Okay before I go on with the pictures, I should probably explain the title of this post. The Martha Stewart Show is filming a food bloggers special in NY on May 12th, and I was invited to go! Just to make note so there’s no confusion, I was invited to be in the audience because they wanted to target food bloggers, not as an actual guest on her show. That would be SUPER amazing!!… and I’m sure they would’ve taken care of my traveling expenses if that was the case.
If I don’t raise enough to go, I’ll add the people that donated to the NY funds to my cookie mailing list so at least the money doesn’t go to waste.
- 2 c. flour
- 1/2 c. sugar
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 c. real butter, softened (no substitutions!)
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/2 c. white sugar
- 1/4 c. flour
- 1 tsp. cinnamon (I used about 3 teaspoons.. I LOVE cinnamon)
- 4 c. (about 3 medium) sliced, peeled baking apples (I used 4 Braeburn apples)
- 2 c. powdered sugar
- About 3 Tbsp. milk (whole milk is best)
- 1 tsp. almond extract (I used vanilla extract)
Spray a 9×13 baking dish
(I used a 9×9) with non-stick cooking spray. Gently pat about 2/3 of the crumb mixture onto the bottom of the dish. Preheat oven to 350 and set aside.To prepare apple filling, combine flour, sugar, and cinnamon. Toss with apples and spread apples out on prepared crust. Sprinkle reserved crust mixture over apples evenly and bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes (mine took just less than 50 minutes). When finished, allow to cool completely.
To prepare glaze, whisk together powdered sugar, almond extract, and enough milk to achieve desired consistency. Place glaze in a Ziploc bag and cut off a very small portion of one of the corners. Drizzle glaze over cooled pastry and allow to harden (you can place it in the freezer to hurry things along). Cut into bars and serve.
no offense, but couldn’t you ask your parents to fund you first? you could always return them later
anon- they’ve already funded me so much for school/life/everything (and currently still are for a good chunk of it) and i don’t want to ask them for more. i’m sure they would help me out cause they have and always will be amazing, but i just feel so bad/guilty. they have enough bills to worry about and i don’t need to add to their load. they have four kids to take care of, and i am not going to be selfish. i mean, if i can’t raise it then i don’t go. that’s the worst that can happen, right? it’s not like it’s an emergency, life threatening situation. it’s just something i want to do.
as for borrowing and returning it later, i’ve learned that there’s never anything worse than “borrowing” money and i try to never do that. i know i’m not in a situation right now where i can return money the next day and that makes me feel terrible. i hate the feeling of knowing i owe someone money. right now, 90 percent of my paychecks goes to tuition and the rest pays for gas/food/my activities. unfortunately, that’s all i can really commit to at the moment.
Congrats on the invite, hope you make it! I’m pretty skint at the moment (bought a new toy, check out my blog) but I might be able to send you a lttle something to get the ball rolling 🙂
FYI – You had me at Chocolate Chip Oreo Cookies…
A suggestion: Have you considered copying/pasting your recipes to the LJ communities you post to instead of using the comms to direct traffic to your blog? It would go a long way towards making your request seem less mercenary and more neighborly.
Good luck on getting to the show! Those bars look amazing. Definately bookmarking them!
I’m not able to donate any money to you but I wish you lots of luck in raising the funds! I love your blog you are very talented.
best of luck on the show!! hope you get there 🙂
These bars look so awesome!
It’s unbelievable that you would beg for money on your blog to go to a Martha Stewart taping with all the crap going on in the world right now. Seems extremely petty to me. Haven’t you asked for money before on here too? Consistently asking for “donations” isn’t the best idea to gain readership. I, for one, am done here.
Oh for god sake, I would ask for money also. I would LOVE to go also. Had so many health problems there is no way I could afford to contribute, wish I could.
I’m a little confused as to why people are peeved by your request. I think it’s worth a shot to ask even though money’s tight all around. Who knows who’s out there? And I completely understand about asking your parents. My parents have been supporting me through medical school so anything extra has to come from my pocket because I can’t even work up the gall to ask for more. Anyway, I can’t quite afford to donate but I really do hope you find a way to go. Also, this apple streusel looks perfect! I usually eat the apples first so I can save the best (the streusel) for last. It’s funny that you like the apples best!
