This ghostly image of my grandparents, my mom and her little brother recently appeared in my life. The double exposed photo from the 1930’s shows a smiling family posing for a camera and then walking away. My grandfather’s translucent image shows him tenderly reaching for his little boy. They are dressed up in their Sunday best. Perhaps this cake was the dessert my grandmother had baked and was waiting for them.
I hear my grandmother‘s whisper to me across the decades. The first line of her yellowed, handwritten recipe says, “Here is a good cake recipe I want you to try,” and it concludes with “sure is a good moist cake.”
Maw Maw’s Fresh Apple Cake
2 cups sifted flour
1 cup sugar
½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. nutmeg
½ tsp. cinnamon*
½ cup shortening
1 ½ cup grated peeled apple
½ cup apple sauce*
2 tbsp. milk
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
Optional: ½ cup chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts)*
Sift the first 7 dry ingredients together. Add shortening, grated apples, applesauce and milk. Beat together for 2 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla and beat for another 2 minutes. Fold in nuts. Pour batter in a greased and floured pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until done.
* Added to original recipe
I treasure my grandmother’s handwritten recipes. I felt her spirit with me as I used her apple-coring tool, her apple-green Depression Glass plates and her silverware. And Maw Maw was right, it sure is a good cake recipe and I’m glad I tried it.
Here are a few other of Maw Maw’s recipes I’m sure she’d love for you to try.
Maw Maw’s Hot Milk Cake
Maw Maw’s Cocoon Cookies
I honor my maternal lineage: I am Connie Lee, daughter of Jimmie Dee, daughter of Jimmie Corrine, daughter of Minnie Mae; mother of Jade Lee-Mei.
Connie McLeod 