** FRUITY Pumpkin CAKE !! **

1 cup mashed cold pumpkin
125g sultanas
125g raisins
125g mixed dried peel
125g finely chopped dried apricots
1 tablespoon honey
1 cup unsweetened orange or apple juice
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
4 egg whites
250g wholemeal S.R. flour
1 teaspoon mixed spice

COMBINE fruit, orange juice (*2 teaspoons brandy for special occasions) and honey in a saucepan. BRING to the boil. REMOVE from heat. ADD bicarb. of soda. COOL. GREASE a 20cm. round tin very lightly or line with foil (baking paper?).

HEAT oven to 325deg.F. (165 deg.C.). BEAT egg whites lightly. ADD cold pumpkin and fruit mixture and beat until smooth. STIR in flour and spice and beat until smooth. BAKE for 1-1/2 hours.

N.B. FOR a more moist cake, soak fruit in orange juice overnight!

(J. Stafford)