Southwest Baked Delights for the Holidays
CAKE DE FRUTAS
This is a very simple, light fruit cake -- easy to make and delicious.
1 tsp. BAKING SODA
1 cup WATER
1/3 cup BUTTER
1 cup SUGAR
1 EGG, lightly beaten
2 1/2 cups ALL PURPOSE FLOUR
1 APPLE, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup PECANS, chopped
1 cup GOLDEN RAISINS
1/2 cup candied ORANGE PEEL
1/4 cup candied LEMON PEEL
1 tsp. ALLSPICE
1 tsp. CINNAMON
1/2 tsp. GINGER
1/2 tsp. ground CLOVES
1/2 tsp. MACE
1/2 tsp. ground NUTMEG
1/2 cup LIGHT RUM
Mix baking soda and water together. Whip butter into sugar, then beat in egg. Stir soda water into sugar mixture. Stir in flour, apple, pecans, raisins, citrus peel, and spices. Spoon batter into a lightly buttered and floured loaf pan and bake in a 325° oven for 1 hour or until tests done. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack for an hour. Turn out onto rack and let cool totally. Pour rum over cake, wrap in wax paper and aluminum foil and store in the refrigerator, adding more rum occasionally if desired, until ready to serve.
CHOCOLATE FUDGE
What would Christmas be without some good homemade fudge?
2 cups SUGAR
2 squares UNSWEETENED CHOCOLATE
1 cup . EVAPORATED MILK
2 Tbsp. WHITE CORN SYRUP
2 Tbsp. BUTTER or MARGARINE
1 tsp. VANILLA
1/2 tsp. SALT
1 cup PECANS, chopped
Combine sugar , chocolate, evaporated milk and corn syrup in heavy saucepan over low heat , stirring constantly until it begins to boil. Cook to the soft ball stage (238° F). Remove from heat and cool for about 10 minutes. Add butter, vanilla and salt and beat until mixture loses its sheen. Add the pecans and continue to beat for about 2 minutes.
Working quickly, spread out in well-buttered square pan until smooth. Cool and cut into squares.
Yield: About 16 squares.
