Close at hand and delicious

2. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together into a medium bowl. Peel and cut apples into 1-inch chunks.

3. In a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, beat eggs until foamy. Add sugar, and whisk until combined. Add rum and vanilla, whisk until just combined. Alternate adding flour and melted butter in two batches. Remove bowl from the stand mixer and use a spatula to fold in the apples. Toss the apples in the batter until fully coated.

4. Add the batter to springform pan and even it out as best you can. Bake until top seems firm and golden brown, about 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes.

5. Let cake cool for 10 minutes before removing sides of springform pan. Wait until cake is almost completely cool before removing bottom. Serve with fresh whipped cream.

Per serving (based on 8): 287 calories, 3 grams protein, 37 grams carbohydrates, 25 grams sugar, 14 grams fat, 85 milligrams cholesterol, 72 milligrams sodium, 2 grams dietary fiber.

John's Cornmeal Biscuits

Makes about 20 21/2-inch biscuits

2 cups flour, plus more for rolling out

1 cup cornmeal

2 teaspoons salt

2 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and sliced thin

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons buttermilk

1. Combine 1 1/2 cups flour with remaining dry ingredients (cornmeal, salt, sugar, baking powder, baking soda). Cut in butter. Stir in 1 cup buttermilk and mix well. Add the remaining 1/2 cup flour.

2. On a floured surface, roll out dough to 1/2-inch thick. Cut out biscuits with a biscuit cutter (or a glass) and place them on a greased pan.

3. Brush the biscuit tops with remaining buttermilk. Bake for 15 minutes at 425 degrees, or until biscuits are a light gold color.

4. Serve hot with fresh salted butter.

Per biscuit: 104 calories, 2 grams protein, 19 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams sugar, 3 grams fat, 7 milligrams cholesterol, 347 milligrams sodium, trace dietary fiber.

Contact staff writer Dianna Marder at 215-854-4211 or dmarder@phillynews.com. Read her recent work at http://go.philly.com/diannamarder.