There’s the scent of gardenias after the rain
and the fragrance of pines by the lake.
But I’d trade a whole harvest of freshly cut grain
for one whiff of my mom’s apple cake.
I remember the kitchen on a cold winter day—
snow falling like handfuls of flour.
And under that sky of aluminum gray
stood one woman with magical power.
A spoon and a spatula and a big pan were there,
and they stirred up my heart with new feelings.
And outside the window, the wisps of cold air
were no match for those crisp apple peelings.
My mother continued to measure and pour,
and like a sorceress, she paid close attention.
She had mixed this elixir so often before,
but each batch was a brand-new invention.
From her glistening fingers, the pale slices spread
like petals emerging in spring.
And the stainless-steel oven door over my head
dropped down with a mechanical swing.
Then eagerly at the table, I scraped out the bowl,
and each spoonful seemed to speak to my tongue.
And the secrets of that recipe remained in my soul,
and my mother was eternally young.
And a warm glow of summer filled up the room
with cinnamon and sunlight and steam.
And everywhere apple trees were suddenly in bloom,
flowering full of frosting and cream.
And the hungry and poor were no longer in need,
for one table could feed all the nation.
And each star in the sky was a bright apple seed
that sparkled like God’s punctuation.
And the harsh ground of winter was a golden, brown crust,
and January turned somehow to June.
And all of our dreams gave us faith, hope, and trust
in the light of a soft powdered moon.
Angela’s Apple Cake Recipe
Ingredients:
3 c. flour
4 tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
4 eggs
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 c. oil
6 tbsp. cold water
2 tsp. vanilla
Brown sugar (to sprinkle)
5 apples, sliced and peeled
Directions:
Cream eggs and sugar.
Add oil, water, and vanilla.
Add sifted dry ingredients a little at a time.
Cover bottom of ungreased 9X13 inch pan with half of dough.
Arrange apple slices over dough.
Sprinkle with brown sugar.
Cover with remaining dough.
Bake at 350 for ¾ to 1 hour.
Cut into squares and serve with powdered sugar dusted on top.
