INGREDIENTS
Apple Mixture:
2 large apples, peeled and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons sugar
2 to 3 tablespoons cinnamon
Cake Mixture:
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup orange juice
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 eggs
3 ¼ cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
DIRECTIONS
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a Bundt pan. Set aside.
- Peel and thinly slice the apples. Place in a bowl with the sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix the vegetable oil, sugar, orange juice, vanilla and eggs with a hand mixer or by hand, until smooth.
- Add flour and baking powder to the egg mixture. Mix by hand.
- Pour half of the batter into the Bundt pan. Add the apple mixture and smooth it gently around the pan. Top it off with the remainder of the batter.
- Bake for 70 minutes and allow it to cool.
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve.
This recipe was submitted by Dorothy Tramontano, who is a parishioner at St. Joseph Parish and St. Joan of Arc Parish in Canton. She received the recipe more than 50 years ago, from a rectory cook.
THE CATHOLIC KITCHEN
A reflection from Rick Hull, the director of liturgy at St. Joseph and St. Joan of Arc Parishes in Canton.
Jewish apple cake is usually served during the celebration of Rosh Hashanah with a wish for a “sweet and good year.” Also called the Jewish New Year or Feast of Trumpets, Rosh Hashanah is celebrated just before the harvest festival when the growing season is complete. For the Jews, it is a time of reflection, renewal and a call to repentance; to turn hearts and minds from busy lifestyles and return to the God of Creation. We have all slipped into a spiritual slumber at some point in time and the trumpet, or shofar, is the spiritual alarm clock to “Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion,” as Isaiah tells us.
When we celebrated Pentecost Sunday in May, we remember the tongues of fire that fell upon the Apostles. That fire symbolizes the transforming energy of the Holy Spirit—a spiritual awakening, much like the shofar of our elder brothers and sisters during Rosh Hashanah. The Apostles were emboldened and began to proclaim the Gospel in the community of Jerusalem with no care of the consequences. They were on fire for Christ and the Church was born!
I think making some Jewish Apple Cake to share with my family, singing a joyful birthday song for our Church, and reminiscing about the sweetness of our faith and the richness of God’s graces would be an awesome way to have a conversation about the reason for our joy and hope. Maybe, in honor of our Jewish spiritual ancestors, we can even make some “New Year” resolutions with the Holy Spirit’s help to enkindle in us the fire of his love and renew the face of the earth.
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