Great Grandma Ella's Fruit Cake

1 1/2 c Shortening

4 1/2 c Sugar

6 Eggs

6 1/2 c Flour

2 tsp Baking Soda

3 tsp Cinnamon

2 tsp Ground Cloves

2 tsp All Spice

1 c Raisins

3 tbsp Cocoa

1 pkg Dates

2 c Walnuts

2 sm Jars of Cherries

1 c Buttermilk

1 c Blackberry Jam

1/4 c Black Pepper

2 tsp grated Orange Peel

Cream shortening, add sugar, eggs & milk

Add dry ingredients

grease & flour pan 350 until it rises - about 1 hr

then 300 for 1 1/2 - 2 hrs

Put pie pan of water to add moisture during the last hour

Soak in grape juice - store and cover in a white cloth (aka the pillow case) Mom always kept in the basement fridge and would go down and continually soak in grape juice .....