Kuchen for the Holidays

"Whenever my family sits at my table, it's a holiday."

                                                                                               

                                                                       Aunt Ruth

Plum Kuchen

serves 9

1 1/2 cups fork-stirred all purpose flour

1 t baking powder

1/2 t salt

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

2 large eggs 1/4 cup cold water

1lb (18-20 small) fresh prune-plums, quartered, and pitted

1/4 cup sugar mixed with 1/4-1/2 t each ground allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg

Stir together flour, baking powder, salt.  Cream butter and 1/2 cup sugar, beat in eggs well.

Add flour mixture and water; stir only until dry ingredients are moistened.   Spread over the bottom of a buttered 9" square cake pan.

Lightly press plums, skin side up in rows over batter.  Sprinkle them with spiced sugar mixture.  Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean-about 40 minutes.

Cut in squares and serve hot.

(for other recipe ideas, try http://www.epicurious.com/recipesmenus/holidays/highholydays/recipes)