Well, yesterday was Buster’s 38th birthday!!  We had  some friends over and we had brats, burgers, baked beans, chips, olives and pickles.  And of course, ice cream and cake!!  We had a lot of fun!!  We sat around and ate and talked and laughed, watched some t.v. !! I love my friends!!  It turned out to be a great evening!!

I make the same cake for Buster just about every year, because he LOVES it!! It is a simple recipe, too.  It comes out of the “Better homes and Gardens New Cookbook”.  I think this is the same one his mom always made him.

So, without further ado, I give you my Tempt My Tummy Tuesday Recipe for the week!!! *drum roll*  It is Applesauce Spice Cake.  I will give you the list of ingredients and what you need to do!!

What you will need: (Note special instructions at end for the applesauce spice cake)

2 c. all-purpose flour

1 1/2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. baking soda

1 t. ground cinnamon

1/4 t. ground nutmeg

1/4 t. cloves

1/4 t. ginger

1/4 c. butter

1/4 c. shortening

2 large eggs

1 1/2 c. sugar

1/2 t. vanilla

1 1/4 c. buttermilk or sour milk (if you don’t have buttermilk,  put 1 1/4T. vinegar or lemon juice into a measuring cup and add enough milk to make 1 1/4 c. liquid)

raisins (optional and as many as you like)

What to do:

Allow butter and eggs to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes or so.  Meanwhile, grease and lightly flour two 8×1 1/2 round cake pans or one 9x13x2 inch baking pan; set aside.  In a medium bowl stir together flour, powder, soda and spices; set aside

Preheat oven to 350° F.  In a large mixing bowl beat butter and shortening with electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds.  Add sugar and vanilla; beat until well combined.  Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk to butter mixture in bowl.  beating on low just until combined.  Add raisins if using.

*Fruit and Nut Spice Cake:  prepare as above , except fold 1 c. chopped walnuts, 3/4 c. snipped dried apricots, and 1/2 c. flaked coconut into the batter.

*Applesauce Spice Cake:  prepare as above, except reduce buttermilk to 1/4 c. and combine it with 1 c. applesauce.  Alternately add this mixture and flour mixture to butter mixture.

*Pumpkin Spice Cake:  prepare as above, except reduce buttermilk to 1 c. and combine it with 1/2 c. canned pumpkin.  Alternately add this mixture to flour mixture and butter mixture.

Pour into prepared pans.  Bake 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.  Cool cake layers on wire racks for 10 minutes.  Remove cake layers from pans.  Cool thoroughly on wire racks, or place 9×13 on wire rack ; cool thoroughly.

Frost with desired frosting (I use cream cheese frosting: In a large mixing bowl combine 4-ounces softened cream cheese, 1/4 cup softened butter, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla; beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in 2-3/4 to 3 cups powdered sugar to reach spreading consistency).

I think it was a hit, cause this is all that’s left!!

For more recipe ideas, go check out  Lisa’s Blog !!!!