Fruit Bars - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 c. soft shortening (part butter)
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 Tbsp. grated orange rind
1/4 c. orange juice
2 1/2 c. sifted flour
1 c. chopped nuts
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
3/4 c. seedless raisins
3/4 c. mixed candied fruit

Preparation

Mix the first 4 ingredients thoroughly.
Stir in juice.
Sift together and add the flour, soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
MIx with hands the raisins, candied fruit and nuts.
Add to mix. Divide dough in half.
Roll out each half on lightly floured, cloth-covered board into a rectangle and cut in 2-inch strips. Bake on lightly greased cookie sheet for 10 to 12 minutes in a 400\u00b0 oven.
These can be iced and decorated with candied fruit while warm.
Cut baked strips into bars.