Apple cake

Fall being the apple season with all the different varieties tempting me, I wanted a dessert prepared ahead and stored as I am expecting some guests this week end. I have not cooked apples or used them frequently in dishes because I like to bite into a crunchy apple and taste it fresh and raw. Ontario apples were affected by spring frost this year and the yield was expected to be low but I found large quantities of apples, probably, from other provinces and wanted to try this apple cake.

I made this cake, got the pictures ready and was planning to post them yesterday morning when my daughter said she wanted a quick shopping before I dropped her at the bus station. Her class started late so I took her shopping as if there was no tomorrow. Only a loony duo like us will do such a daring act with 30 minutes to count. I was checking the time while she went about trying the outfits. When we had 15 minutes for the bus to depart, I alerted her. She quickly grabbed a jacket tried it on and we were at the cashier with just one lady in front of us. She was this full term pregnant woman leisurely putting her stuff on the counter for scanning. She was also having a lovely conversation with the talkative cashier.
‘Hurry! Hurry!’ my daughter whispered.
Finally the woman moved and we had 10 minutes left. ‘Can you make it?’ she breathed into my ears.
‘Let’s try!’, I told the woman at the counter that I was in a rush and she cooperated and we were out in a minute.
We ran to the car, threw everything on the back seat and I started the engine. It would not start. I checked all the doors, windows (I don’t know why!) hand brake and everything possible and tried…no! …the key wouldn’t turn inside the slot. I was hopeless and with 2 minutes for the bus to go I desperately tried again and again. Panicking I cried, ‘Call dad and find out what to do now’.
‘My bus is gone’. She punched the numbers on the phone.
‘Take the next one.’ I suggested.
‘No, that is after half an hour and it’s no use going so late…I can, as well, stay at home’.
‘Look, I am not to be blamed’.
I had an earlier instance of a similar doomed car situation some years back. I strained hard to remember. Oh yeah, the steering gets locked when I wiggle out of the seat or for no apparent reason. So I tried my luck turning the steering to the right, left, up, down and jerked in all directions.  Then I tried to ignite the engine. It worked! I heaved a sigh of relief and said, ‘Disconnect the call…it is okay now’, and rolled out of the parking lot. Then we discussed the possibly of her trip to school.
‘Let’s go home, amma. Shame on me! I went shopping cutting classes’. She was very remorseful.
On our way back home she asked me, ‘Can you drop me at the stop where I board the next bus?’ She normally takes 2 buses.
I could not refuse so turned back. She keyed in the address on the GPS cursing and chiding as it took a long time to find the satellite. In a few minutes we took the prompted route. My eyes lingered on the fuel gauge which was close to empty, ‘Shoot!…now, I have to fill petrol.’
‘No, no, no…drop me first and then go to the gas station?’
‘How far is that god forsaken bus stop?’ She looked at the GPS still in her hand and exclaimed, ’13 kilometers! Take a crazy risk!’
When she needs things to be done she doesn’t bother about others. We had 15 minutes and I sped at 80 (ok, that was the posted speed limit). I have to add here that I am neither an ardent driver nor enjoy driving. I do it out of mere necessity.
I dropped her, drove back, did some essential shopping and reached home by 1.30pm. Tired of the ordeal and remembering I had a meeting at 6.00, started my dinner preparation. When I was almost ready to go, just before the meeting, I got a call that it was cancelled. After that I continued with all the essential services and chores at home. At night when I was about to type this, I felt unusually sleepy. Some days are like that everything goes haywire. We never know which way the ball bounces as no one can predict it. So, without much ado, I am promptly posting it today.

Apple cake ingredients

Ingredients

2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp. cinnamon powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 peeled and grated apples

1. Crack the eggs and beat adding the oil until smooth.
2. Add all the dry ingredients- flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and mix well.
3. Fold in the grated apples gently
4. Grease a bunt pan with vegetable oil and pour in the mixture. It will look very moist.
5. Preheat the oven to 350° F and bake for 50-55 minutes.

Mix egg and oil

Add dry ingredients to wet mix and fold in the grated apple.

Pour into a bunt pan

apple cake

a sweet chunk

The sugar caramelizes and sticks to the pan. Carefully insert a spatula to release the sides and turn it upside down. Cut it into chunks after cooling on a wire rack. This is a moist sweet cake and  a crowd pleaser. Enjoy this delicious desert on its own or with vanilla ice cream.