APPLE CAKE--YUMMM!

Ceili, my constant, perennially hopeful, cooking companion

My plan, today, was to make Mama's no-bake cookies. Out came my big loose-leaf notebook of recipes. Not there. The little book I'd used for a while some years back. Not there, either. The big recipe box. The little recipe box. Nope.

I called Mom. She went hunting, and started to read one to me, but before she was half finished, we realized it was similar, but not hers. So was a second one, filed nearby. Finally, she said she'd find it and call me back.

In the meantime, all that recipe browsing had reminded me of a bunch of other recipes that are begging to be made, but the one that topped the list was an apple cake recipe I got from a neighbor friend many years ago. I no longer even remember her name, but I thank her for the Best Apple Cake recipe ever.

Here's what you'll need:

• 4 cups unpeeled chopped apples (I promise you won't notice the peels!)
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup chopped nuts
  
• 2 beaten eggs
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teas vanilla
• 2 cups flour
  
• 2 teas baking soda
• 2 teas cinnamon
• 1 teas salt

In a large mixing bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together. Add the apples and nuts.


Mix together the liquid ingredients, and add to the dry. Stir gently until everything is well-mixed. The batter will be quite thick, but as they cook the apples will "juice up", adding the moisture needed.


Spoon the batter into a greased and floured baking pan. Mine was 7 x 11 inches, but you could also use a 9 x 13.

Bake for about 45 minutes at 350 degrees F, or until a knife inserted at the center comes out clean. (I actually had to cook this one for nearly an hour, because of the smaller pan, but it made for a thicker cake.)


I'd intended to drizzle caramel syrup over the plates before serving, but found we were out of it, so I served it as I had 100% of the time before--just as it came from the baking dish, no frosting or adornment at all. It really doesn't need it.

DH had a one-word description, with his mouth still full of his first bite: "Gooood!"