APPLE AND WALNUT CAKE .....with brown sugar icing

200 grams dried mixed fruit

2 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon bicarb soda

240 mls boiling water

2 eggs

3/4 cup brown sugar, lightly packed

2 1/4 cups self raising flour

1 teaspoon mixed spice

1 teaspoon cinnamon

pinch salt

2 apples peeled and chopped into bite sized pieces

125 gram packet walnut crumbs

preheat oven to 180c. (350 f.) line bottom and grease and flour sides of a 23 cm (9 inch) springform tin.

in a small bowl, place the fruit, butter, bicarb and water. stir to melt butter. put aside to cool.

in a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the eggs and sugar till creamy.

stir in the fruit mix then stir in the flour, mixed, spice, cinnamon, salt and walnuts.

fold in the apple.

spoon into tin, levelling out to the sides.

cook for 45 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean

cool in tin.

ice.

ICING

2 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup brown sugar, packed

1/4 cup milk

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/4  - 1 1/2 cups icing sugar (depends on how thick you want it)

place the sugar and butter into a medium saucepan and bring to the boil over a medium heat, stirring for 1 minute.

whisk in milk and return to boil. cook stirring for 1 minute.

remove from heat and stir in vanilla and icing sugar.