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.