Plums are a sweet and yummy fruit to enjoy during the early summer months. Plums are a part of the stone fruit family. They are round in shape and can be many colors on the outside and the inside flesh. They can be a beautiful ruby-red, green, yellow, or pink color. There are many benefits to eating plums, for example: they are high in antioxidants, they may help lower your blood sugar, and may promote bone health. And if you didn’t know... Prunes are dried plums. In this dried form, they are also extremely healthy for you being high in fiber. I love eating them raw as a snack, but my favorite is making my mom’s plum cake recipe. It is easy to make, and you will love the delicious smell from your oven.

Throughout the Ventura Farmers’ Markets, you will find several farmers that carry many different varieties of plums throughout the summer season.

NANCY’S MOM PLUM CAKE:

Ingredients:

• 4 plums

• 1 1⁄2 cups of white flour

• 1 1⁄2 tsp of baking powder

• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

• 1⁄4 tsp of nutmeg

• 1⁄2 tsp salt

• 1 cup of butter

• 1 cup of sugar

• 1egg

• 1 tsp of vanilla

• 1⁄2 cup of milk

• 2 tsp additional sugar divided

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Cut plums in half and slice into 1⁄4 pieces

3. Mix together in a bowl the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. (Set aside)

4. In a separate bowl, Soften the butter, and combine with 1 cup of sugar and mix with beaters

until well blended for a few minutes.

5. Add egg and vanilla until it is mixed into the butter mix

6. Add the flour mixture and milk to the butter mixture alternately until a thick batter is formed.

7. Spread into round baking bowl. Arrange the sliced plums around on top and sprinkle with the 2

tsp of sugar and bake for 60 minutes.

8. Remove from oven and let it cool. Enjoy!