Wednesday Lagniappe*: Applesauce-Fig Cake: a recipe

 (Couldn't even get a photo of the whole thing before the teen started devouring it!)

An abundance of home-grown apples and home-grown figs?  Applesauce-Fig cake!
The apples on my tree mature in late summer, sort of early to my way of thinking, and I process much of it into applesauce.  Here is a great recipe that was tested on members of my art class, all of whom have discerning palates!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted before measuring
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 cup reconstituted dried figs. To reconstitute, soak in hot water 10 minutes and drain
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 2 cups applesauce (I used unsweetened)

Into a mixing bowl, sift together the dry ingredients. Add raisins, chopped walnuts, melted butter, and applesauce. Beat until well blended. Pour batter into greased and floured 9-inch square pan or 11 3/4 x 7 1/2 baking pan. Bake at 350° for 45 to 50 minutes. Cool and spread with cream cheese or butter frosting, or leave nekkid.

If desired, decorate applesauce cake with grated orange peel and walnut halves.

Happy eating!

*Lagniappe: a little somethin' extra, in Cajun.