Boiled Fruit Cake

This recipe comes from my great grandma, maybe not exactly as she would have made it. Apparently my great granddad liked it fried in butter for breakfast. Up until now it has been a verbal recipe so my mother and I have put it down in "writing for prosterity. It's not a fancy fruit cake but something for everyday. I like this with a blue cheese.

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Serves: 10

Ingredients

• 375  g  mixed dried fruit
• 50  g  glace cherries
• 1  tablespoon  mixed peel (optional)
• 125  g butter
• 1  teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 3⁄4 cup water
• 1⁄4 cup brandy
• 1  cup brown sugar
• 2  eggs
• 1  cup plain flour
• 1  cup self-rising flour
• 1  teaspoon cinnamon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1⁄4 teaspoon clove
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cardamom
• 1⁄4 teaspoon mace
• 1  pinch salt

Directions

1. Place dried fruit, mixed peel, cherries, water, brandy, sugar and butter in pan.
2. Heat gently, bring the boil and simmer for 5 minutes.
3. Take of heat and add the bicarb soda, stirring through, mixture will foam up a bit. Leave until cold.
4. Sift flours and spices.
5. Mix the eggs through the fruit mixture, then combine with dry ingredient.
6. Pour into a lined 18cm square cake pan or 18cm round cake pan.
7. Wet your hand and flatten top of cake.
8. Bake at 150C for 1 hour.
9. Cool in pan covered with a tea towel.