Cake is a form of food that is usually sweet and often baked. Cakes normally combine some kind of flour, a sweetening agent (commonly sugar), a binding agent (generally egg, though gluten or starch are often used by vegetarians and vegans), fats (usually butter, shortening, or margarine, although a fruit purée such as applesauce is sometimes substituted to avoid using fat), a liquid (milk, water or fruit juice), flavors and some form of leavening agent (such as yeast or baking powder), though many cakes lack these ingredients and instead rely on air bubbles in the dough to expand and cause the cake to rise. Cake is often frosted with buttercream or marzipan, and finished with piped borders and crystallized fruit.Cake is often the dessert of choice for meals at ceremonial occasions, particularly weddings, anniversaries and birthdays. There are literally millions of cake recipes (some are bread-like and some rich and elaborate) and many are centuries old. Cake making is no longer a complicated procedure; while at one time considerable labor went into cake making (particularly the whisking of egg foams), baking equipment and directions have been so perfected and simplified that even the amateur cook may easily become an expert baker.

These dessert or snack bars are reminiscent of good old Fig Newtons, a lunch-box and after-school snack favorite from my childhood. The addition of whole wheat flour, wheat germ, and applesauce in the crust make them toastier tasting with a cake-like texture. Lemon zest adds a nice contrast to the sweet raspberry filling.

Applesauce by itself can be rather “blah”. Add it to this bread and you will have a wonderful bread with your coffee (it’s like coffee cake) or for a simple dessert.

Ingredients* 2 pounds gum drops cut into small pieces* 1 cup sugar* 1 cup butter* 2 eggs; well beaten* 1 1/2 cups sweetened applesauce* 1 teaspoon cinnamon* 1 teaspoon cloves* 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg* 1 pound white raisins* 1 1/2 cups nutmeats* 1 teaspoon soda dissolved in 1 teaspoon water* 1 teaspoon salt* 4 cups flour

Zucchini Carrot Muffins are great right out of the oven with butter or spread with a cream cheese frosting. The recipe is easy because it calls for store bought carrot cake mix. It uses less oil than other muffin recipes and calls upon 1/2 cup of applesauce to sweeten and moisten the muffins.

 June 1 is . . . . . Dare Day June 2 is . . . . . National Rocky Road Day June 3 is . . . . . Repeat Day June 4 is . . . . . Old Maid's Day June 5 is . . . . . Festival Of Popular Delusions Day June 6 is . . . . . Teacher's Day and National Applesauce Cake Day June 7 is . . . . . National Chocolate Ice C