Poor Man's Cake I

Ingredients

• 1.5 teaspoons baking soda 
• 2 cups flour all-purpose sifted
• 0.5 teaspoon ground allspice 
• 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
• 0.5 teaspoon ground nutmeg 
• 1.5 cups raisins 
• 0.5 teaspoon salt 
• 0.3 cup shortening 
• 0.5 cup water cold
• 1 cup sugar white

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• sauce pan
• oven

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
2. In a saucepan, combine raisins and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup cold water and 1/4 cup shortening.
4. In a large bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, salt, baking soda and flour. Stir in raisin mixture until well blended.
5. Pour batter into prepared pan.
6. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 25 minutes.