Fig fruit cake

---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.02
  
       Title: Fig Fruit Cake
  Categories: Desserts, Holiday
       Yield: 1 fruitcake
  
      20    California dried figs
     1/2 lb Candied cherries
     1/4 lb Candied pineapple
   2 1/2 c  Chopped walnut
       1 c  Sifted cake flour
       1 ts Salt
   1 1/2 ts Baking powder
       1 ts Cinnamon
       1 ts Allspice
     1/2 ts Cloves
     1/2 c  Shortening
   1 1/2 c  Sugar
       5    Eggs; separated
       2 oz Baking chocolate; melted
       4 tb Brandy or water
   1 1/2 ts Vanilla
       1 ts Almond extract
  
   Butter a 6 x 10 x 3-inch loaf pan.  Line with waxed paper and butter
   generously again.  Set oven for 250 degrees F.  Cover figs with very hot
   water, and let stand 10 minutes.  Drain.  With scissors, snip off stems.
   Then cut figs, cherries and pineapple into tiny bits.  Add chopped nuts
   and half the sifted flour.  Mix together lightly.  Sift remaining flour
   with salt, baking powder and spices. Cream shortening, sugar, egg yolks
   and melted chocolate. Whip egg whites until very light.  Combine all
   ingredients until just mixed.  Place in baking pan.  Bake in slow oven
   (250 F.) for about 3 to 4 hours.  Place pan of hot water in bottom of
   oven.  When cool, brush with hot corn syrup and decorate with figs,
   candied fruit and nuts.
   
   Source: 48 Family Favorites with California Figs
   Reprinted with the permission of The California Fig Advisory Board
   Electronic format courtesy of Karen Mintzias
  
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