FRESH APPLE OR FRESH PEAR CAKE (NOTE: YOU CAN ALSO SUBSTITUTE MANY DRIED FRUITS IN PLACE OF THE FRESH FRUITS -- THIS IS A VERY VERSATILE NON-TRADITIONAL FRUIT CAKE RECIPE) RECIPE - (5/5)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a bundt pan, tube pan, or 2 loaf pans. In a large mixing bowl mix the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, cinnamon if you are using this optional ingredient, chopped pecans or walnuts, and the fresh apples or fresh pears. Make a well in the center of the dried ingredients and set aside. In another bowl add the cooking oil or applesauce if you are substituting that for the oil, eggs, and the vanilla and with a whisk beat well until thoroughly blended. Pour the liquid ingredients into the center well of the dried ingredients. With a large spoon stir until all of the liquid ingredients have been well blended and incorporated into the dry ingredients. Do not be alarmed, this is a very heavy cake batter and you cannot use an electric mixer when adding the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients. You must mix this by hand. Press the cake batter into the greased and floured bundt pan, tube pan, or divide evenly between the 2 loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 1 hour. The cake is done when a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. This cake will have a golden brown outside crust which is slightly thicker than a normal cake. This is normal. You can serve this cake plain without an icing, or you may dust the cake with powdered sugar, or drizzle with an icing made from powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. **SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING DRIED FRUITS INSTEAD OF THE FRESH APPLES OR FRESH PEARS. 2 cups of chopped dried cherries, apricots, pineapple, cranraisins, dates, or any other dried fruit of your choice can be substituted for the fresh apples or pears. Simply chop the dried fruit of your choice into small pieces and cover with water, apple juice, or apple cider and let them hydrate several minutes before adding them to the dry ingredients. Discard the excess liquid before you add the dried hydrated fruits to the dry ingredients. You may also substitute candied cherries and pineapples which are available for baking at Thanksgiving and Christmas from your local supermarkets. No need to hydrate these, simply chop them into small pieces and add them to the dry ingredients. Use 1 cup of candied cherries and 1 cup of candied pineapple in place of the fresh apples or fresh pears.