Rain Delays

So, when it decides to rain (pour) right before our scheduled playgroup at the sprinkler park, one has to improvise quickly. Luckily, Emily and I had just the plan.

We had read the story, Apple Farmer Annie, by Monica Wellington. In the back of the book there are three simple apple recipes: Applesauce, Apple Muffins and Applesauce Cake. Now, even though this would be more appropriate for the fall after apples have been picked, we wanted to give the Applesauce Cake a dry run. Emily is becoming quite the good little baker and it was a lot of fun putting it all together. Too bad for her, though, that her mother forgot Baking 101 and tried to take the cake out of the pan before it had cooled. So, the cake broke and the frosting made a lame attempt at concealing Mother's mistake. However, it still tastes great--according to Mom. In true Emily style, she doesn't want to try the cake.

Applesauce Cake
1/2 c. butter
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 1/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. allspice
1 c. applesauce
2/3 c. raisins (we didn't used them though)

Cream together butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add eggs and beat well. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, salt, and spices. Add to creamed mixture alternately with applesauce, beating after each addition and blending well. Stir in raisins. Pour batter into 9 inch greased tube pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 min or until browned. (Toothpick inserted into cake should come out clean.) Cool, then spread with Butter Frosting. (Oh, and another thing Mom "learned," don't frost on a cooling rack. It'll drip.)

Butter Frosting
2 T. softened butter
2 c. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 T. milk

Cream together butter, sugar, and vanilla extract. Add milk and stir well. The frosting should be smooth and easy to spread.

Also, while the cake was baking, my kids did come up with a good use for our living room rug. Maybe Pottery Barn could include this in their description for what their rugs can be used for: fun!

"Look, Mom! I'm a hotdog!"