UNCLE BILL'S CHRISTMAS FRUITCAKE WITH BRANDY

Steps:

• Remove pineapple rings from syrup.
• DO NOT USE SYRUP IN CAKE.
• Cut both red and green pineapple rings into chunks (about 6 chunks of each ring.) In a large mixing bowl, add red and green pineapple chunks, pecans, almonds, red and green maraschino cherries, mixed peel and raisins and mix well.
• Add the entire bottle of Brandy and mix well.
• Cover the bowl tightly with food film wrap and let stand overnight.
• During this marinate, mix at least two times.
• THE NEXT DAY.
• Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.
• Sift 3/4 cup of flour over marinated fruit and mix well to coat.
• Now sift an additional 1/2 cup flour over fruit and mix well again.
• In a mixing bowl cream butter; set aside.
• In a separate mixing bowl, beat eggs with 2 tablespoons of milk.
• Add baking soda and almond extract to the beaten eggs and mix well.
• Add remainder of 1 1/2 cups of flour over the fruit and mix well.
• Add creamed butter and egg mixture over fruit and mix well.
• Add granulated sugar, brown sugar, mace and cinnamon and mix very well.
• Prepare 3 bread pans (4" x 8" x 3" deep) with parchment paper (or brown paper.) Pour cake mixture equally into each pan to about 3/4" below top of pan.
• The cakes should be between 2" and 2 1/2" in thickness.
• Bake in preheated 275 F oven for 4 to 5 hours on the middle rack.
• If top of cake starts to brown too much, cover with aluminum foil and continue baking.
• Test cake for doneness with a wooden testing stick.
• If stick comes out dry, the cakes are done.
• Remove cakes from oven and let cool in pans.
• When cooled, remove from pans and place on metal racks for about 3 hours.
• Remove the brown paper carefully and discard.
• Baste the tops of each cake with Apricot Brandy or if desired with 151 Overproof Rum.
• Wrap each cake in about 4 thicknesses of cheese cloth.
• Now wrap each cake with 2 layers of heavy duty aluminum foil.
• Store the cakes in a cool place for at least 1 month before using (this is when they are best.) A few days before serving, unwrap the top of the foil and baste the cake through the cheesecloth with brandy or rum.
• Re-wrap and let sit for a few days.
• This cake freezes very well.