Grandma Rose's Apple Cake

If you live in the Midwest and/or have German/Polish/Eastern European heritage... you probably grew up with this apple cake.  My Grandma Rose used to make it regularly and as a kid, I LOVED it.  It's not a cake that needs frosting and is super delicious plain or with a little powdered sugar on top.  A scoop of vanilla ice cream wouldn't be bad either!  Imagine if Apple Pie and Cake had a baby...this would be it.  I opted to make mine today with NO nuts and I added a tiny bit of Vanilla. 
IT IS SOOOO GOOD!

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1  3/4 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• dash of salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 cup cooking oil
• 1/2 - 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
• 5 medium apples, peeled and diced
• 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, toasted (optional)

Directions

1. Grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan; set aside.  In a very large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cinnamon and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, combine eggs, oil and a ½ teaspoon of vanilla (vanilla is optional);  Add egg mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until moistened (batter will be stiff). Stir in apples and nuts (nuts if desired).  Spread batter in prepared pan.
3. Bake in a 350 degrees oven for approx. one hour or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for at least 1 hour. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.