Irish Porter Cake

Ingredients

1 c unsalted butter
4 c unbleached white flour
2 c brown sugar, firmly packed
3 c dark raisins
1 1/2 c golden raisins
1/2 c glace cherries
1/2 c chopped blanched almonds
1/2 c chopped mixed candied peel
4 eggs
1/2 c Guinnes at room temperature
1 t baking soda, dissolved in a little Guinnes

Instructions

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. With your hands, rub the butter well into the flour, in a bowl. Add the rest of the dry ingredients. Mix well, using a wooden spoon. Beat together the eggs and the Guinness, and then stir in the baking soda solution. Stir this into the flour mixture and blend horoughly. Put the mixture in a large Bundt Pan and cover it with wax paper (while baking). Bake in oven for about 2 hours, until nicely browned. When done, turn it out on a wire rack to cool. CAUTION: If you don't like fruit cake, you might not like this. And be sure to get the fruit at Christmas time while it's available and freeze.