Raisin Spice Cake - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 cups raisins
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup shortening
2 cups packed brown sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk or 1 cup sour milk
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 eggs, beaten
confectioners' sugar

Preparation

In a saucepan, combine raisins and water. Cook until plump. Drain and set aside raisins, reserving 10 tablespoons cooking liquid. In a mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar. Combine flour, cinnamon, cloves nutmeg and salt; set aside. Combine milk, soda, eggs and reserved cooking liquid. Add dry ingredients alternately with milk mixture to creamed mixture. Stir in cooked raisins. Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 35-40 minutes or until cake test done. Cool on a wire rack. Just before serving, sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.