Even the most fastidious pastry chef (I may or may not have two pairs of culinary tweezers, X-Acto knives, and a protractor in my kitchen drawer) can acknowledge the charm of an imperfect-looking ...

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 large egg 1/2 cup molasses 1/2 cup buttermilk 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1. Make the cake. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, it's time to set aside any caloric anxiety, don the stretchy pants, and begin planning for the Christmas meal. Here's a hint. Apple Stack Cake should be on the menu.