I like how the people who are griping are all doing so anonymously.
Ahh, the internet.
The apple bars look fantastic!
I have a hard time believing you can’t afford to go to NY when you blog about owning Chanel, Dior and YSL shoes and handbags.
whoa whoa whoa PEOPLE, stop being haters!!!
just because you were not invited to NY doesn’t mean you have to be so mean!
GEEZ.
If I had any extra money I would be donating!! But I dont 🙁 So I am sorry.
But I hope you get to go to learn new things! You are such a talented baker.
I just wanted to agree with some other posters – it’s find to ask for money. People take things for granted that things come free. But you’ve put time and money (ingredients at least) into the blog. You’re not DEMANDING payment, just asking for help and that’s ok.
I hope you can make it there =)
Nicole – I am pretty sure that she saves up money for long periods of time in order to afford the brand name shoes and handbags. Unfortunately, this trip isn’t something she has time to save for – she’s got a week!
At any rate, it really can’t hurt to ask.
I’m usually not one to comment on blogs although I read many of them and love this one. I am appalled at the rude comments some of you are leaving on Kim’s blog. You obviously can choose to feel how you want but why would you bother posting such negative nasty comments on her blog? Can’t you stop for a moment and think of how that must make her feel. You can simply “not donate” or even stop reading but you don’t have to be so agressive and go out of your way to post such mean comments. There is nothing wrong at all with asking for donations. You may not agree but then again, it’s not your blog.
Kim, I hope you get to go to New York. That sounds so very exciting. Please post all the details if you do. I will be checking back! Good luck!
Couldn’t you take a car/train ride there? That wouldn’t cost a lot, I should think
Good luck getting to the show – that would be such a great experience!
As for this recipe, it looks DELICIOUS! I’ll be baking this soon 🙂
xxMK
http://delightfulbitefuls.blogspot.com/
I’ve only donated a little, but I hope it helps! A little goes a long way! Make us proud!
i looove your site! and these apple streusel bars look heavenly!! anyways, good luck getting to NY! i highly do not recommend driving to NY. i just drove from upstate NY to SoCal. not fun.
Let the Haters keep Hatin’
Seriously, more power to you for asking.
You are wonderful and because of that, the world will make things happen in your favor –
You’ll get to NY, I know it!
Yikes – I feel sorry for you about getting so nasty comments.
You’re providing a service here for us, giving us free recipes and people behave like they’re doing YOU a favor by reading. I mean… seriously?!?
Anyhow, I wish I could help you get to NY, this seems like such a cool event. Let us know how it goes. 😀
I’m so glad you loved the bars!!! I can’t make them anymore because I have absolutely zero self control around them! 🙂
Congrats and good luck on making it to Martha!
These bars look great! I’m really diggin’ apples right now.
If I had any extra money I would throw some your way. I know if I had the opportunity to go, I would try any which way I could also! People are just bitter they weren’t invited 😉
Wow, such hatred. You all should be totally ashamed. Especially the one’s posting anonymously. Show yourselves!
Personally, I use Kim’s blog a lot! I actually won a contest at work for cookies using a recipe she shared. I just made the Chocolate Chip Oreo Cookies, and they are to die for. I have often said that I would donate on her site, but had never gotten around to it. I just did so, and feel its the best money I have spent all month.
Kim, thank you for all of the time and effort you put into this website. It is much appreciated, I assure you.
Good luck in getting to the show, and I really hope that you are able to do so!
but it’s true. why should people give up money for someone to watch a show rather than using it on something more worthwhile?
I could ask… Why should she share her recipes. Why not make people go and buy a cook book or if they are too cheap, let them not benefit from her obvious skills? Why does everyone think that anyone putting up a website has to give the store away for free! Would they all go to work for free! It takes work to do the pictures, type the descriptions/ingredients, etc.
I’ve NEVER been to this website before. I found it through a Pin on Pinterest. Such negativity!
I’m only doing Anonymous cause these setup confuse me. ~Roz Fruchtman
@ Lola – Donating $5-10 to help someone out or spending it on junk food? Depends on your perception of “worthwhile” really. I can spare a little bit of cash to help someone achieve something. If every person that reads this blog or uses recipes from it donated $1, I’m sure Kim would be well on her way to NY.
