OK, Liz. Here are a couple of my mother's best recipes. Hope you like 'em.

-- Áine

Applesauce-Spice Muffins
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3 tsps. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
1/3 cup sugar
1-1/2 cup bran cereal
½ raisins
¼ cup milk
1 cup applesauce
1 egg
¼ cup shortening or vegetable oil

1. Stir together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar. Set aside.
2. Measure raisins and bran cereal, milk and applesauce into mixing bowl. Stir to combine. Let stand about 5 minutes or so until cereal is softened. Add egg and shortening. Beat well.
3. Add flour mixture, stirring only until combined. Portion batter evenly into 12 greased 2-1/2 inch muffin pan cups.
4. Bake in oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, about 25 minutes or until muffins are browned. Serve warm.

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Maple Nut Coffeecake
¼ cup firmly packed brown sugar
¼ cup chopped nuts
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1 tsp. baking powder
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
¼ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
1-1/2 cup bran cereal
½ raisins
1 egg, slightly beaten
2/3 cup milk
½ cup margarine or butter, softened
2 Tbs. firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup maple syrup

1. Mix together first two ingredients for topping. Set aside. Stir together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
2. In large mixing bowl, crush bran cereal and raisins together slightly. Stir in egg and milk. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes or until cereal is softened. Add margarine. Beat well. Stir in sugar, maple sugar and flour mixture. Spread evenly in greased 9-inch round or square baking pan. Sprinkle with topping.
3. Bake in oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 35 minutes or until browned and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool slightly before serving. Yields about 9-10 servings.

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Zucchini Bread
3 cups all purpose flour
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 cup chopped walnuts
4-1/2 tsp. double acting baking powder
1 tsp. salt
4 eggs
2/3 cup salad oil
2 cups grated zucchini
2 tsps. grated lemon peel

Grease two 8-1/2" X 4-1/2" loaf pans. In large bowl, mix flour, sugar, walnuts, baking powder, and salt. In smaller bowl, beat eggs slightly, stir in oil, zucchini and lemon peel. Add to flour mixture, stirring until moistened. Spread evenly in two small baking pans. Bake one hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

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Plum Cake
2 cups sugar
¾ cup oil
3 eggs
2 cups flour
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
8 oz. of pureed plums (or 2 jars of plum baby food)
1-1/2 tsp. red food coloring (optional)
1 cup chopped pecans
Topping: 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 Tbs. lemon juice

Mix sugar, oil, and eggs together until creamy. Sift together flour, cloves, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt and add to sugar, oil and egg mixture. Add plums, food coloring, and pecans. Pour mixture into bundt pan and bake in oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour. Cool for 10 minutes when done and remove cake from pan. Thoroughly heat topping ingredients and drizzle onto top of plum cake.