Fall Muscadine Cake

 

We are barreling towards the official end of summer - Labor Day weekend. I've been enjoying heirloom tomatoes in Caprese salad, and lots of other summer garden pleasures from a nearby farmers market.  Since we are in a covid lockdown, our wedding season has pretty much been postponed, but I have enjoyed this time by puttering in the garden and cooking more that ever.  One of our local markets has really stepped up its game, and is having some wonderful chef cooking events to inspire us. I came home with a bag of the most luscious sweet corn, fresh peaches and put some in the freezer for winter. But in September, it is time for the muscadine grapes to start ripening and I decided to try to make the Post Family Muscadine cake  

...And it is so easy to put together. Read all about it in this post. 

CONTINUE READING

I had in my pantry stash a bottle of 

Post Muscadine Grape Juice

 and decided to try out the 

Post family recipe for Muscadine cake ! 

These easy-to-grow grapes are great eaten straight off the vine 

or when made into jams, preserves or simple grape juice.  

In our back pasture,  a few wild muscadine  
grapes grow on the vine,
 but the deer seem to love them as much as we do. 

Whether deep red or greenish-bronze, 

the large, tough-skinned grapes 

known as muscadines love 

the southern humidity and growing climate. 

The muscadines come into season along with figs 

and even make for a pretty fall wedding cake. 

 Here a simple cream cheese icing slathered onto 

the "Naked cake " 

makes a spectacular special presentation.

Simple Muscadine Cake 

1 Box yellow cake mix

one 4 ounce box instant vanilla pudding

1 stick butter

4 eggs

1 1/4 cups white muscadine juice

Heat oven 350º

Mix in large bowl, the dry ingredients of the cake mix, and the pudding mix. butter, eggs and muscadine juice.  Beat 4 minutes with a mixer. Pour batter into a 13 " x 9" cake pan. 

Bake 45-50 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.

Allow to cool while you make a glaze topping. 

For the Glaze:

4 Tablespoons of white muscadine juice

1 1/4 cups powdered sugar. 

Whisk powdered sugar and muscadine juice together in small bowl. Use a toothpick to poke holes in the top of the cake, drizzle the glaze over the top. 

Too, I like using a round cake pan, for the cakes look pretty on the cake stand .

I have used a cast iron skillet too, to make the cake...works great!

Ready for  the start of a wedding season again this year

 that will be on a much smaller scale,

 but our summer has ended quite sweet! 

Welcome Fall, 2020 .... Hugs!

Pssst: Did you know Alda's Magnolia Hill  is on Instagram? 

You’ll find me on Instagram here:  Alda's Magnolia Hill 

Like to know when a new blog post is up and available to read? Subscribe for email updates, it’s free and your email will never be shared. Subscribe for free post updates !

Fall Favorites at Magnolia Hill

Hi everyone, Autumn is the favorite time 
of the year for many of us, and
 I wanted to share some 
of my beloved aspects of fall.

At Magnolia Hill October is 
our most popular month of all 
for weddings...and engagement photos. 
 The days grow short, the air has a chill to it, the stores are full of mums ready to burst into color, 
and the pumpkins swell on the vine.  

 The red Chevy proudly made a trip 
to the farm store for a few bales of straw.

The trip to the farmers market is 
something I look forward to all year.



 I adore bringing out the fall decorations
 and making the trip to the
Farmers Market for pumpkins, mums and apples. 

That in itself speaks autumn love to me!


Late afternoons are filled with a time for picture taking.
Leaves floating on top the water signal of the changes to come.  
Perfect background for a dreamy Engagement Photo Shoot.

Sterling Images

The vintage red color of our 100 year old home 
is original and blends perfect for fall. 




Autumn is a time when nature fills the senses 
and decorating is easy 
with colorful leaves, harvest produce 
and of course the American flag.

  Oh my goodness, 

love is certainly in the crisp fall air!

 Our front door announces the wedding 
of the day with a bountiful fall wreath.

Autumn is a time of gathering in and feeling cozy.
 I bring out the quilts 
and drape them over the front porch rockers.

And my favorite taste of fall is 
simply
 my mother's recipe
 for Wagon Wheel Apple Cider.
Served in a mug or enamel cup.

A vintage picnic basket is perfect 
for a cozy weekend 
getaway for two. 
 A thrown quilt, warm cider, cheeses
 and comfort food set the mood.  

