Mr. Morris' Salsa Cake

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1⅓ cups sugar
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• ½ teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 cup salsa (homemade, a good store-bought brand, or use the salsa recipe below)
• ½ cup shortening
• 2 eggs
• ⅓ cup water

Frosting

• 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter, to room temperature
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Salsa

• 2 cups tomatoes, crushed (or equivalent canned tomatoes)
• 1 cup roasted red peppers, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, finely minced (I'm thinking less garlic or no garlic for this recipe!?!?)
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro or 2 teaspoons fresh parsley
• 1 teaspoon jalapenos, minced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In large bowl mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, soda, cinnamon, cloves and allspice.
3. Cut in the shortening with a pastry blender.
4. Add the salsa, beating 3 minutes with an electric mixer. Next beat in the eggs and water, beating another 3 minutes.
5. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans or one large bundt pan. Line the pan(s) with parchment paper.
6. Pour in batter evenly into the pan.
7. Bake for 30 – 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean.
8. Note that the cake may take longer to cook if baked in a bundt pan.
9. In the meantime, prepare the cream cheese frosting.
10. Beat all ingredients together until smooth. Set aside.
11. Cool cake on wire rack then frost with cream cheese frosting.