Renewal and apple cake

Renewal and apple cake

Something extraordinary happened last week: my fifth grade teacher got in touch out of the blue. I think she found me through THREE MUSES. Mrs. R (she was Mrs. K then) was one of my most favorite teachers ever. Her classroom was warm and exciting. She gave us interesting projects that were individually tailored. She was young and vivacious. I adored her.

It is a rare gift to be able to thank a person who was that important in your young life. I am extremely grateful, and thrilled to be in touch. We’re looking forward to meeting up in person this autumn.

If this feels like renewal, I agree, and want to wish a Sweet New Year for those who are celebrating this season of renewal and awe (and even for those who are not!). My job is to make an apple cake for our Rosh Hashanah celebration. Apple cake is a standard for me. I think I originally found the recipe in a synagogue cookbook.

Apple cake ready to serve.

Jewish Apple Cake

3 cups unsifted flour, 2 cups sugar, 1 cup oil, 4 eggs, 1/4 cup orange juice, 2 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla, 3 teaspoons baking powder, 3-4 large apples, sugar and cinnamon to dust.

Beat everything up to the apples until smooth. Pour half the batter into oiled tube or bundt pan. Pare and skin apples and place half of them in a circle on top of the batter. Dust with sugar and cinnamon. Pour rest of batter and repeat with the remaining apples and sugar and cinnamon. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until golden brown and dry when tested with a toothpick.

Last week I was honored to give a talk at Valley Beit Midrash in Arizona on Debut Fiction and the Holocaust: When Fiction Steps in for History. You can see the video here, and hear the podcast version here.

Michelle Brafman and I had a wonderful conversation at Temple Beth El in Bethesda last weekend talking about our books. Michelle has been an amazing partner—teacher, mentor, author, and fellow conversationalist.

Wishing you a Sweet New Year.

Love,

Martha

P.S. During these weeks I am celebrating the first birthday of THREE MUSES. If you want to pick up a copy, it’s not too late. Here’s a link to purchase it, or look for it in your library, or any other place you buy books.