Recipe: Traditional Irish Bread

Traditional Irish Bread

2 1/2 cups mixed dry fruit, currants, dark & golden raisins.
1 cup boiling black tea
1 each egg
1 teaspoon mixed spice (see note*)
4 teaspoons marmalade
1 cup (heaping)superfine sugar
2 1/2 cups self-rising flour

Place dried fruit in a bowl, cover with the hot tea and let soak overnight. The next day, add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Preheat oven to 375 F. Pour batter into greased 7" square pan and bake in the center of oven for 1 1/2 hrs. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack. Slice and serve buttered with tea.

NOTE Mixed spices: equal parts of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, allspice, and mace.