Christmas Cake

"THE EASY WAY"

A good fruit cake, with a good density of fruit resembling a rich Christmas cake in texture 
- but made with only 4 ingredients - ideal for those in a hurry!

Take 1kg of mixed fruit and soak overnight in 2 cups of fruit juice 
- I prefer apple myself.

To add some Christmas spirit, replace some of the fruit juice with brandy,
whisky or dark Jamaican rum or even sherry.

Leave the soaking fruits overnight.

Next day....

Mix into the soaking fruit, (which will have swelled by now),
2 cups of self-raising flour and 1 teaspoon of mixed spice. 

Mix all well together until you have incorporated all the flour.

I use a 22cm loose bottomed cake tin - doubled lined with  baking paper  - 
the sides protruding as much again above the level of the tine sides. 
Pour your mixture into the tin - level out and place in the middle of a 150c oven for 2 1/4 to 2 21/2 hours
taking care in the last half hour not to let the top be overdone - cover with baking paper if you think this may happen.

Cool completely before removing from tin and keep in an airtight container.

Up to a cup of nuts of choice can be added to the mixture as can 
more spices such as cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, allspice etc.

17th December 2004