Comfort me with apples

In honor of apple season, here is a very fine apple cake courtesy of a neighbor of ours. It's a remarkably versatile recipe, delicious at all times and with many beverages. The Ombudsman likes it with bourbon; the Lutherans pay it the high honor of saying it "goes really well with coffee". (Of course what Lutherans' call "coffee" bears little resemblance to the actual substance. Tonight at church the big debate was over whether to follow the wishes of the strong coffee contingent and go with a daring 6 tablespoons of coffee for 12 cups of water or to stick with the traditionalists who advocated 3 tablespoons for 12 cups of water. The traditionalists won. Perhaps those of you who actually drink coffee can attest as to whether this cake goes well with it.)

Cathy Orr's Favorite Apple Cake

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine:
2 c. flour
1 c. sugar
2 1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt

Cut in: 1/2 c. butter

Mix together:
1 c. milk
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla

Add to flour mixture. Pour into greased 9"x13" pan.

Peel, core and thinly slice 4-6 apples and arrange on top of cake batter

Combine: 1/2 c. sugar
3/4 c. nuts
1 1/2 t. cinnamon and sprinkle over apples. Dot with 1 t. butter.

Bake at 350 until done (about 30-40 minutes).