POOR MANS CAKE

Poor man's cake 

Makes 20 servings 

2 cups sugar 

1 (1-pound) box raisins 

Pinch of salt 

1 cup shortening 

1 whole ground orange 

2 teaspoons EACH nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves 

2 cups water 

4 cups flour 

2 teaspoons baking soda 

2 cups nuts (preferably pecan halves) 

Grease and flour an angel food or large Bundt cake pan. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. 

In a large saucepan, bring to a boil the sugar, raisins, salt, shortening, orange, spices and water. Remove from heat. Let cool. Sift together the flour and baking soda. 

Stir flour into the boiled mixture. Stir in nuts thoroughly. Turn into the prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour or longer, up to 2 hours, until cake tests done with a toothpick in several places and pulls away from the edges of the pan. Let cake cool in the pan for a little while before turning it out onto a plate.