Recipe: Aunt Rae’s Dutch Hustle Cake

Aunt Rae’s Dutch Hustle Cake (heirloom)

For many years, Aunt Rae ran the lunchroom at Hillside Avenue School, in Hillside NJ. I remember that she used to make all the sandwiches for all the kids, everyday. That was back when students could walk home for lunch if they wanted to. A lot of the children in her school chose to stay and eat the school lunches. There was milk and a piece of fruit in the bag lunches that she prepared.

Ingredients in order of use
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter
1 package regular yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1 egg, well beaten
1 1/3 cups sifted flour

Scald milk, stir in sugar, salt and butter. Cool to lukewarm.

In a mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Stir in the lukewarm milk mixture. Add the egg and flour. Beat until smooth. Spread dough evenly in a 9-inch square pan.

Arrange on top: 1 1/2 cups thinly sliced apple pieces, sprinkled with 2 tablespoons brown sugar and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg. Dot with 2 tablespoons butter.