Mum's Christmas Cake

This is the Christmas Cake Mum used to make every year.

1 kg Christmas Cake

3 12 oz packets mixed fruit (boxes are now 375 g)
1/4 cup sherry
3 Tbs orange juice

Mix well and stand overnight

Cream:

8 ounces butter (225 g)
8 ounces dark brown sugar (225 g)
few drops almond essence
1/2 cup mashed banana


Add 4 eggs (one at a time then mix)

Fold in the fruit

then:

2 3/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp bicarb soda
1 tsp spice
pinch salt

Use 8 inch round or square cake tin lined with 3 thicknesses of brown paper and one of white (???) (20 cm - and I think now we'd use baking paper)

Drop cake in tin (after filled) to remove air bubbles

Glaze smooth with hand wet with water.  Can cover cake with paper.

Bake 3 to 4 hours in very moderate oven, decreasing heat.