Christmas Fruit Cake


2 c. white sugar                          1 heaping tsp. baking soda

2 c. water                                1 tsp. salt

2 heaping tbsp. shortening               1 tsp. nutmeg

1-1/2 lb. seedless raisins               1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 lb. mixed peel                       Shake of ground cloves and ground ginger

Enough flour to stiffen dough

walnuts and vanilla


Boil together five minutes sugar, water, shortening, raisins and peel.* When add the spices sifted with enough flour to make a stiff dough. Add chopped nuts and vanilla (about 2 tsp. vanilla). Line loaf pans with parchment paper and grease paper. Bake at 325 deg. for about 2 hours.


NOTE:       If the cake becomes brown on top before it's done, cover tops of cakes with

Aluminum foil to prevent them from becoming too dark.

* If using "Radiant Mix" or other soft, sealed fresh mixed peel, do not boil unless it has become hard and dry.

This was Grandma Allen's recipe.

I never did reduce it to all level

measurements for exactness.  Mom