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Porter Cake Porter is a dark Irish beer that is not as readily as it use to be. Ingredients: 1/2 pt/250 ml/1 cup porter 8 oz / 250 g/ 1 cup butter 8 oz/250 g/ 1 cup brown sugar 2 lb/ 1 kg/ 6 cups mixed dried fruit (equal quantities currants, raisins, sultanas with about half as much mixed peel) 1 1/4 Ib/ 1/2 kg/ 4 cups plain flour 1/2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp mixed spice grated rind from one small lemon (optional) 3 medium eggs Directions: Melt the butter and sugar in the porter in a saucepan. Add the fruit and simmer for 10 minutes. Allow to go cold and add the sieved flour, baking soda, spices and lemon rind. Beat the eggs and mix in with a wooden spoon.  Pour into a greased and lined 9 inch/ 25 cm cake tin and bake on the middle shelf of a pre-heated oven at gas mark 3, 325°F, 160°C for about 1 3/4 hours. To test the cake, push a skewer into the centre; if ready, the skewer will come out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the tin.