This one is for the Kondattam girls!!
Fruit cake:
(makes two loaf pans worth)

Dry ingredients:
(Mix these ingredients together in a separate bowl)

2 -1/4 to 2 -1/2 cups flour,
1 -1/2 tsp baking powder,
1/2 tsp salt,
3/4 tsp nutmeg,1/4 tsp gr.cloves(I skip this).

Wet ingredients:
1 cup(two sticks) softened butter-room temperature.(Do not microwave to soften.Leave the butter outside for a couple of hours and that will soften it.)
1- 1/4 cup sugar
6 eggs

And the rest:

2 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup raisins,
3/4 cup chopped almonds,
1 packet(tub?) of dried candied fruits.


Cream the butter and sugar well.(I use the hand mixer).Take your time and do this.Sugar might still be grainy,but the two should have melded well.
Then add eggs one by one and beat well(the mixture needs to look curdled).
Add the dry ingredients and mix well.Add it cup by cup and wait till the first cup is incorporated before you add the next one.
Then add the fruits and nuts to mix and the vanilla.The cake batter needs to be flowy-not too stiff.
I usually burn some sugar in a vessel and when it caramelizes(read burns!)I add about 3-4 tbsps of water and add that to the mixture for some color.Scary process,take care,but the caramelised sugar adds to the cake's look and taste.
Some people mix a little of the dried fruits with a little flour and add that to the top of the cake once you have poured it into the baking pan,just so it stays on top and doesn't sink to the bottom-better looking cake too!!
Bake at 350 degree F for about 45 -50 minutes.Test using a tooth pick after 35 minutes because ovens and their performance varies.

Remove when done,let it cool before you remove the cake from the pan.
Slice and enjoy!