There are plenty of people who make money from their blogs but no one’s forcing you to spend. Just read the blog and if you enjoy it and you think it’s worth it, give a little, show that you appreciate all the hard work that goes into running a blog. I know if I needed the cash in a hurry, I’d do the same thing.
Blogs aren’t easy to run, support your fellow bloggers and they’ll keep working hard providing you with stories and recipes that you obviously enjoy.
Good luck! I hope you make it out to NY. I’m sure you’ll find a million things to see, do, eat out here. I really like your blog and your lovely photos. And your story is really inspirational. I wish I had the guts to drop my current academia and go to culinary school…
Ah I am a teensy bit jealous. How i wish I was invited to go to the MS show. I love her. I hope you end up going, I am sure it would be an amazing experience.
Love the look of these bars. I think I should make them for myself as a consolation prize.
*kisses* HH
Those bars look awesome!!!
I know Kim in real life and I cannot believe she’s asking for money online. What I REALLY can’t believe, however, is that some of you are actually giving it to her. Girl doesn’t need it, trust me…
@reactoss: i’d prefer giving much more than that to a poor person than to someone just to go to a show.
@liz: Then, please, by all means, do so and spare us and Kim with pointless comments. Who cares who you want to give money to?
@Kim: I use your recipes a lot and I don’t think it’s bad of you to ask for money. I mean, nobody’s forcing us to give it to you, right, so I don’t quite understand the trouble that’s going on here.
what a great recipe…I hope you got to go….sorry I didnt hear about it sooner
just a thought – you could actually put up adverts on your blog. it’s pretty common in asia-pacific but i’m not sure how it works in the states. the idea of donating doesn’t go well with everyone, but companies would willingly support a brilliant blog like yours with good readership. just an idea; i know putting up ads might not bode well with you either (:
SO MANY CONGRATS-ES on getting invited. that is SPECTACULAR. I wish I could send you money but I’m saving up for a wedding. But I’m sure it’ll work out and you’ll be able to go.
ps these apple bars are INSANE. i’ve never wanted to immediately go out and buy the ingredients for a recipe like i have just now with this one!
Hey. Have you heard anything else about the Martha Stewart taping? I received an email saying that they were no longer doing the food bloggers show? Im bummed and didn’t know if you heard differently.
This recipe (with your tweeks) is perfect! I just took my first bite and am trying to not eat the entire thing!
I really appreciate you taking the time to post well-instructed recipes along with beautiful pictures. It’s obvious that you put a lot of effort into your website and it’s fabulous! If I had any spare money I would totally donate to your NYC fund! I mean, people pay loads of money for cookbooks all of the time, why not donate to the people providing FREE recipes online ?!
I hope you get to make it 🙂
apple streusel sounds SO GOOD. yum
Wow, I can’t believe that people are hating for something like this-THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR KIM!!! Sorry Kim but I have a message for those HATERS… “people…if you don’t agree with her asking for the money then don’t hate just leave. OMG, She even said that she would put you on her cookie list so the moeny doesn’t go to waste so what’s the biggie!!!!…geez!!” KIM, HOORAY FOR YOU!!!! Martha Stewart is awesome…even if you just sit in the audience.
I love this recipe-I will try it soon-looks super yummy!
OMG, I am still RAVING ABOUT the Carrot Cake…PEOPLE YOU MUST TRY IT!!!
with $160 you’ve already booked air tickets & a hotel to stay in already? plus how much can you get from the bake sale? lol why not sell away your designer goods & spare yourself from cyber shame. and brave new baker said they are not taping the show anymore, what if its true? hahaha
anon- not quite sure why you think i’m feeling shame from this.. i’m not. if anything, i feel very blessed and determined. i have an opportunity to do something and i made it happen.
