1/3 c. shortening
1 c. sugar
1 c. water
1 c. raisins
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda dissolved in 1 tbsp. water
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla

Boil together first 7 ingredients for 3 minutes. Add remaining ingredients when boiled mixture is thoroughly cold. Nuts, dates, cherries, chopped prunes, apricots, etc. may be added. Bake in a slow oven (300 to 325 degrees) for about an hour. Bake for a shorter time if the recipe is divided into smaller cakes. This is a World War I recipe of my mother's.