Apple´n Spice Cake (12-14 servings)

1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup water
2 cups unsifted all-purpose fluor
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp soda
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup finely chopped apple

Simmer raisins in water for 5 minutes.  Remove from heat.  Measure and add enough water to make 1 cup.  Cool.

Place fluor, sugar, baking powder, soda, cloves, nutmeg and salt in mixing bowl.  Mix well.  Cut in margarine with pastry blender or flork until mixture looks like coarse meal.  Add apple and cool raisin mixture to dry ingredients.  Stir until throughly blended.  Pour into greased 9 x 5 x 2 3/2 inch loaf pan.  Bake at 325ºF about 1 hour or until cake springs back when lightly touched in center.  When cooled, spread top of cake with Caramel or Coffe Frosting, if desired.