In my mind, recipes tell a story. Sometimes the story is uninteresting, like "I saw it on Pinterest", but other times, a recipe recalls family holidays or mom's best after school treat. This particular recipe came from some dear friends and pulling it out of the recipe box is like pulling out a snapshot of times spent with them.
When you are a missionary, it's hard to keep strong relationships back home, when you get to have face-to-face time once a year, at best. Our friends, Brian and Talia, always make us feel like family any time we come in-- from offering their car, or a place to stay or any help we might need - to the understanding they have for our jet-lagged cranky kids. We always leave their house saying to each other "I want to be parents like that." Their kids are a delight and supernaturally well-behaved and polite. To sum up, we love that family.
Once I was having a visit with them, and after dinner, Talia pulled two pans of this delicious cake out of the oven. I could smell it baking all the way through dinner. It was scrumptious and moist, and of course I asked for the recipe. She gave me a recipe card with "Nancy's Apple Cake---- Mmmm!" typed across the top. Not sure who Nancy is, but I'd like to thank her and Talia. It has now become a go-to recipe for an easy dessert, especially since it doesn't require brown sugar (hard to come by here). It is divine served warm with a scoop of ice cream or freshly whipped cream on top.
So make this cake, have some good friends over to laugh and talk and spend time with. Isn't that what it's all about?
The Step-by-Step
Preheat the oven. 325F (165C). Get to work on the apples. Peel, peel. Chop, chop.
With the apples, throw in sugar, oil, vanilla, and beaten eggs. If you like nuts, toss 'em in now.
Stir, stir. Mix, mix.
Now toss in the flour, soda, salt and cinnamon.
Stir, stir. Mix, mix.
Spread the batter into a greased 9"x13" pan.
Bake, bake. Yum, yum.
The Recipe
MAKES ONE 9"X13" PAN
4 cups diced apples
2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 beaten eggs
1 cup walnuts or pecans (optional)
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
Preheat oven 325F (=165C)
Mix apples, sugar, oil, vanilla, eggs and nuts (if using) together with a spoon.
Add flour, salt, soda and cinnamon. Stir again until well blended.
Spread the batter into a 9"x13" greased pan. Bake at 45-60 minutes, use toothpick to test if it's done.
Serve warm or cold with vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream, if desired.
