Haunting Flavor - Green Tomato cake

Want something with a truly haunting flavor, try this green tomato cake. if you don't have green tomatoes simply substitute 1 cup of applesauce which roughly equals 2 cups green tomatoes when pureed. Then find a great fall harvest story to read with anyone you can corral to sit in a soft chair to listen to a story.

Green Tomato Cake
Beat together until smooth --

•  2 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil or melted shortening
• 3 eggs 
• 2 teaspoons vanilla

Sift together and add slowly to the liquid mixture (mixture will be thick)

• 3 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon cloves

Stir in:

• 1 cup pecans or walnuts
• 1 cup raisins (I substituted dried cranberries)
• 2 cups chopped green tomatoes (food process to the consistency of applesauce; if short of tomatoes you may substitute a portion of unsweetened applesauce); or substitute pumpkin and call them haunting pumpkin cakes.

Bake in a greased 9x13-inch pan (or in cup cakes). Top with a glaze (powdered sugar, milk, vanilla) if desired. Bake for one hour, or until a wooden pick or cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. If baking in cupcakes reduce cooking time consistent with your oven and it's temperature.
Makes 24 cupcakes if making cupcakes.

Find a pumpkin book to read --