Happily Apple-y

I think I understand why Eve was tempted in the garden of Eden by a bright, juicy apple.  I mean, apples are practically the perfect food!  They're great baked in a cake, fried in a pie, tossed in a salad, stewed in a sauce, puffed in a dumpling; heck, they're even tasty raw and plain!  They're a good source of potassium, phosphorus, calcium, manganese, magnesium, iron and zinc, and they contain vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C, E, K.  Plus, keep 'em cold and they last just about forever!  I'm pretty sure Eve took one look at that miracle fruit and knew she had to have it.  Okay, I know some theologians will argue that the tree of knowledge grew pomegranates or some other food more common to the region, but come on, who's gonna give up paradise for a pomegranate?  But the apple, now that's almost worth the curse.

This cake is a perfect example of the versatility of the apple.  It's sweet, moist, and absolutely delicious, yet it's chock-full of wonder fruit, so you can feel just a little bit better about feeding it to your family.  Plus, it comes together in no time but tastes like it took all day.  I made it today on my lunch break!  I took it to my mother-in-law's tonight and she said it was the best dessert I've ever made.  Thanks, Eve, for eating the apple!

Caramel Apple Cake
link to original recipe
Prep time: 15 min  Bake time: 45 min
Serves 20

Cake:
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans
3 cups peeled and chopped apples

Frosting:
1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup evaporated milk
1/2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9 x 13" pan.  Combine oil, sugar, and eggs.  Stir in flour and baking soda.  Add vanilla, pecans, and apples.  Spread in prepared pan and bake for 45-50 minutes.  Cool for at least 2 hours, then prepare frosting.

For frosting, boil all ingredients in a small saucepan for 2 minutes.  Set pan in a bowl filled with ice water.  Beat icing until of spreading consistency, about 5 minutes.  Spread over top of cake.  Sprinkle with additional pecans, if desired.

388 calories per serving.  Click here for more nutritional info and shopping list!