Civil War Cake - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 lb raisins
2 cups water
2 cups sugar (1 white & 1 brown)
1 cup shortening
4 1/2 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon clove
1 cup nuts (optional)

Preparation

Combine raisins, sugar, 1 cup of water, shortening, salt & spices in a saucepan.
Bring to a boil, simmer 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, then cool till lukewarm, then add the other cp of water.
Dissolve soda in 2 teas.
of water, set aside. Stir sifted & measured flour into raisin mixture & beat until smooth.
Add dissolved soda last. Pur into greased floured 13x9 [am & bale 50-55 min.
at 350 degrees.
It may also be cooked in a tube pan.
Serve with whipped cream or caramel frosting.
Combine 3/4 cup of brown sugar 1/2 cup of water 1/2 tsp salt in a saucepan.
Cook 6 min.
stirring often.
Cool to lukewarm and stir in 3 Tbsp.
of butter.
Then gradually stir in 21/4 cups of sifted confectionery sugar, beating until smooth.
Stir in 1 teas.
vanilla and spread on cake. You will be surprised how good it taste with such little ingredients.