Anna Sultana's St. Martin's Cake / Fruitcake, Maltese Style

Lest we forget...

Today is Remembrance Day.

In Malta, November 11 is celebrated as the feast of St. Martin.

Il-festa ta' San Martin it-tajba lil kullhadd!

St. Martin, Bishop of Tours, was once a Roman soldier.  He is one of the greatest saints of France and the most celebrated Bishop of the fourth century.

He had a great love for the poor.  Legend has it that upon seeing a beggar, 

St. Martin stopped his horse, sliced his cape in two, and gave half to the beggar.  

That night St. Martin dreamed he saw Jesus wearing the cut half of his cape.

Ma made a traditional St. Martin's cake to mark his feast day.

It's a nice fruitcake that doesn't need to age.

Handy to whip up for St. Martin.

Or Christmas.

Or just any day you'd like a solid dessert.

Really. 

                             

                              St. Martin's Cake

Grease well a large oven-proof pot

Preheat oven to 325º

In a large mixer bowl, cream until light and fluffy

200 g butter

200 g sugar

Beat in

4 large eggs

4 Tablespoons milk

Fold in

400 g flour

1 Tablespoon allspice

Add

200 g walnuts (chopped)

200 g hazelnuts (chopped)

100 g almonds (chopped)

100 g figs (chopped)

100 g chestnuts (roasted and chopped)

Pour the mixture into the prepared pot.

Bake 1 1/2 hours or until golden brown.

Let cool on a rack.

Before serving, if you want, dust with

Confectioners' sugar