• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe

A slice of apple cake a day to keep the quarantine blues away

March 29, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window, Recipes

Today I drove to my parents’ house to pick something up off their porch. I talked to them with gestures and smiles and voices muffled by their storm door. Then I stopped at my sister Treasa’s house and waved to her and her husband and children through the glass.They were all smiles and giggles and cuteness as I waved and blew them kisses, and it was adorable how excited they were by such a tiny interaction.

On the way home, though, I cried. This is how it has to be right now, and I accept that without question. But the interactions forced me to acknowledge something I had pushed aside. This whole social distancing experience is not easy.

Yes, we have FaceTime and Zoom and Skype and other ways to stay in touch. But I miss real physical interactions. And It’s OK to admit that these tools are wonderful, but not at all adequate replacements for the real deal.

As I drove home feeling a little sad, I saw a sign outside Smyth, a local family-owned jewelry store.

“Stay strong,” it said.

I was very touched by those words, written as they were by someone who is probably searching for strength right now.

Still, I am not going to tell you to stay strong. If you’re like me, you don’t need one more assignment or activity to add to your list. And there’s something to be said for admitting you are lacking in strength and need the help of others and God.

All I can really offer today is a recipe for a delicious apple cake. I thought I would share it with you in case you like to bake while in quarantine.

After all, we aren’t going anywhere for a while, and this cake cooks for almost two hours. The only strength you will need is for stirring and not eating five pieces in a row. But I won’t judge you if you do. Apples are super healthy, you know.

Jewish Apple Cake

Mix in large bowl:

6 large apples, peeled and sliced very thin

2 tsp. cinnamon

¼ cup sugar

Put in large bowl and beat until smooth:

3 cups of flour

2 ½ cups of sugar

½ tsp. salt

3 tsp. baking powder

1 cup canola oil

4 eggs

7 Tbsp. of orange juice

2 ½ tsp vanilla extract

Grease tube pan well. Put in small amount of batter, then apples, batter, apples, batter, apples, batter, apples on top. Don’t stress if you run low on apples for the top or if you have fewer layers than it says here. Making this cake is supposed to be stress-relieving. Trust that it will be OK because it will.

Bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 45 minutes. Let it cool in the pan for about one hour while the house smells amazing and everyone drools. Then take it out of the pan and serve it. It’s good fresh. It’s good the next day. It’s good four days later. I think that’s about as long as we’ve had one last before the platter is licked clean. It’s delicious with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, but it’s perfectly wonderful on its own, too.

If you try it, I hope you enjoy it. And I hope you’ll have the chance to see the smiles of some of your loved ones today, even if you can’t be with them in person.

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Rita Buettner

View all posts from this author

| Recent Commentary |

A loaf of sliced bread

We are part of the miracle

Question Corner: Do I need to attend my territorial parish?

The truth about transitions

A cry for unity

‘Public’ does not equal ‘state’ or ‘government’

| Recent Local News |

Pilgrims walk in the footsteps of America’s first saint

Juneteenth

Juneteenth seen as day to reflect on freedom, ending racism and Black Catholics’ contributions

Deacon O’Donnell’s ‘normal’ faith life led to priestly vocation

St. Joseph Church in Fullerton

Fullerton church begins renovations

Deacon Alex Mwebaze is happy to call Maryland home

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Pilgrims walk in the footsteps of America’s first saint
  • Trump orders US attack on Iran nuclear sites, as Pope Leo, bishops plead for peace
  • We are part of the miracle
  • Visiting Upstate New York’s National Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs
  • Washington Roundup: Trump weighs options in Israel-Iran conflict, CLINIC condemns expanded ICE raids
  • Malta in the Jubilee Year: A quieter pilgrimage of hope
  • Finance experts launch report at Vatican on foreign debt relief
  • Hundreds of thousands march in Poland’s Corpus Christi processions
  • Traditionalist Catholics see evangelization potential of Latin Mass

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED