Award Winning Raisin Cake

My grandmother's recipe for raisin cake became famous in our family after I made it for a baking contest in the 4-H fair back in 1976 and won Third Place. We were both thrilled. Amazingly enough, I still have the coveted ribbon.

In a memoir entry for a contest several years back I wrote about my maternal grandmother (Gram as we called her) this way. "Going back to the first place where I can remember visiting my grandparents, brings sweet memories to the fore. Their flat was on the second floor of the apartment house only a two-minute walk or one minute mad dash from my school. Running through the front yard and into the back, just to roll down the grassy hill, was a ritual before going into the house itself.

As soon as the bottom entry door was opened you could smell the aroma of the delicious meal or sweets my grandmother was cooking. The enticing flavors wafted through the hallway and led me to float up the stairs to their door (cartoon style).

Gram's smiling face was usually the first to greet me as my grandfather sat in his favorite chair by the television. She welcomed me into the warm house and into the kitchen where all the action was taking place. Sometimes she allowed me to help her in making the meal if it had just been started."

One of our favorites to make together was the famous Raisin Cake.

Raisin Cake
Makes 2 loaves

Ingredients

1 lb. Raisins
2 cups brewed and cooled Coffee (this is what really enhances the flavor) or you can use Water instead
1 cup Sugar
2 ½ cups Flour
2/3 cup of Butter
1 tsp. Cloves
1 tsp. Nutmeg
1 tsp. Cinnamon
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 Egg

Directions

In a saucepan, put raisins, coffee (or water), sugar, butter, cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon. Boil 5 minutes and allow to cool. Add egg, baking soda and flour and beat well.

Line two loaf pans with wax paper held in place by strategically placed spats of butter. Pour mixture evenly into the pans.

Bake at 350* for 45 minutes - 1 hour. Remove bread from pans and cool them on wire racks. Peal off wax paper to reveal a dark brown, rich and delicious raisin cake. Cut, Serve and Enjoy!