Recipe for Soda Fruit Cake

225 g/8 oz/2 cups plain (all-purpose) flour

1.5 ml/¼ teaspoon salt

A pinch of bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)

50 g/2 oz/¼ cup butter or margarine

50 g/2 oz/¼ cup caster (superfine) sugar

100 g/4 oz/¾ cup dried mixed fruit (fruit cake mix)

150 ml/¼ pt sour milk or milk with 5 ml/1 teaspoon lemon juice

5 ml/1 teaspoon black treacle (molasses)

Method:

Mix together the flour, salt and bicarbonate of soda in a bowl. Rub in the butter or margarine until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar and fruit and mix well. Heat the milk and treacle until the treacle has melted, then add to the dry ingredients and mix to a stiff batter. Spoon into a greased 450 g/1 lb loaf tin (pan) and bake in a preheated oven at 190°C/375°F/gas mark 5 for about 45 minutes until golden.