1/2 pt/250 ml/1 cup porter
8 oz / 250 g/ 1 cup butter
8 oz/250 g/ 1 cup brown sugar
2 lb/ 1 kg/ 6 cups mixed dried fruit
(equal quantities currants, raisins, sultanas
with about half as much mixed peel)
1 1/4 Ib/ 1/2 kg/ 4 cups plain flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp mixed spice
grated rind from one small lemon (optional)
3 medium eggs

Melt the butter and sugar in the porter in a saucepan. Add the fruit and simmer for 10 minutes. Allow to go cold and add the sieved flour, baking soda, spices and lemon rind. Beat the eggs and mix in with a wooden spoon. Pour into a greased and lined 9 inch/ 25 cm cake tin and bake on the middle shelf of a pre-heated oven at gas mark 3, 325°F, 160°C for about 1 3/4 hours. To test the cake, push a skewer into the centre; if ready, the skewer will come out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the tin.

Credit for these goes to: http://www.irelandseye.com/aarticles/culture/recipes/index.shtm