Vanilla Cake

This recipe I found in the Penzey Spice catalog, and then I tweaked it a bit for healthy fair.  It tastes fabulous with strawberries. The original recipe isn't online right now, but I am sure it will be there eventually.  They have such good spices.   Mmmmmm

Here is my version:

4 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 T Apple sauce, a little more could be used as it was a teensy bit dry...
1 Cup milk
2 T wheat germ

1 1/2 T butter melted to coat the cake pans

For the topping:
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375.  In a large bowl beat eggs and add sugar and vanilla.  Mix in applesauce then milk into the eggs.  Add flour, wheat germ, baking powder and salt slowly beating until smooth.  Grease and flour two 9 inch layer pans.  Bake until golden brown and springy about 22 minutes.  The butter gives the edges a nice kripsy taste.  Allow to cool on a cooling rack while preparing the cream topping.

Whip the cream (with cold beaters and bowl for best results) sifting in powdered sugar and drizzling in the vanilla extract as you go.  Stop when you draw out the beaters and the cream holds firm peaks.  This can take up to 5 minutes.  Frost cake with cream when layers are cool.  Slice layers in half horizontally if you desire a 4 layer cake.  Strawberries are a tasty addition.  I would even add them in the layers...

Serving size 1/12 cake without strawberries

269 cals

47 carbs

6.8 grams fat

138 Sodium
29.9 sugar
5.2 protein

Applesauce cookies

My Mother-in-law makes these all the time, she claims they don't raise her blood sugar as much as some other cookies do.  They are only 15 carbs a piece, so take that as you may.  This version of the cookie turns out a little bit different than hers.  Perhaps it is because I like all the spice and she doesn't add any.  They are quite tasty--I like to bake them at 375 for about 10 min.  For some reason I prefer these cookies a little bit crunchy on the bottom.  They turn out just fine at 350, they just aren't as crispy.  Try it and see what you like the best!

2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 cup applesauce
1 tsp baking soda
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chocolate chips

Sift flour. Measure, add salt, spices and sift again. Cream shortening, add sugar gradually and continue to beat until light and fluffy. Stir soda into aplesauce. Add beaten egg and applesauce with creamed mixture. Add dry ingredients. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoonfuls two or three inches apart on greased baking sheet. Bake in 350 oven 15-20 minutes.