If All Else Fails Eat Cake

Well sadly it's really wet here in Lancashire today so I can't finish off planting my potatoes on the allotment. So instead of sulking and doing nothing why not bake...Pat's quick, easy and economical country style mixed fruit cake. My mum loves it...

125 g soft margarine.

60g sugar, granulated or caster

2 medium eggs.

300g self raising flour250g mixed dried fruit, I used the Asda smart price

150ml milk

30-60g glace cherries, halved

Suggests 6 inch round tin but I used a square one this time, usually I use a loaf tin which in hind sight makes the cake look better. But who cares bet it still tastes good.

Set oven to warm, gas mark 3, 160 degrees c/325 f

Cream together the margarine and sugar, gradually beat in the eggs. Fold in the flour and fruit, then add the milk, a little at a time, until mixture smooth. Spoon into the tin and level the surface. Top with the glace cherries.

Bake in the oven for 30 mins.Reduce the oven temperature to cool, gas mark 2 or 150 deg c/300 degs f and bake for a further 30 mins. Test cake by inserting a skewer into the centre, if it comes out clean you know its ready. If not return to oven for 10- 20 mins. Leave to cool on a wire rack.

If your not a greedy git like me then you can wrap it in parchment, then foil and freeze it for up to 3 months. Allow to defrost before serving.

Thanks to Pat Woodberry from Hadleigh in Suffolk... who wrote into Women's Weekly with this recipe all those years ago. Good things last don't they