GOLD CAKE

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup butter or shortening
1 cup sugar
4 egg yolks, well beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup milk
2 cups sifted cake flour
3 teaspoons baking powder

COOKING DIRECTIONS

Sift together flour and baking powder until well combined.

Cream butter OR shortening well, add sugar. Beat.

Add egg yolks, beaten until light, and vanilla. Mix.

Stir in a small portion of flour/baking powder mixture, then pour in a small amount of milk. Repeat, beating after each addition until all ingredients are used. To avoid a tough cake texture, do not overbeat.

Pour batter into a greased and floured baking pan.

Bake at 350°F for 40 minutes.

Serves 6 to 8.

FAST POUND CAKE

INGREDIENTS

1 box Pillsbury pudding cake mix
1 cup plain flour
1 cup sour cream
1 cup sweet milk
4 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp each vanilla, butter, almond
lemon extract

COOKING DIRECTIONS

Put all in large bowl of mixer. Beat 2 minutes, pour into prepared pound cake pan. Bake 350 degrees for 1 hour and 10 minutes or till test done. Cool 5 minutes in pan, then ice if desired.

Serves 16.

FRESH APPLE CAKE

INGREDIENTS

2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups apples, pared, cored and quartered
1/4 cup non-hydrogenated Crisco or other shortening
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1 tablespoon dark rum
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger (or 1 teaspoon freshly grated)
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup raisins
1 1/4 cups whole pecans

COOKING DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350°F degrees.

In the bowl of a food processor, process pecans very briefly by pulsing twice to leave nearly whole pieces. Add 1 cup peeled and cored apple pieces along with salt, sugar, vanilla, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves and ginger. Process briefly so that chunks remain. Add second cup of apples, processing one pulse only. This provides two different consistencies for the apples.

Add raisins and melted butter. Pulse once.

Add flour and process only until combined; some lumps will remain.

Turn into a well greased and floured (or use Baker's Joy) 9x9x2 inch baking pan.

Variation: May add up to 1/2 cup coarsely chopped apples and nuts to top before baking. Keep the layer of apples and nuts light so it won't stop cake from rising.

Bake 40 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Serve with whipped cream flavored with a little vanilla or rum and a sprinkling of cinnamon sugar.