it is to find a hospital job that does not require you to work weekends. The best part of my weekend is that Brian has off as well... except for on Sundays of course :), so we get to spend lots and lots of time together.

This weekend we stopped by the Habitat for Humanity building project in Spring Hill. Our church has been providing lunch on Saturdays for the builders. Our friend Shantel and Brian and I dropped off dessert and soda for the workers on Saturday... next week we might head over there and actually help build. The coolest part of this particular project was that it was a "women build". The women did almost all of work! They even put up the siding on the house. I was super impressed with all the work these women have done. The house looks beautiful, and it will be such a blessing to the family that will move in soon. It was so great to see the love of Christ shown in this way. It was great also see so many women giving up their Saturday to do what looked like some super hard labor in order to serve others.Another great part of our weekend was a visit from my grandparents! They live in Wisconsin during the summer and then head down to Florida every October (I don't blame them; Wisconsin winters are brutal!!). Nashville is now one of their stops on their drive back to Florida :). It was so great to spend time with them, and have them stay in our home. I took their visit as an opportunity to do some baking. My grandma has something called celiac's disease so basically she can't have ANYTHING with wheat flour in it. One of my co-workers gave me a super yummy gluten free recipe for apple brown sugar coffee cake from taste of home. I had to buy gluten free all purpose flour, but the rest of the ingredients were all things I normally keep in my pantry. I wasn't sure how it would turn out since I haven't ever used gluten free flour, but it was so tasty!! I might try to make again sometime with normal flour and see what the difference is. Here is the recipe below. You will love it!

Penny's Apple Brown Sugar Coffee Cake

• 1 cup plus 2 teaspoons gluten-free all-purpose flour, divided
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar, divided
• 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (1-1/2 ounces)
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 large apples, cored, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 375°. Lightly grease a 9-in. round baking or springform pan. In a large bowl, whisk together 1 cup flour, baking powder and salt. In a small bowl, stir together the remaining 2 teaspoons flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, chocolate chips, walnuts and cinnamon.
• In another small bowl, whisk together the eggs, granulated sugar and remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar until smooth. Whisk in the oil and vanilla. Stir into the flour mixture until just combined. Pour half the batter into prepared pan, top with half the apples and half the crumb mixture; repeat with the remaining batter, apples and crumb mixture. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30-35 minutes.

And here is the final product. It was seriously so good. Apples and chocolate are a great combo (I left out the nutritional facts... they are a tad bit depressing). Enjoy :).