Fruitcake

[Roxy]

Fruitcake:

1-1/2 C large seeded raisins

1-1/2 C dates, cut into small pieces (You can buy them already cut up.)

2 C sugar

2 C boiling water

5 Tbsp. shortening

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3 C sifted flour

1 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. ground cloves

1 tsp. salt

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1 C chopped walnuts

1 C candied fruits (Cut pieces smaller than they come in the container.)

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Place raisins, dates, sugar, boiling water and shortening in a large, deep pan and

simmer gently for 20 minutes. Cool mixture. (I always set the pan in a sink full

of cold water and sometimes add ice cubes to the water in the sink to make it

cool faster.)

Sift flour, measure it, and then add baking soda, cinnamon, ground cloves and

salt together. Stir into cooled mixture. Save at least a cup of the flour mixture

to mix with the walnuts and candied fruits--to coat each piece with flour so they

don't stick together--before you add them to the mix.

Pour into Pam-sprayed loaf pans. Bake 1-1/2 hours at 325 degrees F.

Makes two 3-3/4" X 7-3/4" loaves (or several smaller size loaves, baked less time).