Kitch n Therapy

Courtesy of Food52

Serves 8

Ingredients

• Butter for greasing pan
• 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting pan
• 1 1/2cups vegetable oil
• 2 cups sugar
• 3eggs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 cups peeled, cored, and thickly sliced tart apples like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 cup raisins

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour a 9-inch tube pan. Beat the oil and sugar together in a mixer (fitted with a paddle attachment) while assembling the remaining ingredients. After about 5 minutes, add the eggs and beat until the mixture is creamy.
2. Sift together 3 cups of flour, the salt, cinnamon and baking soda. Stir into the batter. Add the vanilla, apples, walnuts and raisins and stir until combined.
3. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan before lifting out. Serve at room temperature with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.

Hygge (pronounced HOO-GA) is the newest buzzy philosophy described as ‘coziness for the soul’ and for the people of Denmark–who are considered among the happiest people in the world–it’s a way of life.  Hygge made the shortlist for Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year in 2016!  Hygge is interpreted as meaning togetherness, presence, indulgence, relaxation, and comfort.  When I discovered the word and read about the meaning of Hygge, it struck me suddenly that I had cultivated Hygge with the tradition of Sunday night meals with my large family, without being aware of the meaning.  I understood the need to gather my family once a week to cultivate connection with great food and fun.