Copyright © 2007-2015 Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Best Ever, Fresh Apple Cake

Best Ever, Fresh Apple Cake
Over twenty years ago, back before we bought our farm we were just beginning to awaken to the idea that suburban or town living may not be the best way to live for us. We really had only a fleeting idea of how a farm should be run back then, but we wanted to learn all we could so we were pleased have the opportunity I write about today. It was along about the time our youngest was reading in the Little House books about such things as harvestin' and hog killin' time that my sister, Sam invited us down for a weekend to her house in the country. It happened that her husband was friends with a pig farmer, and knowing we loved learning about the self-sufficient lifestyle she phoned to say that on a particular Saturday we would be able to attend a real-live hog killin' just down the road a piece from her home in middle Tennessee. We were pleased to accept the invitation.

Youngest was very excited over the prospect and finally the weekend arrived. We journeyed to my sister's house on Friday evening then the next morning we all started on our way to Mr. Bumfrey's house to watch our very first hog killin'. His well-hidden farm was several miles into the backwoods, far away from any neighbors and their sensitive noses. Now, Mr. Bumphrey was a renowned pig raiser in those parts and proved it each year by producing healthy, great big ol' pigs. We were made immediate witnesses of that fact as we pulled into their driveway. There were hogs there bigger than our car (for cryin' out loud!), and I noticed as we emerged from the car that it truly did smell like it might be an infamously huge pig farm. We had definitely arrived at our destination.

Youngest and her cousin stayed outside to watch the doin's while Sam and I went in the house to meet Mrs. Bumphrey. We said our hellos and started to work helpin' her fix a hungry-man's dinner for all in attendance that day. There was meatloaf to bake, pork chops to fry and various and sundry other dishes to prepare so we lent a hand with the cooking as it was needed.

Meantime, it was a chilly day in mid-autumn so I would check now and then to make sure Youngest was still wearing her jacket. The first time I checked she was watching the skinning of an enormous, Cadillac-sized hog. The air smelt of pig sweat and wet hair. Youngest and her cousin, Belle were obedient little girls, stayin' out of the way and all, so I returned to the kitchen for awhile. Then again, after about an hour or so, I went outside to see how the girls were faring. This time I found Youngest and Belle tossing an inflated pig bladder back and forth, laughin' and talkin' as they would when playin' with any regular balloon. They had been discussing how Laura Ingalls played with a pig bladder at hog killin' time and were feelin' mighty pioneer-ish themselves.

Back in the kitchen I noticed Mrs. Bumphrey had begun icing a freshly baked apple cake. It smelled so good! She said I could have the recipe after dinner if I found I liked how it tasted. I could hardly wait to try that cake. There was something so wonderful about the crisp autumn weather, the aroma of baked cinnamon from the cake and our upclose glimse of down-to-earth, nitty-gritty country doin's outside - all rolled into one that comes back to me every time I bake this cake, and it's always every bit as good as the first time I tried at the Bumphrey's pig farm. It's the best I've ever had.
Here's the recipe so you can try it too.

Best Ever, Fresh Apple Cake

Grease and flour a Bundt or tube pan.
Preheat oven to 350°F.

Ingredients:
2 large eggs
1 1/4 c. sugar
1 1/2 cups chopped apples
1/2 cup oil
1 teas. vanilla
1/4 teas. nutmeg
2 teas. cinnamon
1 cup pecans, chopped
2 c self-rising flour

Beat eggs and sugar in large mixing bowl. Add vanilla and apples and mix. Stir in oil. Combine all dry ingredients including pecans in another bowl and slowly add to sugar mixture beating after each addition. Batter will be thick. Spoon into prepared cake pan. Bake in preheated oven for 40-50 minutes. Let set until just slightly warm then put in tight container immediately to maintain moistness.
Glaze: If desired drizzle with a mixture of:
1 cup powdered sugar , 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and a few teaspoons of milk - just enough milk to allow it to pour in a thick stream over cake.


