My Sweet Friend!

Alice Smith
6/4/67 - 3/18/11

As I was walking home from school with my books clutched to my chest, watching the sidewalk move beneath me, deep in thought, I heard a voice say, "Hey! I like your shoes!" Startled, I looked up to see the biggest smile with the deepest dimples I had ever seen. I was wearing Hot Pink Jellies that color coordinated with my outfit and I looked at her and couldn't help but smile back! I looked down at her feet and she was wearing the exact same shoe..... only in Black that also matched her Black & Red outfit. She walked up to the fence, never breaking eye contact and I think I mumbled something about liking her bracelets. There were possibly hundreds of them covering one of her arms..... (it was the Madonna era... lol) She said, "Want to sit down?" and gestured to a blanket spread out on her lawn and there were Plain Vanilla Cupcakes waiting to be shared. Did she know I was coming? Was she waiting for me? I always wondered. I walked through her gate and sat with her and we fell into an easy chat. Like we had always known eachother. I remembered thinking the cupcakes seemed like such an odd contrast to the personality that was unfolding before me. She was anything but plain. That was the beginning of our Friendship!

I always appreciated our friendship, but I had no idea, then, what an impact she would have on my life and that she was here to stay in my Heart. Over the years, we lost contact many times only to be reunited as if no time had passed. A couple of months ago, after almost 10 years of separation, she found me on FB and as usual, we picked up where we left off. She had fallen on hard times, health-wise and was in a wheelchair, but she was the same upbeat, positive person I always knew and I was so happy to have her back and told her so. Alice, another childhood friend & I made tentative plans to get together and rekindle, but life happens and you always think there's Time.

A few days ago, I got a call from my friend telling me Alice was in the hospital. Early the next morning we were on the road to see her. Standing on each side of her peaceful, coma induced body, Lori & I playfully bickered and laughed at our childhood when we looked down and noticed her head had turned toward me! My Heart did a flip! She had heard me! She knew I was there! at least, that is what I choose to believe... Lori agrees and believes also, that she found us again because she knew something. A few hours ago, I got another call telling me that she was gone. She went Home, carried lovingly & peacefully on the wings of her Angels. I will always Love her for being in my life and sharing her Heart with me. I've never had any doubt that she Loved me as much as I Loved her and I'm a better person for it.

When preparing to write my blog, (that's when I heard the news) I found a recipe that I had written and forgotten. It seems appropriate to use this recipe that I made up called, Spicy Apple Crumb Cupcakes, using Vanilla cake mix.  Even though, I was not as adventurous in my baking back then as I am now, the thought brings a Smile to my face to realize that I was the Plain Vanilla Cupcake we met with and she was the Spicy Apple! Who knew the two would be such a Wonderful Combination?

Spicy Apple Crumb Cupcakes

1 box Vanilla cake mix

1/2 cup applesauce

3 eggs

1 cup water

FILLING

1 can (21 oz) apple pie filling

1/4 stick butter or margarine

1/3 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons Cinnamon

4 Tablespoons Chili Powder

TOPPING

1/2 stick butter or margarine

1 to 1-1/2 cups flour

3 heaping Tablespoons sugar

1/2 cup  chopped Pecans

Chop apple filling into small chunks (about the size of a pea). Aargh! Do not lick your fingers! ... Go wash them ... NOW!  Melt butter in a medium frying pan, add apple filling, brown sugar, cinnamon & chili powder. Fry on med/lo, until sugar is melted and the aroma makes you want to dip a spoonful of the bubbling mess into your mouth. Probably 10 minutes. Don't forget to stir it to keep the flavors mingling.  While that is simmering, Preheat oven to 325* & prepare pan with mini muffin cups. Remove filling from heat.

In a large bowl, place butter and pour 3/4 cup flour over it, then sugar. Mix just until crumbly. Add flour as needed. Be careful, You don't want to mix too much because it will get doughy. Chop Pecans until almost fine, but still a good size bite.  Stir into crumbly, butter & flour mixture. Set aside.

Whisk cake mix free of lumps. add applesauce, (once you use applesauce... you really won't want to go back to oil. But do it, because some things need that Oily Goodness!) ...water and slightly beaten eggs. mix on low for 1 minute, scrape sides and bottom, then mix for 2 minutes on medium speed.

Drop 1 teaspoonful of batter into cup (about 2/3 full). Top with maybe 3 chunks with a little juice and kind of push into the batter, but not all the way in. (sorry, I really can't rephrase that...). Top with a teaspoon of topping, just enough to cover the cupcake.

Pop into the oven .... lol.... I've never, ever said that in my life .... what a dork! ... for mini's - 25 minutes, for regular cup cakes 30 minutes ... and I didn't try it, but I'm guessing this would make a Great Loaf  or Bundt ... If you try that, maybe 40 - 45 minutes. Let me know if you do.

Ok, this is a Looooonng recipe. Easy, but long. I got tired half way through... Ok, Ok... Lazy! I started out with mini's and got through these instructions for the first 36 mini cupcakes.

Here's an alternate method: Prepare all as above, but instead of topping each cupcake with apples, just fold the  apple mixture into the batter, then top each cupcake with topping. I did this for the next 36 mini cupcakes. Good Grief.... the batter never ended! The last 8 cupcakes were regular sized.  Hahaha... don't worry, they all taste the same ... I tried one of each method and ... Yep ... Very Good!

I take comfort in knowing that Alice Smith came back into my life long enough for me to tell her how I felt about her. She even liked my blog & became a follower so I get to see her name every time I write. Thank you, Alice, for being my Secret Keeper and Thank You for coming on this Heartfelt journey with me today. Please know that I appreciate every one of you, even if I may not say it. ; ) ....... Happy Baking ......... & don't forget your Apron!