8 oz. butter
8 oz. soft brown sugar
4 eggs, lightly beaten
10 oz. plain flour
2 tsp. mixed spice
8 oz. seedless raisins
8 oz. sultanas
4 oz. mixed peel
4 oz. chopped walnuts
Large supply of Guinness

Open first bottle of Guinness and fill glass. Take long drink to gain strength. Cream butter and sugar together until light. Gradually beat in the eggs. Fold in flour and mixed spice. Take further drink of Guinness to raise spirits. Add raisins, sultanas, mixed peel and mix well together.

Finish off first bottle of Guinness. Open second bottle and measure out 4 tablespoons into a clean glass. Drink to test for strength. Measure a further 4 tablespoons of Guinness and stir into mixture until a soft dropping consistency forms (mixture not you.)

Turn mixture into prepared 7 inch round cake tin (magic.) Bake in oven for one hour. Drink more Guinness to pass time. Reduce heat and bake for a further 1 1/2 hours. You probably need to open more Guinness to cool you.

Allow cake to cool while drinking more Guinness. Remove cake from tin. Give cake drink of Guinness by pricking base with a skewer (cake, not you) and spooning on 4 to 8 tablespoons of Guinness.

Join cake in drink of Guinness just to be sociable. Place cake in airtight tin or wrap in foil. Drink rest of Guinness. Not less than one week later open tin and eat cake. Do not drive or breath on mother within 3 hours of enjoying cake.

(Fun recipe from a cookbook given to me by my British Homestay family. Local family from community that I spent time with.)

(Hosterman)