Mother Maxine's Sinful Southern Apple Cake

The other day when I was dropping my little Princess Runwild off at preschool, we gave each other a big hug and kiss before I left. The preschool director said "Boy, you and mom are big buds." Of course I quickly said  "Yes, we're the best of buddies!" I savored that moment because I know in about 2 years she will be embarrassed at my hugs and public displays of affection. As I left , it made me think of my own mother. Now let me just tell you, my mother is the best mother in the world. She really is! She is the best friend anyone could ever have. We laugh together daily! Just look at this picture from a trip we took on our birthdays (our birthdays fall one day apart).

I love that we can be goofballs together. Even if my Momma was not my momma, I would still want to be friends with her. She's just so much fun! Now, you should know, Mother Maxine is a straight shooter. She'll tell you exactly how it is. This is a quality I have come to appreciate as I have gotten older. Notice I said since I have gotten older....appreciate was not the word I was looking for when I was about 16, and she told me I looked like a hooker as I left for school. But, nonetheless, she was probably right.

Shortly after my daddy passed away, I took it upon myself to become Mother Maxine's food provider. She doesn't really like to cook and I always have leftovers. She likes to call me her "Meals on Wheels" See, I told you, she's a funny one! So, this morning I got up extra early and made this moist and delicious apple cake so that I could bring this with her "meals on wheels" for the day. Note: this is not Mother Maxines' recipe, I'm just naming it in honor of her. Remember, she doesn't like to cook....well, she likes to bake even less :) Enjoy!

The Girls

Mother Maxine, Sinful Southern Sweets, Princess Runwilder and Princess Runwild

Mother Maxine's Sinful Southern Apple Cake

Ingredients

2 cups peeled apples, thinly sliced
5 tablespoons white sugar
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup apple juice
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon orange extract

Glaze:
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup apple juice
2/3 cup white sugar
1/8 tsp. orange extract

Directions

1.Preheat an oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9 inch tube pan.
2.Mix apples, 5 tablespoons sugar, 1 teaspoon lemon juice and 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon in a bowl and set aside. Beat the oil and 2 cups of sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl. Add the eggs one at a time, allowing each egg to blend into the sugar mixture before adding the next. Beat in the vanilla and 1/4 cup of apple juice and orange extract with the last egg. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl and stir into the sugar mixture; mixing until just incorporated. Mix in apples and pour the batter into the prepared tube pan..

3.Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour and 25 minutes. Allow cake to cool completely in the pan before removing.

4.To make glaze: Combine butter, 1/3 cup of apple juice, extract, and 2/3 cup of sugar in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Add in orange extract.  Pour over the warm cake while still in the pan.