Who's Steve Kindel?

I'll admit it: one reason I remember Elsie so fondly and so often—just one reason—is that she gave me a cake recipe that I make about once a month. I'm a terrible cook, but this cake comes out perfectly every time. In fact, when I tell people I'm a terrible cook, if they've had this cake, they think I'm guilty of false modesty. Elsie was nothing if not generous, so I know she wouldn't mind if I spread the sweetness. Here it is, in her own words:

Elsie's Apple Cake, by way of Steve Kindel

1 cup of oil

1 1/2 cups of sugar—I mix brown and white sugar

3 eggs

3 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

3 cups of peeled, sliced apples—I use Rome, Delicious or McIntosh

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 cup raisins

Beat the oil and sugar together; add eggs, beat until creamy.

Add the vanilla.

Sift together the flour, salt, cinnamon and baking soda.

Stir thse dry ingredients into the batter

Add the raisins, nuts and apples.

The batter will be quite stiff.

Spoon batter into a buttered, floured angel's food or bundt pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for an hour or so.