Marie
Berkenkamp

Today would have been my Dad's 91st Birthday and I baked an applesauce cake in his memory.  His mother baked this cake every year at Christmas just for him and it was his favorite cake.  When my grandmother could no longer keep up the tradition she taught me and I made certain that Dad had his applesauce cake each and every year.  Let me share this recipe with you.

My father and I shared another favorite.  Shared Beat was his favorite nonprofit organization.  He went to Gatemala with the group on seven occasions; holding and caring for the children he came to love.  He also ran, with my brother, our auctions and became a volunteer of the year.  Together my father and I traveled to Guatemala and shared our love of caring for others.

Today I ask you to join me in celebrating my Dad by baking an applesauce cake and supporting Shared Beat.  Simply give me your vote and we will continue the work of helping the children of Guatemala.  He would love seeing these two favorites joined together for a good cause. 

Love you Dad.

Marie

                       Grandmother's Applesauce Cake

1 cup Butter

2 cup Sugar

2 tsp Cinnamon

2 tsp Nutmeg

1 tsp Allspice

1 tsp Ground Cloves

2  tsp Baking Soda

2 cup Unsweetened applesauce

3 cup Flour

2 cup Nuts   optional

2 cup Raisins (dredged in flour)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Prepare 2 loaf pans.

Cream the butter and the sugar together until light.  Add the applesauce, raisins, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, and soda.  Mix well.  Add the flour.  Split between 2 prepared loaf pans.  Bake in slow oven about 1 hour.  Toothpick should come out clean when done.

ENJOY!