The Cake

I recently spent some time helping my Dad sort through Mum's things... it was a difficult but cathartic process.  However one thing I was looking forward to was going through Mum's recipes, and I intend to scan and type out some of them over the next few months.  Her handwriting was so beautiful, such elegant cursive script, and reading and using these recipes is a lovely way bring back some really nice memories of her.

The most "important" recipe I had to find first of all was for Mum's Apple Raisin Cake - it is the King of Cakes in our family, and was the most requested of all of her recipes for birthdays or special occasions! 

Mum - thanks for all of the thousands of meals you cooked for us.  I have many happy kitchen memories of us cooking together and I will treasure those forever xxx

Apple Raisin Cake

Mum always diced the apples, never added the walnuts, and often served warm slices with icecream. 

2 cooking apples
¾ of a cup of brown sugar
1 ½ cups of flour
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
½ teaspoon of nutmeg
½ teaspoon of allspice
115g of melted butter
1 egg, lightly beaten
½ a cup of walnuts (optional)
½ a cup of raisins

1. Peel and grate or dice the apples. Place in a bowl and sprinkle with the brown sugar.

2. Sift the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. Add the butter and egg, stir, then add the walnuts (if using) and raisins.

3. Bake in a round tin for 50 to 60 minutes at 180 degrees celcius. Sprinkle with icing sugar once cold.