3 med. sized apples, cubed
2 c. raisins
1 c. white sugar
1 c. brown sugar
2 c. water
2 tbsp. lard

Boil together 5 minutes. Cool.

2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 c. flour

Soak raisins in warm water until plumped.

Sift together dry ingredients with 1 cup flour. Add to fruit mixture. Stir together using a wooden spoon (do not beat). Add enough additional flour to make a liquid batter of the same consistency as a cake mix. Add nuts, if desired.

Transfer batter to a greased pan and smooth over the top with the back of a spoon or spatula.

Bake in a preheated 325°F oven until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean (in Civil War times, a broom straw was often used to test the cake). When cake is done, it will spring back in center when touched lightly with fingertips.