Cream shortening, sugar, egg and salt. Add soda to applesauce. Combine flour and spices. Add applesauce mixture and flour mixture alternately to creamed mixture. Add raisins. Bake in flat pan for 25 minutes at 350ºF. This was originally served with a chocolate icing topping. It is also good with vanilla icing or plain, since it is rich and moist. 

Applesauce Cake

1/2 cup of shortening
1 cup of sugar
1 egg
2 cups of flour
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 cup of thick applesauce
2/3 cup of chopped raisins
2/3 cup of chopped walnut meats

Cream together shortening and sugar. Add the egg and beat well. Sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, cloves and cinnamon, and alternate with applesauce adding to the creamed mixture. Add the raisins and nuts. Pour into 9-inch greased tube pan. Bake in a preheated oven at 350ºF. for 1 hour. Let stand until cold. Remove from pan; can be served either unfrosted or with a little butter frosting.