Are you wondering what to do for Halloween? Join Melissa Heim and Ned Allyn Parker for episode 2 of “It’s All Communion,” Andover Newton’s cooking show!

In this episode, which will air on October 31st, Melissa and Ned make apple cake. The recipe is simple, and you may already have all of the ingredients in your kitchen. We will also offer some alternatives to make the cake vegan, as well as ideas for adding some crumble topping.  For those viewers who have attended a Thursday night Emmaus Gathering in the past, chances are you’ve gone up for seconds when this cake is on the table. 

Melissa and Ned will also welcome special guest Maurice Tiner (‘19), Director of Race & Ethnicity Programs at Connecticut College. We’ll talk about community formation, cooking, and favorite Halloween treats. We’ll accidently on purpose talk a little theology, too.

On October 31st, put on your costume, start a watch party on Facebook, turn on your oven, and join us!

The recipe for apple cake

• Cooking spray
• 3 cups unbleached flour
• 1 ½ cups white sugar (more or less as desired)
• ¾ cup canola oil
• 3 eggs (use egg replacer, applesauce, Ener-G, or ground flaxseed to make vegan)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 4 apples, peeled and chopped
• If you’re interested in added a crumble topping, have some brown sugar, walnuts (or almond slivers, or pecans), oats, and butter (vegan or otherwise) handy

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Spray a 9x13 inch baking pan with cooking spray.
3. Combine flour, sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, salt, baking soda, vanilla extract, and cinnamon in a large bowl; mix well (the batter will be stiff).
4. Stir in the apples until just combined.
5. Pour batter into prepared baking pan.
6. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour.