APPLE CAKE

I bought a kilo of green apples a few days ago and thought I should use some to bake something. I love the taste of tart apples in pies or cakes. Then I found a simple recipe and had a go at it. It turned out great! The smell of the apples and cinnamon filled the whole house and it was heavenly and comforting! Texture of the cake was quite dense, and it didn't rise that much, hence the reason why I used a pie pan instead of a square baking tin as suggested in the recipe. It's best eaten warm on the same day. And it goes so well with a scoop of Vanilla ice-cream :)

It's great for dessert, tea-time and even breakfast!

You'll need
8" tin greased and lined. ( I used a pie pan, greased and floured)
Preheat oven to 180 deg.

4 green apples (medium). Peeled, cored, halved and sliced thinly.
1/3 cup brown sugar
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder
* Mix these together and put aside.

125gm butter (soft)
1 cup castor sugar ( I reduced to 3/4 cup)
2 large eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 cup plain flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla essence ( I used 1 teaspoon of orange essence instead as I was out of vanillan...duh!)
* Cream the butter and sugar till soft and pale. Add eggs one at a time and continue whisking.
* In another bowl, sieve flour, baking powder and salt. Slowly fold this into the butter mix and alternate with milk. Add essence.
* Pour batter in pan, smooth the top. Arrange apples in concentric circles. You may add chopped nuts and raisins if you like. Sprinkle a little bit of brown sugar on top.

Bake in 180deg oven for about 35-40mins or apples are golden and cake is cooked when tested with a toothpick.

Enjoy!!