Mixed Fruits for Fruit Cake

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  Soaked mixed dried fruits  is a very important part of making a very delicious fruit cake. The dried fruits are soaked months a head of time. The soaked mixed fruits can be used for fruit cake, Jamaican fruit cake, black cake, wedding cake or Christmas cake.  

Directions

• Wash the dried fruits.  Cut the larger fruit to match the smaller ones
• For the alcoholic version, fill up a glass container with the mixed fruits. Pour the wine and rum to cover the fruits. Seal and store in cool place for up to a year. Check the fruits monthly and add more wine if it looks dry.
• For the non-alcoholic version, soak the fruits in cranberry juice and store in the fridge for up to a week. The cranberry mimics the taste and flavor of the wine.

Ingredients  

1 cup Black Currants  

1 cup Cherries  

1 cup Raisins  

1 cup Golden Raisins  

1 cup Dates  

1 cup Prunes 

 Red wine  

Rum  

Cranberry juice

 Stewing of mixed fruits for fruit cake is a very quick way to prepare mixed fruit for  Christmas, Black, Caribbean, Jamaican fruit cake.  Sometimes, people tend to forget to soak their mixed fruits on time and when they remember, it is too late. Cooking the dried fruits helps to hydrate  and plum the fruit in a very short time.

Directions

• Wash the dried fruits. Cut the larger fruits to match the smaller ones.
• Add some water in a pan, add cinnamon stick, cloves,zest of a lime (or orange peel), ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, vanilla extract and bring to a boil.
• Add the mixed fruits and ensure that the water is at the same level as the fruits. Cover to cook  on medium heat until to comes to a boil. When it comes to a boil, lower the heat and cook for 30 minutes. Do not open or stir it.
• After 30 minutes, the water would have reduced considerably. Stir more frequently and cook for 20 more minutes or until most of the water  evaporates.
• Remove from heat, remove cinnamon stick. Add wine, rum or brandy.
• Pour mixture into a glass bottle, cover with wine or rum. Once it cools down, seal and store in a cool place or use immediately.

Ingredients 

 2 cups dried raisins  

2 cups currants  

1 1/2 cups dried cherries  

1 cup prunes 

 1 cup dates 

 1/2 cup cranberries 

 1 tbsp cinnamon 

 1 cinnamon stick 

1 tsp grated nutmeg

 1 - 2 tsp ground cloves  

2 tbsp Vanilla extract 

Zest of one lime 

 1 cup rum 

 1 - 2 cups brandy/red wine