Doris Hill's Raw Apple Cake

1 cup brown sugar, packed 1/2 cup butter 2 eggs, well beaten 1/2 cup sour milk 2 cups flour 1 teaspoon soda

1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ginger 1/2 teaspoon cloves 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1-1/2 cups raw apples, peeled and grated

Optional: 1 cup raisins, plumped in 2 tablespoons water

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°. If you want to add raisins, plump them by placing them in a microwave bowl with 2 tablespoon water. Microwave on high for 1 minute, then leave them in the microwave until they are added to the batter.

Cream butter and sugar together, add beaten eggs, and beat well. Sift dry ingredients together. Add to egg mixture alternately with sour milk. Stir in grated apples. If adding raisins, drain any remaining water from them and fold into batter. Bake in a greased and floured loaf pan until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean (about 45 to 55 minutes)

Notes:
Doris Hill --my mother!-- contributed this recipe to the Jolly Neighbors Extension Club of Rose, Nebraska, for a hand-written cookbook that they made during the early 1960's. I have expanded the directions a little because all the recipes were greatly condensed to fit on one side of a 3x5" recipe card.