Recently I read a book called
Little Heathens about a family on a farm and in a small town in Iowa during the depression. The book was very interesting and enjoyable. It told about life, work and activities when people had less, but appreciated and enjoyed life more than today. Some recipes were included. There was one I could not pass up: Applesauce Cake. The writer, Mildred Armstrong Kalish, or Millie, made this almost every day when she was a hired girl on a neighbouring farm. Of course they were cooking for a family plus farm workers. I figured if she made it almost every day, it had to be good, so I gave it a try. She was right! I made it on Tuesday or Wednesday. Today is Friday, and there are three smallish pieces left. We have shared it with a few friends, but we ate most of it ourselves!
Here's the recipe:
1 1/2 C. sugar
1/2 C. butter
Cream together and add 1 egg
Dry ingredients:
2 1/2 C. flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon each of cocoa, nutmeg, cinnamon and baking powder
2 teaspoon baking soda
Add dry ingredients alternately with 2 C. applesauce.
Add 3/4 C. walnuts or pecans
Grease and flour a 9X13 pan
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes
***I used unsweetened applesauce, since I had just made some from our wonderful Yellow Transparent trees. I figured there was enough sugar any way. I plan to freeze some in 2 C. amounts, so I can make more applesauce cakes. Next week I will send one with Paul when he teaches his Bible Institute class.
