Ingredients:

1000g self raising floor.

500g Sugar

500g butter

250g currants

250g sultanas

250g raisins

1 packet chopped peel

800g cherries

5mls salt

5mls almond essence

1 Litre milk

6 eggs (separated)

Grated  rind of 1 lemon

Method.

1. Cream butter & sugar well.
2. Add egg yolks and essence.
3. Beat well. Add flour and fruit mixed together.
4. Alternatively add milk.
5. Add stiffly beaten eggs whites.
6. Decorate with cherries and nuts
7. Bake in a moderate oven for two hours.
8. Cool completely.

Serving Tip

This is a rich cake which is appropriate for celebrations such as birthdays, graduations, Easter and Christmas holidays etcetera, in which case it should be further decorated with icing. The cake makes for better eating when it has been well cooled, then stored and matured for at least a week in a cake tin or wrapped in foil.