Favorite Fruit Cake

My mom received this recipe from our family friend Helen Sheppard.  I'm not sure where she got it from, but it is my favorite holiday sweet - I especially like it with a bit of cream cheese.

Brazil Nut Sensation

3/4 cup sifted flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 lb shelled Brazil nuts
1 lb pitted dates
1 cup drained maraschino cherries (I used a 9 oz jar)
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

Heat oven to 300 degrees.  Grease and line a 9x5x3 loaf pan with wax paper

In sifter, place first 4 ingredients.  In a large bowl place nuts, dates and cherries.  Pour sifted flour mixture over nut mixture and mix with your hands until nuts and fruits are well coated.  Beat eggs until foamy, add vanilla and stir into nut mixture until well blended.

Spread into prepared pan and bake for 1 hour and 45 minutes.  Cool in pan on wire rack for 15 minutes.  Remove from pan and peel of paper.  Cool on rack.