To get my mind off things, I found the apple cake recipe I promised Zoey. It’s from The American Country Inn and Bed & Breakfast cookbook by Kitty and Lucian Maynard. This is an excellent cookbook and an Inn that use to be in this area (I think it’s not there anymore) is in the cookbook.

Apple Cake
with Hot Buttered Rum Sauce
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
2 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts
3-4 peeled diced apples (3 cups)
* * * *
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup light cream or half and half
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup dark rum (or to taste)

In mixing bowl add the sugar slowly to the softened butter and beat well until creamy. Add the eggs one at a time. Combine the dry ingredients and add gradually to the creamed muxture. Add the nuts and apples. Bake in a greased tube pan in a 350 degree oven for 60 minutes or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. After 15 minutes invert onto a rack to cool.
Heat the sugar and cream over low heat until well-dissolved. Add the butter and run. Serve hot over the cake.
Serves 12.