Poor Man's Fruitcake

1 box     raisins
2/3 c     shortening
2 c       water
1 tsp     salt
2 tsp     cinnamon
1 tsp     cloves
1/2 tsp   nutmeg
2 c       brown sugar
***
4 cups    flour
1 tsp     baking powder
2 tsp     baking soda (in 3 tsp hot water)
1 cup     nuts (pecans recommended)
1/2 lb    dates
1/2 lb    candied cherries
1/2 lb    candies citron

The amounts and kinds of fruit and nuts are very flexible.
For Thanksgiving, use less fruit. For Christmas, use up to any
amount of fruit. Don't chop them too fine; halve some.

Combine ingredients up to "***": raisins, shortening,
spices, and sugar. Boil for 3 minutes,then cool. Add flour,
baking powder and soda. Add nuts & fruit. Pour into pans lined
with brown paper and bake at 300x for about 2 hours with a pan
half full of water on the bottom of the oven. Test often. When
the cake is removed from oven, warm wine and pour as much over it
as it will absorb. Wrap the cake in cheese cloth soaked in wine,
then in wax paper, then store in airtight container.

A double recipe yields one 10" angel food pan plus two
8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2" loaf pans.