best apple cake

though any variety of apple works in this cake, I like to use a combination of varieties, particularly Golden Delicious, Criterion, and McIntosh.

* 5 apples diced big - peeled cored
* juice 1 lemon and zest
* juice one small orange and zest
* 2 cups sugar (white or can be white and brown)
* 1/2 cup salad oil (or melt some crisco)
* 1 cup chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts)- can be omitted
* I put in some white chocolate chips and they were great
* 2 eggs, well beaten
* 1 cup raisins soaked in brandy with about 1/4 cup brandy

* 2 teaspoons vanilla or almond
* 2 cups flour (general purpose, not self rising)
* 2 teaspoons baking soda
* 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 tsp cardmom, 1 tsp nutmeg
* 1 teaspoon salt

I put cardamom, lemon zest and used almond flavoring and it was very good. Also used white choc chips and no nuts and it was still good.

Heat oven to 325 degrees. Mix apples and sugar thoroughly. Add oil, nuts, eggs and vanilla. Mix dry ingredients together and add to apple mixture. Bake in a greased 13x9 inch pan for 1 hour.

Server frosted or unfrosted. This cake is one of those that you can pretty much finish and serve however you like. If you want to frost it, a sour cream frosting is very nice. Whipping cream or ice cream go very well with it, too. My favorite way to eat it, though, is with no frosting at all.