Brandied Fruit Cakes

Ingredients

• 1/2 lb Soft shortening
• 1 tb Vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 c Currants
• 1 ts Nutmeg
• 2 ts Baking Powder
• 1 ts Baking soda
• 1 c Orange juice concentrate
• 12 Eggs
• 1 c Blanched almonds, halved
• 4 1/2 c Unsifted all purpose flour
• 1/2 lb Soft butter or margarine
• 2 c Sugar
• 1/2 c Honey
• 1/2 ts Cloves (ground)
• 1 ts Salt
• 4 1/2 c Raisins
• 1 c Pitted dates, cut up
• 2 1/4 c Candied cherries
• 1 tb Almond extract