Fruit Cake II

When you want a really good fruit cake and have the time to bake something amazing, this is the recipe that will knock the socks off your guests!

Ingredients:

2 cups sugar

1 cup shortening

2 eggs

3 1/2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 cups applesauce

1 cup nuts

1 1/2 cup raisins

1 cup mixed citron

1 pound chopped dates

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325.

Cream sugar and shortening until well incorporated.  Add in eggs and beat well.  In a separate bowl- combine flour, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon.

In another bowl, combine applesauce and baking soda.

Alternate adding the dry ingredients and the applesauce mixture into the creamed shortening mixture.  Once combined, gently fold in the nuts, raisins, citron and dates.

In a prepared (greased and floured) angel food cake pan.  Bake at 325 degrees for 3 hours.  (Watch the cake, if it starts to brown to quickly you can turn the heat down to 300 degrees for the last hour and half.

Makes a 5 pound fruit cake.