1 pound golden raisins
1 to 2 pounds gumdrops (do not use black gumdrops)
1 cup pecans
4 cups flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups applesauce
1 teaspoon baking soda, dissolved in 1 tablespoon hot water
1 teaspoon vanilla

Sift dry ingredients (flour, salt and spices). Use some of flour mixture to dredge raisins and gumdrops (use scissors to cut gum drops and raisins before dredging in flour mixture).

Cream butter and sugar; add well-beaten eggs. Add flour mixture alternately with applesauce to creamed mixture. Stir in soda, dissolved in water; add vanilla. Add raisins, gumdrops and pecans. Pour batter into two or three small loaf pans lined with greased brown or parchment paper.

Bake 2 hours in 300°F to 325°F oven.