Anne Raver's Grandma's Black Walnut Cake
From: Laura Jefferson
Edible Heirloom: Grandma Raver's Cake
MY grandmother Grace Raver made a basic cake, which was invariably light and moist. She flavored it with what the seasons allowed: ground black walnuts in fall, fresh grated orange and lemon with a bit of juice, for an orange-and-lemon cake. The quantities of the additions have been lost to time, but her basic recipe appears below. ANNE RAVER
Time: 1 hour
3 large eggs
3/8 cups shortening
2 cups sugar
2 1/4 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 2/3 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1. Beat eggs to creamy fullness. Cream the shortening and sugar. Add eggs, beating all to smoothness. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together 3 times.
2. Heat milk with vanilla to wrist temperature. Add alternately with flour, using spatula to blend all smoothly.
3. Turn a mixer on high, and beat 1 minute. Without stirring, pour mixture into a well-greased floured tube pan. Bake one hour at 350 degrees.
Yield: 12 servings.