When all else fails…make a cake

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Just made, for the second time, a fruit cake that my Grandma makes. It is so delectable!

Delectably Rich Fruit Cake

1/3 cup pitted prunes
1 1/2 cups (250g) sultanas
1 1/2 cups (250g) currants
1/2 cup sweet sherry
1/2 cup brandy
125g butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 eggs
1Tbs dry instant coffee
1/4cup hot water
1/4 cup plum jam
1 cup plain flour
3/4 cup SRF
1 Tbs cocoa
1 tsp gound cinnamon
1/2 tsp mixed spice
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 1/2 cups (250g) glace cherries
1 1/2 cups (250g) halved dates
1 cup mixed peel
2 cups (250g) walnut pieces

Combine prunes, sultanas and currents in a bowl, mix in sherry and brandy, cover and stand overnight (this fruit can be soaking for up to 2 weeks).
Grease a deep 23cm round cake pan and line with 3 layers of paper.
Cream butter and sugar in small bowl with electric mixer only until just combined. Add eggs quickly, one at a time, beat only until combined between each addition. Transfer mixture to a large bowl, stir in the combined coffee, water and jam, then the sifted dry ingredients in 2 lots. Drain the prune mixture, reserving the liquid. Add prune mixture, cherries, dates, peel and walnuts to cake mixture. Spread cake mix into prepared tin. Bake in a slow oven, 150 degrees C, for about 2 hours. Brush reserved liquid over hot cake, cover and cool in tin.

Keeps for 3 months, but it didn’t last longer than 3 days last time!

Things have calmed down out here. We seem back to normal! Looking forward to the holidays and having the time to spend with the kids at a slower pace. Racing around in the mornings to get everyone where they need to go is hard work. The upstairs wardrobes will be completed tomorrow and Friday which I am ecstatic about as all the contents are spread over the house and driving me nuts. The already finished wardrobes in our room, Holly’s and Amy’s are great, and it it wonderful to be able to see the clothes and have them at hands reach rather than digging though drawers and never seeing things for weeks at a time.

Back to the cake – an hour to go cooking time and it smells great. 🙂