Cream together 1/4 cup butter, 3/4 cup sugar, and 1 egg. Boil 1 1/2 cup raisins for 20 minutes. In 1 1/2 cup water which raisins were boiled, mix 1 teaspoon baking soda. Sift together 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 1/2 cup flour and 1 teaspoon baking powder. Add flour mixture alternately with raisin water to creamed mixture. Then add raisins with 1 cup nuts. Bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes or until done. Ice with caramel icing. (I usually double this recipe.)