Posted by: Jane 11-06-99 4:00 AM
Mather’s Christmas Fruitcake
3/4 cup maraschino cherries, undrained
1 (8 ounce) package bite sized prunes
1 1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup vegetable shortening
4 large eggs
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
3 tablespoons whiskey
1 (15 1/4-ounce) can unsweetened crushed pineapple, undrained
1(15-ounce) box raisins, (about 2 1/2 cups)
4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cloves
Preheat oven to 350° F.
Stew prunes: Combine prunes and 2 cups water, bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until tender. Drain reserving 6 tablesoons cooking liquid. Set aside.
Drain cherries, reserving 3 tablesoons juice. Cut cherries in half; set aside.
Cream sugar, shortening and eggs, until smooth.
Stir in cherries, reserved cherry juice, prunes, reserved prune juice, walnuts and next three ingredients.
Combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and cloves; add to creamed mixture, and stir well.
Bake in preheated 350°F oven
For 10 inch tube pan, bake 1 hour and 15minutes, or until a tester inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10minutes.
For 5 1/2 x 3 inch pans, (1 1/4 cup batter) bake for 50 minutes.
For miniloaf pans (4 x2 1/2 inches) bake for 30 minutes. 1/2 cup batter.