IRISH PORK CAKE (1)

Yep my search for recipes from long ago rewaded me with this 'dandy'. This recipe came from a publication ( not dated), "A COLLECTION OF OLD AND NEW RECIPES FROM MANY LANDS", tested in the kitchen of a New England housewife . Here is the recipe , hand written , the original recipe. Ingredients.....1/2 lb ground salt pork, 1 cup of strong coffee, 1 cup of brown sugar, 1 egg, 1/2 cup of molasses, 1 tsp of cinnamon, 1 tsp of clove, 1/2 tsp of nutmeg, 3 cups of flour, 1/2 tsp of soda, 1/2 cup of seedless raisins, 1/2 cup of currants. Pour boiling water over the raisins and currants and let stand while mixing the batter. Put the salt pork through the fine knife of the grinder twice. Pour the hot coffee over this and let cool. Add the brown sugar, molasses and the egg to the mixture and beat together. Sift the flour , spices and soda together and sprinkle over the drained raisins and currants ( this keeps the fruit from going to the bottom ). Line a greased fruit cake pan or ring pan with brown paper. Grease the paper and pour in the batter. The pork cake should be baked for 90 minutes or longer in a moderate oven ( or until a cake tester comes out clean). When it is cool, wrap the cake in a cloth moistened with sherry and store for at least a week. There you have it ...... I spent much time questioning the ingredients and method . I challenge you , take the original recipe and bring it to today with your interpretation of the recipe ... Mine will follow in a week after the cake has sat wrapped in a sherry moistened cloth.