I'm delighted to welcome our newest guest chef, Samantha R.! She made this delicious-looking Apple Ladder Loaf and offered to share the recipe with us! Samantha says that although this dessert takes a while to make, it's definitely worth the effort because it's just so delicious!

Apple Ladder Loaf is a braided sweet bread filled with spicy apple filling and drizzled with icing. Samantha says, "This pretty loaf makes a perfect dessert topped with a scoop of ice cream!"

Samantha is a Christian from northern California and is the twin sister of another guest chef, Jaclynn. Samantha enjoys cooking/baking and likes trying new recipes as often as possible, which, she says, is why she likes this website. :)

"I've been cooking/baking for as long as I can remember. ;-) Well, I guess I really got started around the age of 10. It's one of my favorite hobbies because the possibilities are practically endlesss! My twin sister and I switch off cooking the meals each week and I'm always trying new recipes and trying to come up with creative ideas to make more food for less money. Which isn't always easy with 4 boys in the house (3 are very active growing teeenagers!!)!"

Samantha is 21 years old and lives at home with her parents, 2 sisters and 4 brothers. On their 10 acres, thay have 4 goats, a beef steer, 2 chickens, 2 cats and 3 dogs. Their most recent addition is Crickett, "a blue Queensland Heeler female whom they are training to be the best puppy ever! ;-)"

Samantha graduated in 2002 (homeschooled) and went on to take a course from GIFAM and earned her Master Herbalist certificate. She and her sister have started their own natural health consultation business called Jubilant Health!