Gum Drop Cake

1 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup applesauce
3 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1 pound gum drops (remove black licorice drops)
(use small gum drops or cut in pieces and dust with flour)
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Grease well and flour a Bundt pan or 2 (9 inch) loaf pans.

Cream together shortening and sugar. Blend in eggs and applesauce. Blend the
dry ingredients well into the liquid. Fold in nuts and gum drops.

Put mixture in prepared pan(s). Bake at 350 degrees for about 2 hours or
until pick comes out clean. Cool slightly and remove cake from pan and
cool on rack.