Recipes Information

Ediths Cake That Thrilled the French


Twenty-three chefs who cooked for world royalty and heads of state (The Club des Chefs des Chefs) were, during their 1987 visit to the U.S., wined and dined with the best our finest chefs had to offer. What impressed them most? Lunch at an Amish farm in Pennsylvania, where they ate homegrown new potatoes, string beans with cream sauce and corn, charcoal-grilled chicken, and baked ham, washed down with homemade root beer and peppermint tea, served by the family in a barn lined with handmade quilts.

They were stunned. Happily so, it seems. The chef for the president of France said, "Cooking has evolved so much. Nobody presents the true product as it is, and all of a sudden we were presented that."

But the desserts impressed them most. Especially one they couldn't name. One they described as a light "pain d'epices" (spice cake) with a layer of chocolate filling. Gilles Brunner, chef to Prince Rainier of Monaco, was so taken with the cake, which he described as a chocolate gingerbread, that he tried to get the recipe. His request was refused.

The Amish family did not want their identity revealed, which refusal greatly hampered efforts to identify the cake as well. Research by Phyllis Richman, then food editor of the Washington Post, seemed to show that the mystery dessert was Amish applesauce cake with chocolate frosting, and the Post printed a version of it contributed by Betty Groff, a cookbook author from the Pennsylvania Dutch country.

Which applesauce cake turned out to be pretty much what our family had been enjoying since my father married Edith Kennedy in 1977, and which Edith's family had been enjoying long before that. Her daughter, Lorenelle Doll, who gave me the recipe, says that it was a favorite of my father and Lorenelle's husband Arnie. (So far as I know, Edith didn't actually feed any to a French chef.)

I like to think Edith's version is better than Betty Groff's, because that recipe says to "frost with vanilla or chocolate frosting if desired." Whereas Edith's gives a recipe for chocolate frosting MADE WITH BUTTER. And in my view the humblest frosting made with butter is better than the fanciest frosting made without. I'm not implying that Edith's frosting is humble. It isn't. It's purely wonderful, as is her cake.

Edith Kennedy Glidewell went to be with her Lord in March 2002, but before that she gladdened many hearts in many ways, this applesauce cake not the least of them.

EDITH'S APPLESAUCE CAKE

Cream together 1/2 cup room temperature butter or shortening and 1 cup sugar. Add 1 egg and beat together. Mix in 1-1/2 cups applesauce.

Sift together 2 cups flour, 1 tsp. baking powder, 1 tsp. soda, 1 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. allspice, 1/2 tsp. nutmeg, and 1/4 tsp. cloves. Add to applesauce mixture, along with 1 cup raisins and 3/4 cup chopped walnuts.

Lightly oil a 9" x 12" pan and dust with flour. Add the cake mixture and bake at 350 degrees 50 to 60 minutes, until the top of the cake's center springs back when touched. Frost with chocolate frosting when cool.

Chocolate Frosting: Combine in a heavy saucepan or double boiler 1 square baker's unsweetened chocolate, 1 cup sugar, 1/4 cup butter, and 1/3 cup milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, and cook 1 minute. Cool and beat until the frosting has a satin finish.

About The Author

Find Janette Blackwell's hilarious cookbook, "Steamin' Down the Tracks with Viola Hockenberry," at foodandfiction.com

Janette@foodandfiction.com


MORE RESOURCES:

ABC News

Tyler Florence's 7 recipes for a full holiday meal
MSNBC - Nov 21, 2008
Looking to get all your recipes from one reliable source? Food Network star Tyler Florence helps you prepare the turkey and all the delicious sides dishes ...
Emeril's Brined, Herb-Roasted Turkey ABC News
Making Thanksgiving gravy Examiner.com
Recipe of the week: Thanksgiving turkey: A fast-roasting classic ... The Week Magazine
all 4 news articles


Best Syndication

Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes Key to Keeping Calories in Check
Best Syndication, CA - 14 hours ago
One of the staples that might help dieters make it through the holidays is having healthy Thanksgiving recipes. Thanksgiving is the holiday that kicks off ...
Changing Your Habits Leads to Changes on the Scale Best Syndication
all 2 news articles


Today Show Recipes for Thanksgiving Dinner Turkey Ideas
Associated Content, CO - 13 hours ago
By saul relative, published Nov 22, 2008 Who knew the "Today Show" on NBC could be such a gold mine of great recipes? (Okay, so a LOT of people already knew ...


Substitutions Make Holiday Fare Healthier
U.S. News & World Report, DC - 19 hours ago
22 (HealthDay News) -- You can eat healthier this holiday season by altering recipes and making good food choices, say experts with the Texas AgriLife ...


The Holiday Season Is Merrier With Low-Carb Egg Nog Recipes
CarbWire.com - 6 hours ago
Never fear, though, I’ve got a recipe for low-carb egg nog that will blow you away and even a bonus egg nog cheesecake recipe compliments of our friends at ...


Thanksgiving recipes
Belleville News Democrat,  USA - 54 minutes ago
Mix all ingredients in large bowl. Put in greased 9-inch by 13-inch casserole dish. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 90 minutes. ...


Chiropractic News (press release)

Thanksgiving Recipes
Chiropractic News (press release) - 2 hours ago
Earlier today, Dr. Michael Dorausch organized seven different Thanksgiving side dish videos, which motivated me to search out various thanksgiving recipes, ...


Neoseeker

Cooking Mama Responds to PETA by Highlighting Vegetarian Offerings ...
MarketWatch - Nov 19, 2008
Mama wants people to know that World Kitchen includes 51 recipes from around the world, ranging from vegetarian fare like miso soup and rice cakes to ...
Majesco Responds to PETA's Cooking Mama Parody Wired News
Majesco Responds To PETA On Cooking Mama Criticism Gamasutra
PETA attacks Cooking Mama series CVG Online
DailyGame - DailyTech
all 106 news articles


Scrumptious sweet potato recipes from readers, along with some ...
Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX - Nov 21, 2008
Here are tips for using them creatively, plus some recipes from readers By AMY CULBERTSON Sweet potato, coconut and gingerroot soup Robert Rose Inc. Our ...
How not to make a pig of yourself on Thanksgiving Austin 360
all 2 news articles


MCbiz Workshop Provided Small Businesses with Recipes for Success
EVLiving - 15 hours ago
Many “recipes for success” were shared with small business owners. The information nurtured and encouraged the entrepreneurs despite today’s challenging ...

Recipes - Google News

home | site map
© 2006