I'm a little further along with the one sleeve than this photo shows, but hey, it was already taken...lol. I should be finished with the whole thing in another week or two. The pattern is Iced. Just click on the name for the link to the pattern.
Now, I may not be able to show it then as most likely we'll be offline for a good several months by the time it's finished. Until then, take care, see you when our house is sold and we move and ..and, well see y'all later, the good Lord willin'. :)

16 comments:

  1. What a great post! I used to read the Little House on the Prairie as a child, too.

    Thanks for sharing the recipe, I can't wait to try it. Your sweater is looking great. Why will you be off line for several months. I hope that all is well.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tea:
    Thanks fot the recipe. I have some apples so it is a good way to use up apples.
    Your sweater looks so lovely. Would you mind me asking where you got the pattern? I like the design.
    Hopefully you won't be away so long! Will miss your post!
    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous: Just click on the word Iced above, and it'll take you to the pattern. Hope to be able to post again soon. Thanks to ALL MY READERS for your encouraging comments.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh, I will be missing your posts and your fab pictures. You will be taking the henhouse with you when you move, right?! I hope you can be back online soon. :-)
    That cardigan is looking great, don't forget to show us how it looks when it's finished. Thanks for sharing the recipe & take care!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for your story of how you got the apple cake recipe....sounds delicious. Will have to try it soon :)

    Your sweater looks great. I've been looking at that sweater myself, saying should I or shouldn't I? We'll see maybe after Christmas :)

    Sorry to hear you'll be packing up soon, but will look forward to when you return.
    Best of luck with everything!!

    hugs {{{ }}}

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm going to miss reading your posts but I will have the chance to catch up on previous posts that I've missed when I was off-line. I have to say, although I've never met you or been to your farm, I'm really sad you're moving. lol I guess because I'd love to live on a Tennessee farm. :-) I hope your new home is every bit as enjoyable as the farm has been to you and your family.
    Thanks for the recipe. I'm going to make it this evening. I also am going to try the cardigan! I've not made one before but I just purchased several skeins of yarn a few weeks ago ... enough for the pattern.
    Your West Virginia friend,
    Lesley Ann

    ReplyDelete
  7. I just bought some Rome beauty apples
    at the market! thanks for the recipe!
    I can almost smell that cake over the internet !

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yum that sounds great. I may have to try that. Hope you have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Most excellent cake! I made mine half pear & half apple. It is really good.
    I have been lurking on your blog for quite a while. I very much enjoy reading it. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your apple cake loooooooks so yummy. I have got to buy myself a new bundt pan. Mine got a bit smashed somehow in my new pull out pan drawers. Blah......
    Just thought I would check in an see how things were going on your end of the world.
    HA!
    Hang in there!! Be blessed.....
    Joyce

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hmmm....and here I was just thinking about what I should make Sunday afternoon for my Home Group on Monday evening....and now this recipe!! Definitely will use this for the coming week....every one of your recipes that I've tried, we all have loved...and I'm sure this will be no exception!!

    I still watch Little House on the Prarie...my very favorite books when I was just a wee one...and I often wished I could live on a farm. Just mention that to my mom when I was a kid...and she would say, "Are you kiddin'? Do you know how early you have to be up to milk a cow?"

    Thanks...and I'll be anxiously awaiting your return!!

    Beth

    ReplyDelete
  12. I will certainly miss you dear friend. Thank you so much for the recipe. Your sweater is coming along just beautifully. Take care.

    Blessings to you and your family.

    Smiles♥

    Beverly

    ReplyDelete
  13. I like your blog! Friendly greetings from a knitter in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Danke für das Rezept. Wahrscheinlich ist es sehr lecker.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Looking forward to trying your recipe!

    Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wow, neat post and the cake just gets my mouth watering !
    I believe that recipe will be baked many times :)

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for your comments!