1 c. shortening
2 c. sugar
2 c. milk
2 tsp. baking soda (in the milk)
4 eggs, beaten
5 c. flour
1 c. dates
1 c. figs
1 c. currants
1 c. raisins
1 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. nutmeg

Cream the shortening, sugar and eggs. Dissolve the soda in the milk. Use part of the flour to coat the fruit. Mix spices with the rest of the flour and beat in alternately with the milk. Stir in fruit. (May use 4 cups raisins and 1 c. broken walnuts instead of the above fruit.)

Bake in 4 loaf pans (bread pans), or 1 tube pan and 2 loaf pans, at 300 to 325 degrees about 2 hours or until it draws from sides and tests done with a toothpick.