This weekend was a long one.  We headed out to our country house, also known as my parents, to once again stretch our limbs and get out of the city.  We long for open country roads over bustling city streets and enjoy the fact, undeniably, that Grammy and Grandpa like to get up with Anderson and had suggested (or maybe I suggested) that they watch him some afternoon so Benny and I could head out on our own.

We took them up on their offers- to sleep in after I nursed him in the morning, and for us to get out and explore in the afternoon.  I loved the time with Benny and the chance to get some errands done, but I also really missed my buddy.  Staying at home with him and seeing him so often meant that on the second afternoon away I kept asking Benjamin if he too missed him.  Thing is, Benjamin goes to work every day.  Most days he sees him for about 40 minutes in the morning and gets home when he's already in bed.  He's used to it.  I am not.  

Weekends away from our every day life mean that I get to cook more.  I have a big kitchen to move around in and I can watch Anderson easily playing with his latest garage-sale-find toys.  Then again, it also means he has several other people to watch him play or play with him while I cook.

After an evening with apple crisp I decided to chop up some more apples and make the apple brownie recipe in the latest Martha.  Thing is, I can't quite call it a brownie.  To me, it's more like a snack cake, something that can be consumed just about anytime.

This was a winner.  Apple crisp and apple cake all in one which came together quite easily with the help of my second favorite sous chef, my Mom.

{Recipe thanks to adapted from Martha Stewart}

{Ingredients You'll Need}