Holiday Dinner

This was the first year I was not near any of my family for the holidays. While that can be difficult it was an opportunity for Jason and I to celebrate on our own. We did things a little bit different by having our big dinner the second night of the holiday since we went to the earlier services session. I was pleasantly surprised that the services reminded me of home despite some of the songs having different melodies. The best part was that the rabbi was actually funny and didn't have a boring sermon that left you checking your watch. Afterwards, it was back into the kitchen to start our feast. I tried to keep our dinner close to the traditions that I am used to with my family. This meant lots of phone calls home for recipes and advice/help along the way. All in all, it turned out pretty well and we were able to use some of the beautiful china, silver and crystal we received for our wedding! Below is the recipe for the apple cake that my mom usually makes for the holiday to incorporate the apples for a sweet new year.

This was an easy recipe with lots of flavor from the apples and cinnamon. The middle apple layer keeps the cake nice and moist lasting for a few days or until it is all gone!

Apple Cake

9x12 pan or tube pan

Ingredients:

4-5 apples peeled and sliced

2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 cup Sugar

3 cups Flour

1 1/2 cups Sugar

1 cup vegetable or canola oil

4 Eggs

3 tsp. Baking Powder

1/2 tsp. Salt

7 Tbsp. Orange Juice

2 1/2 tsp. Vanilla

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Mix apples with cinnamon and sugar. Set aside.

3. Mix all other ingredients together on low speed of mixer or by hand.

4. Pour 1/2 of batter into a greased and floured  tube or 9x12 pan.

5. Cover with 1/2 of apple mixture. Repeat with rest of the batter and then finish with apple mixture.

6. Bake at 350 for an hour until golden brown and toothpick comes out clean.