Crisp apples, crunch bread, crackers 
and assorted cheese 
make for a perfect casual picnic. 

Wagon Wheel Apple Cider

I like to collect old Thermos bottles 

from tag sales so that every person or couple

 can have their own thermos of hot cider. 

1 gallon apple cider

1 cup light brown sugar

4 2-inch cinnamon sticks

1 teaspoon allspice

2 teaspoons whole cloves

Pour the apple juice into a clean 30 cup electric, percolator style coffeepot.
Pour the cider in the urn and put the basket in place.
Drop the cinnamon, sugar, and spices into the basket and let it perk as usual.
Serve hot with a cinnamon stick in each thermos or mug.

"Whoever you are... be noble;
Whatever you do,do well;
 Whenever you speak, speak friendly. 
Give joy wherever you dwell."
 

Hope your fall is filled with love too  !

The Boathouse and a Water View

There is something about water that seems to draw people near. 

The sun sets behind our mountain and lake, 

and just a few steps from The Farmhouse, Buddy has built a Boathouse.   

The sun goes down, and the twinkle lights come on. 

Last week, we had company from Dallas, a friend I had not seen in years....While passing through, he wanted to stop and say hi, but more than anything, just to walk around the lake. 

Over 60 years passed, and as a young boy, he had been fishing here with his dad.  

A walk around the lake helped to relive a few moments in time with his father.  

He remembered an old barn and was quite surprised 

with our Farmhouse and Boathouse.

The Porch on The Farmhouse is lit up for a reception. 

Just a few steps away from the reception is The Boathouse. 

A little liquid refreshment is served from the Boathouse. ..whether it is a "bar" 

or Hot Cider Bar,  Lemonade stand, or Hot Chocolate Bar, 

it is very inviting.

 Nearby is the bonfire pit for toasting s'mores 

Sitting around a bonfire by the lake, 

listening to the sounds of the night...what could be better?

   The handmade cedar boathouse is the authentic period correct building, housing 3 boats. 

 Honoring the past, yet perfect for today's entertaining, 

it captures the rustic spirit of the lake and surrounding woods. 

  

Our 1948 red Chevy truck holds wedding gifts on the tailgate.

Guests enjoy seeing the handmade canoes 

 now hanging up in the boathouse.  

The "Arkansas Traveler" wooden canoe has steamed wood ribs, 

in the antique and classic style of Old Town Canoes. 

The "Arkansas Traveler" on the right with Samuel and

 Buddy is in his "Strip Built Cedar" canoe, on the left.

Here Buddy works on the Arkansas Traveler  

Buddy and Samuel testing out the Arkansas Traveler on it's maiden voyage 

The Cedar Strip Built canoe

Our boats certainly get used !

Here the Dory boat is rowing bridesmaids to the altar. 

After a wedding ceremony, photos in the boats 

are romantic on the lake.

String lights around the Boathouse and in the trees...all lit up in the night

The Arkansas Traveler canoe hangs upside down over a French wine barrel.

The Boathouse is a perfect spot for an Instagram photo. 

Stand behind the truck door. 

The Boat House sign hangs overhead and 

is made from fallen wood on the property. 

My Daddy's 1954, Martin boat motor hangs in the boathouse...still in working order!

Come get a cup of hot cider from the Boathouse, and enjoy sitting around the bonfire.  

Thank you for visiting!

Enjoy the Fourth !

President Harry S. Truman was known for his down to earth style. He once said, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."  Independence Day is the perfect time time to take his advice and move family gatherings out of the kitchen, to the porch and patio.  We celebrate our fourth with a family favorite Dallas Dip, hamburgers on the grill and peach tea....simple and delicious.

One of our summer favorites here at Magnolia Hill is Dallas Dip. If you like the flavors from the south of the border, you will love this easy recipe !  Make it ahead and let the flavors marry to taste even better and save time for enjoying your guests. 

 It is hard to get everyone together and I treasure the gatherings. 

Dallas Dip

6 Large ripe tomatoes, diced and chopped

12 green onions, thinly sliced

2 cans green chilies

2 large cucumbers, peeled, diced, and chopped

2 Tablespoons garlic salt

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

2 Tablespoons olive oil

Combine all ingredients and let chill in refrigerator overnight.  Serve

with tortilla chips. 

Happy Fourth of July everyone!