Secret Ingredient Fruitcake

Ingredients

4 oz.s candied lemon peel, chopped

4 oz.s candied orange peel, chopped

1/2 lb. candied cherries, halved

1 lb. candied pineapple, shredded

1 lb. golden raisins

1/2 lb. seeded raisins

4 oz.s currants

1/2 c. dark rum

4 oz.s blanched almond pieces

4 oz.s walnut pieces

2 c.s sifted flour

1/2 tsp. mace

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tbsp. milk

1/2 c. butter

1 c. granulated sugar

1 c. brown sugar, packed

5 eggs

Preparation

1. Mix the fruits. Add rum, cover and let stand overnight.

2. Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Grease or apply Pam to baking pan(s) : one 10 inch tube pan or two 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pans or four 7 3/8 x 3 5/8 x 2 1/4 inch loaf pans. Line with wax paper and spray again with Pam.

3. Combine fruits, nuts and 1/2 cup flour.

4. Sift remaining flour with mace, cinnamon and baking powder. Mix milk with almond extract in separate bowl.

5. Cream butter until smooth, adding sugars gradually. Add eggs; mix well and add milk mixture. Add flour mixture; mix well.

6. Pour batter over fruits and nuts; mix thoroughly. Fill pans, pressing batter down and firmly.

7. Bake tube cake 4 hours, large loaves 3 hours, small loaves 2 1/2 hours, until nicely browned on top. Let cakes stand 30 minutes. Turn out onto rack and peel off paper.

Note: The "secret non-ingredient" is bitter-tasting-citron. Even people who "hate fruitcake" like this one!