1 c. water
2 c. seeded raisins
1 c. packed brown sugar
1/3 c. butter or shortening
1/2 tsp. each cinnamon and allspice
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
2 c. cake flour (sift before measuring)
1 tsp. double - acting baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 c. chopped almonds (optional)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Boil for 3 minutes the water, raisins, brown sugar, butter or shortening, cinnamon and allspice, salt and nutmeg. Cool these ingredients. Sift flour, resift with baking powder and baking soda. Stir the flour gradually into the other ingredients. Stir the batter until smooth; add almonds. By the addition of 1 cup chopped dates, figs and citron, this becomes an acceptable fruit cake. Bake in a greased tube pan for 1 hour or more.