Black Cake

Ingredients

 * ¼ lb cherries
 * 1 lb local dried fruits (or raisins)
 * 1 cup rum
 * 1½ lbs. brown sugar
 * ½ teaspoon baking powder
 * 1 teaspoon cinnamon
 * ½ lb flour
 * 12 eggs
 * ¼ lb orange or lemon peel
 * ½ lb butter

Directions

 * 1) Grind dried fruits and soak it in 3 cups of rum. Store in an air tight container for three weeks.
 * 2) Prepare the caramel by heating the sugar until it turns dark brown.
 * 3) Cream the butter and sugar. Add the eggs, soaked fruits, and rum. When it is well blended, pour the caramel.
 * 4) Add the flour with the baking powder and mixed spice.
 * 5) Fold in the cherries.
 * 6) Pour mixture in a baking pan and bake in a slow oven (about 300 degrees F.) for two hours. Remove cake from pan after two days.