This is the perfect season to cook with apples. At the orchards,
the loads of just-picked apples are so fresh and in such peak
condition they haven’t had time to bruise or soften.

If you are
able, make a weekend pilgrimage to local orchards and farm stands
for orchard jewels of limited production such as Summer Rambo,
Patricia, and Raritan.

INGREDIENTS
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
2 eggs
1 cup applesauce
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour a 9- by 13- inch baking dish.

2. Melt the butter over low heat. Pour into a medium-sized bowl.

3. Beat in the sugar and molasses. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat.

4. Beat in the applesauce.

5. Sift the flour, baking soda, ginger, and cinnamon into the applesauce mixture and stir well to combine thoroughly.

6. Spoon into the baking dish and bake for 35 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.

7. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Turn onto a wire rack; cool completely.

8. Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, if desired.

Yield: 18 servings