Cover raisins with water, cook for 3 minutes, drain well. Preheat oven to 325 degrees and grease a 13x9 inch pan. Mix dry ingredients together. Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and add oil, eggs and vanilla. Mix thoroughly. Stir in raisins, nuts and apples. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 1 hour. Remove from oven and let cool before frosting. Frosting: Combine the 6 tablespoons butter with the 1/4 cup milk and 1/2 to 3/4 cup brown sugar and boil for 2 minutes. Let cool. Mix in 4 cups confectioners sugar 1 cup at a time until spreading consistency. After frosting, sprinkle some chopped nuts on top. As an option, replace the frosting with ice-cream. Mmmm.