Walnut Apple Cake

Yum, yum, yum! As I was planning my menu last weekend - for the coming week, I came across this recipe. My husband loves walnuts, and I thought it would be nice to make this (I'm not actually that crazy about walnuts, but...). While I was making this last night, I realized I was totally out of oil, and Eric asked me if I wanted him to go to the store before they closed. The stores now close at 7:30pm, and this was at 6:20pm (dinner was just about ready, but Spar is just around the corner). When he came home, I told him that was, "total lieb" (or so sweet) of him to do so. He asked me what the occasion was; and I told him, "just because." I actually hardly ever make desserts for just the two of us (which was why he was asking), because I don't like to have the sweets around. But, this recipe looked good, and I wanted to try it out.

It made a 9x13 pan of great cake, and because I don't want so many leftovers hanging around, I'm going to try to freeze half of the cake. I've already sliced the pieces, so I'll freeze them individually. This will hopefully make for great sweet treats in a couple of months (check back in April for my Freezer Meals).

Recipe: Walnut Apple Cake
Source: Taste of Home Magazine, 2006

2 eggs
2 cups sugar (I used 1 c. sugar/1 c. splenda)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (or all-spice)
4 cups chopped peeled tart apples
1 cup chopped walnuts

BUTTER SAUCE:
3/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Walnut halves, optional

In a mixing bowl, combine eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla; mix well. Combine dry ingredients; add to the egg mixture and mix well (batter will be stiff). Stir in apples and walnuts. Spread into a greased 13" x 9" x 2" baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

For the sauce, combine sugar, flour, milk, and butter in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat; boil and stir for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Cut cake into squares; top with warm sauce. Garnish with walnut halves if desired. Yield: 12-15 servings.