Boiled Cake

250ml (8 fl oz) water
900g (2 lb) dried mixed fruit
225g (8 oz) caster sugar
170g (6 oz) butter
230g (8 oz) plain flour
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 teaspoon of mixed spice
2 eggs, beaten

Preheat the oven to 150 C / Gas mark 2.
Grease a 900g (2 lb) loaf tin, and line with baking parchment.
Combine the water, dried fruit, sugar and butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to the boil, stirring occasionally, and boil gently for about 10 minutes.
Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and mixed spice into a large bowl. Pour in the boiled mixture, and stir until well blended.
Mix in the eggs.
Pour into the greased loaf tin.Bake for 90 minutes in the preheated oven, until a skewer or knife inserted into the top comes out clean.
Cool cake in the tin for at least 10 minutes before removing.