Four Dessert Recipes from Mom

The following are four of the very best and most often made of my Mother’s desserts — her pie crust recipe and three of her outstanding cakes. That's her with Baby Me a VERY long time ago.

Mom’s Apple Cake
Absolutely delicious!
Cream together:
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup white sugar
1 stick of softened margarine
2 eggs
½ tsp salt

Blend in:
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 c. milk
2 1/4 cups flour
dash of vanilla

Stir well.

Gently fold in 2 c. chopped apples

Mix well and pour into cake pans. Sprinkle the tops with brown sugar, cinnamon and chopped walnuts. Bake at 350°̊ for 45 minutes.

Mom’s Pie Crust
Virtually infallible. Even mine turns out flakey.
Cut together:
4 cup flour
1 tblsp sugar
1 1/3 cups shortening
2 tsp salt

Beat in a bowl 1 tblsp white vinegar, ½ cup ice water and 1 egg.
Combine with flour mixture and form into balls. Chill at least 15 minutes before rolling it out. May be kept for up to 3 days.

Mom’s Cream Cheese Cake
I absolutely love this cake. Mom always made it at Christmas time in small loaf pans and passed them out to people as gifts. Sometimes she would make this and her Apple Cake in little loafs, wrap them in colored cellophane and tie them with pretty ribbons to give as treats. They were always much appreciated.

Combine:
8 oz. Softened cream cheese
1 ½ cups sugar
4 eggs
1 ½ tsp baking powder
1 c. margarine
1 ½ tsp vanilla
2 1/4 cups flour

Blend in:
1 cup chopped nuts
1 cup chopped dates
1 jar of maraschino cherries, drained and sliced
Stir together. Pour into a tube pan or small loaf pans. Bake at 325̊° for an hour and 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Mom’s Date & Nut Cake with Broiled On Topping
For years I asked for this for my birthday cake. Not a traditional birthday cake but I didn’t care. This and rhubarb pie are my very favorite birthday treats.
Combine:
1 cup chopped dates
1 cup boiling water
1 tsp baking soda
Let stand until cool. Meanwhile cream together:
½ cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 ½ cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup walnuts
1 tsp. Vanilla

Add to date mixture and pour into a prepared cake pan. Bake at 350̊ until top is set and does not respond to touch.
Broiled on Topping:
Blend 2 tbsps brown sugar, 2 tbsps cream, 5 tbsps margarine and ½ tsp vanilla. Spread on finished cake and place under broiler until it sizzles. Sprinkle with coconut.