When life gives you apples, make cake

Coming back from the Berkshires, we had two large bags of apples to contend with.  We made applesauce a-plenty for Pumpkin, ate apples plain, gave some away and... made applesauce two more times. :) But at some point, you need to throw in a little sugar and flour and see what happens. Columbia's mom hooked us up with this very tasty apple cake recipe from her archives, promising it was easy. Not only is it easy, but tasty as well!  So far, everyone has loved it. Umm... from both of the ones I made.  Yeah, it went quick.

Mom's apple cake
2 cup finely diced peeled apples

3/4 cup white sugar

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

1 tsp vanilla

1. Put apples into a large bowl, then add sugar and let stand for about 15 minutes.

2. Put in oil and egg, stirring so that the apples, sugar, oil and egg mix together.

3. Pour the flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt into the apple mixture and stir well.

4. Stir in the vanilla and walnuts.

5. Pour into well-greased and floured 8-inch square pan (or round pan, if that's what you have)

6. Bake in preheated 350° oven for 45-50 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean.

(This is my favorite part; you have time to clean the dishes, tidy the house, check your email, read blogs...)

7. Cool for 10 minutes, then turn onto cake rack to finish cooling

To fancy it up, dust the top with powered sugar before serving.

So easy, so yummy and not too much to clean up.  This is my kind of recipe!

Photo taken by Columbia at Hilltop Orchards, Columbus Day weekend '08