*I am adding a new recipe category to my blog. This recipe is my first listed there. I will try to add pictures in the future. Still in want of a good digital camera...

This is a good recipe for the season. It is very simple. My grandmother warmed the hearts of a lot of people with her cakes at Christmas. She shared with all this time of year. I have her handwritten recipe framed, with a small picture of her attached. It sits on my kitchen counter always. I call the recipe hers; not because she invented it, but because she made it pretty popular 'round home. Nowadays, I make the cakes to give.

4 cups fresh applesauce

2 cups sugar

1 cup melted butter

4 teaspoons soda (she meant baking soda here. You might also elect to add a half teaspoon of baking powder--not more than this though)

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon allspice

1 box raisins (my grandmother never specified the size of the box; so, I always add 12-13 oz. of raisins to this batter)

4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Chopped walnuts are optional. I always add them to the mix.

Sift dry ingredients and add raisins, applesauce, and butter. Blend well with wooden spoon.

This recipe makes enough batter for baking in a standard bundt pan, and two standard loaf pans. Grease pans well. Loaf pans can be lined with parchment paper.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes, or so. Test with a wooden toothpick, of course.

Enjoy Nanny's applesauce cake.