1 cups sifted cake flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter (room temperature)
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/3 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup ground hazelnuts, hickory nuts or pecans
3/4 cup Craisins or dried fruit (like blueberries, optional)

Sift flour and measure; add baking powder and salt and sift again.

Beat butter until creamy, adding sugar gradually. Beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs and beat well. Stir vanilla into milk. Add milk mixture alternately with flour. Add ground nuts and fold in thoroughly. Stir in dried fruit, if using.

Pour into a 8x4x3 inch loaf pan that has been lined with aluminum foil.

Bake in a preheated 325°F oven for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until firm and springy to touch.

Cool 10 minutes; then remove from pan. Cool thoroughly; wrap and freeze.