"War Cake" - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 c. sugar
1 c. water
2 Tbsp. shortening
1 c. raisins
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cloves
1 1/2 c. sifted flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt (optional)
1/2 c. chopped walnuts

Preparation

Grease and flour an 8 x 4-inch baking pan. Place the sugar, water, raisins, oil, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves in a heavy bottomed saucepan. Mix and bring to a boil. Cook gently for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool until comfortably warm to finger. Sift together flour, baking soda and salt. Add to cooled sugar mixture, blending well. Fold in nuts; spread evenly in baking pan and bake for 1 hour or until a cake tester comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes. Turn onto a rack to cool completely. On special occasions, add cut up candied fruit (pineapple, red cherries). Yield: 1 loaf.