Fall Is Here, My Favorite Time of Year

This morning I just changed my screen saver to a view of an autumn landscape. The brilliant golds and reds in the maple leaves along a path leading over a wooden bridge. It reminds me of the beautiful falls we had in Ohio. I lived there 12 years and 3 of my boys were born there.

What I love about fall? The crisp, cool change in the weather where you need a sweatshirt if you're out in the evenings. Football, football, football (my dad thougth he was having a boy and I was the only child so I grew up at the games with him). The fall restivals of all kinds and varieties that are planned outdoors to take advantage of the usually dry and sunny days. Maple festivals, Oktober fest beer gardens, apple butter festivals, local festivals in every kind imaginable! Here in Louisiana are plantation, pumpkkin patch, frog jumping, crawfish, art and living history ones.

But I think there very best thing I love about fall is the baking. The apples and pumpkins are in season. So Thanksgiving brings about many receipes for pies and cakes using these. Here is my favorite, an apple cake. This cake is great for lunch boxes and amazingly it stays moist and fresh for days!

APPLE CAKE

5 apples peeled and cut in cubes; 2 cups sugar; 1 tsp. lemon juice; 2 tsp. cinnamin; 1 tsp. nutmeg; 1 tsp allspice, 1 cup margarine or butter; 3 cup flour; 2 ts. soda; 1 tsp. salt; 2 beaten eggs; 1 cup raisins; 1 cup nuts (I like walnuts)

Mix apples, sugar, and spices and let stand at least 30 minutes. Melt margarine or butter and let cool some. Sift together flour and soda and salt. Add apple mixture to flour and then stir in the shortening and eggs last. Add raisins and nuts. Mix well. Pour into greased 9x12 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 50 minutes. Serves 12.