Apple Picnic Cake

1/2 cup solid shortening (Crisco)
2 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups diced Granny Smith apples (peeled and cored)
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup golden raisins or dried cherries
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 1/2 cups whipped cream or whipped topping

Grease and flour a 13 x 9-inch cake pan or two 8-inch round cake pans. Heat oven to 325 degrees F.

Cream together solid shortening, sugar and eggs.

Add vanilla extract, apples, walnuts and raisins or dried cherries.

Stir together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg; stir into apple mixture.

Fold in 1 1/2 cups whipped cream or whipped topping.

Pour batter into prepared pan(s). Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until a wooden pick comes out clean. Remove from pan(s) and let cool.

Frost with Fluffy Cream Cheese Icing.

Decorate with red and blue jelly beans, red licorice, blueberries and blueberry preserves for a patriotic touch!

Fluffy Cream Cheese Icing:
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Beat all ingredients together until light.