Walnut Apple Cake

Serves:  12-15
Source:  Taste of Home Magazine, Best Holiday Recipes 2006

2 eggs
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
4 cups chopped peeled tart apple
1 cup chopped walnuts

Butter Sauce:
3/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Walnut halves, optional

In a mixing bowl, combine eggs, sugar, oil, and vanilla; mix well.  Combine dry ingredients; add to the egg mixture and mix well (batter will be stiff).  Stir in apples and walnuts.  Spread into a greased 13-in x 9-in x 2-in. baking pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until a tooth-pick inserted near the center comes out clean.  Cool on a wire rack.  For the sauce, combine sugar, flour, milk, and butter in saucepan.  Bring to a boil over medium heat; boil and stir for 2 minutes.  Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla.  Cut cake into squares; top with warm sauce.  Garnish with walnut halves if desired. 

Notes:  I have made this several times.  This last time I tried to cook it a bread pan and drizzled the sauce over the top.  The edges were a bit tough but the middle was nice and fluffy.  I finely chopped walnuts and apples so flavor was present in the bread, but it was light and fluffy.  When preparing the sauce, add the flour last and sift it into the mixture to avoid clumping. 

Ratings:
Moe, 8 out of 10
Miss J, 8 out of 10