and as for my bake sale, you’d be surprised at what you can do if you try. i’ve made 300 dollars selling 30 dozen cookies and i’m doing late orders on friday which should bring about another 50. so my grand total with what i’ve raised is $510. my plane ticket cost $180 roundtrip because i have a friend that used to work at united airlines and is hooking me up with standby tickets. that’s $100 dollars cheaper than regular tickets. as for hotel, i have a blog reader that works for the hilton and was gracious enough to give me a discount– $130 for 3 nights. if worse comes to worse, now that my bf is going, he has family that live in NJ which we could stay with, saving another $130. therefore, i’ve got everything covered– transportation, food, hotel, flight.
i emailed brave new baker and have been talking to her back and forth. i have yet to receive any notice from the martha stewart show, so as for right now, my plan still stands. i’ve emailed them twice about it and haven’t heard back. if i end up going and seeing that the show is indeed cancelled, i would obviously reverse the donations. it’s all through paypal so it’s a really simple process.
any other questions?
I just made these today but mine don’t look as nice as yours. They were delicious! Thanks for the icing warning. I didn’t put the icing as they were already quite sweet. Love yours pictures, the look amazing!!
For Apple Streusel I like to add a little lemon zest and vanilla in the apple filling. It really kicks up the flavor! I also toss the apple slices in confectioner’s sugar (which melts away almost immediately) and some homemade breadcrumbs instead of flour. These additions really give the filling a nice punch and a great texture. Happy baking!
-clo
These bars are so good. I have made them for my husband and kids several times. yummy!!
I have a question! How did the show go? I heard this was all made up and you just got a free ride to NY with your DB?? Can you do a post updating us with what the Martha Stewart show was like. What show was it exactly that she did…I haven’t seen one that describes the audience as you described it…?? I’m obsessed with MS so I would have for sure seen this. T; I actually work with MS producers…so even more curious as to what you are talking about?! Thanks much!
I made these today for a picnic and they came out awesome! I used a quarter if the topping and it was more than enough. I was in a rush so i refrigerated the bars for awile to cool, which made them toughen up a bit for easier cutting. I used a 9×9 pan and cut them with a pizza cutter. They looked great and guests were coming up to me all evening about them, loving the recipe. Thank you!
I made these today for a picnic and they came out awesome! I used a quarter if the topping and it was more than enough. I was in a rush so i refrigerated the bars for awile to cool, which made them toughen up a bit for easier cutting. I used a 9×9 pan and cut them with a pizza cutter. They looked great and guests were coming up to me all evening about them, loving the recipe. Thank you!
I just made these today…WOW! They are amazing! Thanks for sharing the recipe 🙂
I just came across your blog tonight. i AM GOING TO MAKE THESE TOMORROW. what i AM WONDERING IS DID YOU EVER MAKE IT TO THE SHOW? Also I find it very insulting that people are critical of your attempts to pay for your trip in cash. Good for you!!!! Dave ramsey would tell you not to “borrow the money from your parents.” I was actually more excited for you the more i read the comments and you were talking about how you had raised the money with bake sales and working deals with your friends. im really hoping you got to go.
hey:) how long would these last? can i make them three days in advance?
These. are. amazing. best thing i have ever made!
Made the Apple Streusel Bars last night…..Let them cool over night then got up this morning and made the glaze and had some for breakfast and am eating a piece now for lunch with a big glass of milk……Really sweet but very good and addicative……Thanks for such a wonderful recipe…Oh yeah this recipe doubles very nicely if your having family and friends over……This is gonna be a Christmas tradition i’m gonna start this year…..Thanks a bunch…
I have made this recipe many times. I multiply it by 4 and put it in a 1/2 sheet pan. One of my customers suggested replacing the apple with cherry pie filling. Wow, best bar ever. We run a small bakery and the cherry version of it is the number one seller. thanks so much for posting it.
These were so GOOD!! I will make them often!
Kim I just don’t think it’s good manners to ask people you don’t even know for money, this is called begging. Everybody Has lives, children, commitments. This has really left a bad taste in my mouth I don’t even feel like reading ure recipes anymore!
Hi! I made your recipe about a year ago, and I loved it! I will make it again for thanksgiving, but I honestly feel so embarrassed to ask. I know your recipe calls for real butter. I think I used unsalted, but I honestly do not remember. So here we go, Is unsalted butter the same as using real butter?
no worries! yes, unsalted butter is real butter. you’re using the right stuff!
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