#627 - Spice Cake

(by Aunt Ada [Herman] Miller)

1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup Domino's dark brown sugar
1/2 cup Parkay margarine
1 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups flour
1 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup raisins

Put raisins in a saucepan and cover them with water--bring to a boil, then boil for 5 minutes. Drain the raisins and set aside. In a mixer add Parkay, white sugar and brown sugar--beat. Add eggs--beat. Add salt, ground cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and baking soda--beat. Add buttermilk--beat. Slowly add flour--beat until smooth. Remove bowl from mixer and stir in the raisins. Pour batter into a greased 9 x 13 cake pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Test with a toothpick for doneness. Frost as desired.

#484 - Upside Down Apple Cake

(by Shirley McNevich)

1/3 cup butter
1 cup packed Domino's dark brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
4 medium apples (peeled, cored and sliced)--about 3 cups
1 - 18.25oz. box spice cake mix
1 stick melted butter
1 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup dark corn syrup (Kayro)
2 large eggs
1 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place your oven rack in the middle of the oven. Topping: melt the 1/3 cup butter in a 10" cast iron skillet (or any 10" skillet that's 2" deep) over low heat. Remove skillet from heat and stir in the brown sugar and 1 tsp. cinnamon using a fork. Spread this mixture evenly over the bottom of the skillet. Arrange the apple slices over the butter/sugar mixture in the skillet. In a mixer, blend cake mix, 1 stick melted butter, buttermilk, dark corn syrup, eggs and 1 tsp. cinnamon--beat on low speed for 1 minute. Increase speed to medium and beat 2 minutes longer until creamy. Pour the batter over the top of the apples in the skillet. Place the skillet in the oven and bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes--bake until the cake rises high in the skillet (it will spring back when lightly pressed with your finger when it's done). Remove skillet from oven and run a sharp knife along the edges--carefully flip upside down on to a serving plate. Serve warm.