2 c. sugar
1 c. butter
2 c. buttermilk
2 heaping tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. each cloves, allspice, cinnamon and nutmeg
3 1/2 c. flour
2/3 c. raisins
2/3 c. chopped dates
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. chopped black walnuts or pecans
1 1/2 c. candied fruit
May add 1/2 tsp. black walnut extract

Cream sugar and butter. Sift dry ingredients together. Mix raisins, dates, nuts and candied fruits and put 1 cup flour over fruit nut mixture. Add buttermilk to creamed mixture. Mixing by hand, add flour and spice mixture and add fruit and nut mixture. Line tube pan with greased brown paper.

Bake at 300 degrees for about 1 1/2 hours. Leave plain but real good too with caramel.

FROSTING:

1/2 c. (1 stick) butter
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. brown sugar
6 tbsp. milk
2 1/2 c. powdered sugar

Melt butter and stir in brown sugar and salt. Bring to a boil and boil 2 minutes. Stir constantly. Remove from heat add the 6 tablespoons milk. Put back on fire and bring to a full boil. Set aside and cool 20 minutes. Stir in powdered sugar and beat until smooth and spread on cake.