MomMom's Apple Cake with Raisins and Walnuts

Original recipe from Barbara Steppel's cookbook "From Soup to Nosh" with modifications by Debra Steppel. Traditionally made at Rosh Hashanah but tasty any time apples are in season!

Note: apples can be Eastern, Golden Delicious, Cortland, Pink Lady, Macintosh -- basically any type other than Red Delicious works fine. A mix of different types of apples also works. I usually use whichever type is on sale by the bag.

One recipe makes 1 loaf-pan sized cake which serves 8 people. I usually double the recipe (using 2 loaf pans) so I have one to eat now and one to freeze. Wrap in foil (keep the parchment paper on it) and store in a large zipper-seal bag. (Photo is a double recipe.)

2 large or 3 medium apples (resulting in 2 generous cups when chopped)

1 egg

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup vegetable/canola oil

1 cup sifted flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup walnuts

1/2 cup raisins

Mise en Place

1. Wash, core, and chop apples into ~1/2" pieces

2. Chop walnuts if not already chopped

3. Remove stems from raisins

4. Sift or fluff-up flour with fork, removing lumps

5. Line glass or metal loaf pan (bottom and longer sides) with enough parchment paper to hang over the long sides. Grease short ends of the pan (wherever the paper doesn't cover)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. In a large mixing bowl, briefly mix the egg with a fork by hand.

3. Add sugar and oil; combine thoroughly by hand.

4. Add flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Mix thoroughly.

5. Stir in walnuts and raisins, then stir in apple chunks to thoroughly combine.

6. Pour batter into the lined loaf pan and even out the top.

7. Bake one hour in a 350-degree oven, rotating halfway through cooking time.

8. Cool 10-15 minutes in pan on a cooling rack.

9. Use a knife to separate any edges where the paper wasn't between the pan and the cake. Then lift the cake carefully out of the pan using parchment paper "handles."

10. Serve either warm or room temperature, for dessert or breakfast.