Sourdough Fruit Cake

Combine chopped fruits, peels with brandy and let set over night. Cream sugars, shortening and spice until fluffy. Beat in eggs to blend. Stir in starter. Add to fruit mixture with almonds. Sift flour, soda and salt and blend into mixture. Pour into two well greased and paper lined 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pans. Bake in a very slow oven, lowest rack about 275 for 2 1/2 hours or until tested done with wooden toothpick. Remove from pans to cool on rack. remove paper. when cool, drizzle a few tablespoons of brandy or hard cider over cakes. wrap well and chill before slicing and serving. I always substitute some drained and halved marachino cherries for the glace fruit and use walnuts instead of almonds. Most of all be satisfied with your starter for the recipes. Mine has developed the right " tang " now which has made my sourdough cookery quite enjoyable.