by friend of caver » Nov 8, 2021 10:54 am
Apple (Logan Bread) F Herb and Jan Conn
People often ask us what we take to eat in the cave. Our lunches consist almost entirely of a loaf we bake ourselves. A combination of Logan bread (a mountaineer’s staple) and applesauce cake.
Because those who try it usually come back asking for the recipe, it is given below. We recommend it for any sort of outdoor lunch -- or indoor, too, for that matter. It is concentrated food with a minimum of bulk, and is palatable even when water is scarce. In our relatively dry climate it keeps for a week or more without refrigeration, protected only by a plastic bag. It may crumble partially in a tight crawlway, but the crumbs are good eating too.
1) Mix and bring to boiling point:
1 1/2 Cups 12 oz. water*
1 3/4 Cups 121/2 oz. sugar
2 Cups 16 oz. applesauce
1/2 Cup 41/2 oz. molasses
2/3 Cup 71/2 oz. honey
2 Cups 15 2/3 oz. shortening
2) Mix together then add above:
8 Cups 32 oz. whole wheat flour
2 2/3 Cups 12 oz. white flour
2/3 Cup 21/2 oz. powdered milk
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp ground cloves
optional: nuts, raisins, or whatever suits you.
* These are actual weights rather than fluid measurements. We put the container right on the kitchen scale and add the ingredients by weight. No measuring cups to wash afterwards.
3) Use greased or teflon-lined pans --
three 8 inch square pans or five small loaf pans
(Allow room for moderate rising.)
4) Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on top. Preheat oven to 300° F. Bake for 1 hour or until firm to the touch in the center.
Recipe produces a large quantity of food, but that is no problem if you have a freezer or a hearty appetite. If you experiment with a half or a quarter of the recipe and run into unmanagable fractions, take comfort. Small changes in quantities and substitutions of ingredients are regular occurrences at our house and make little difference in the final product. The only time we goofed badly was when we used seasoning salt by mistake instead of cinnamon and sugar. It was terrible!