Nob's seed-cake

Ristiinnä's seed-cake, based on a recipe she learned from Nob, which he says comes from the Shire. A dish she's added to the rotation at the Prancing Pony for jälkiruoka (dessert, literally after-food) that she is trying to convince people to try.

Baked by me, just now, and photograph taken quickly because they tend to disappear really fast. Here's the recipe. The key here is the use of poppy-seeds instead of caraway to give it a more sweet than savory character, and the use of applesauce which makes it sweet, flavorful, and moist. I typically make a double-recipe (and the photo shows that, minus a couple of cakes).

Ingredients
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1¼ tsp. baking powder
• ¾ cup sugar
• ½ cup unsweetened applesauce (or regular, but reduce the sugar)
• 1 egg
• ½ cup milk
• 3 Tbsp. poppy seeds
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp lemon oil (optional)

Directions
1. Sift the flour and baking powder together into a large bowl.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix until incorporated.
3. Pour the batter into a lightly greased (spray non-stick is good) round cake pan (or several round cake pans if you’re making smaller cakes; cupcake/muffin pans are also good, as seen in the photo).
4. Bake at 350ºF for 30 minutes, or until done in the middle (the toothpick test).