Fruitcake
["2 c. sugar", "1 c. butter or margarine", "5 eggs", "1/4 c. molasses", "2 c. flour, divided", "1/2 tsp. baking soda", "1 tsp. ground cloves", "1 tsp. ground cinnamon", "1 tsp. ground nutmeg", "1/4 c. brandy (optional)", "1 lb. raisins", "24 oz. dried fruit mix", "1 1/2 c. chopped walnuts", "8 oz. chopped dates"]
["Cream sugar with butter until creamy.", "Add eggs and beat well. Beat in molasses.", "Combine 1 cup flour, baking soda and spices and add to the creamed mixture alternately with the brandy beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.", "Combine raisins, walnuts, fruit mix and dates; toss with 1 cup flour to coat well and then stir into batter.", "Place dough into two 9 x 5-inch loaf pans lined with wax paper.", "Bake at 225\u00b0 for 3 to 3 1/2 hours. Place shallow pan of boiling water on the bottom of oven during baking but remove it the last 30 minutes of baking.", "Cool in pans on a rack.", "Remove cake and peel off wax paper.", "Wrap in foil. Store in cool place.", "Will keep months in the refrigerator.", "Makes 2 cakes."]
["sugar", "butter", "eggs", "molasses", "flour", "baking soda", "ground cloves", "ground cinnamon", "ground nutmeg", "brandy", "raisins", "fruit mix", "walnuts", "dates"]