Ingredients

1/2 pound candied cherries1/2 pound candied pineapple slices1 pound walnuts, pecans or combination of both1 pound vanilla wafers1/4 pound raisins2 large eggs1/2 cup sugar1/4 teaspoon salt1 can (5 ounces) evaporated milk

Preparation

Set aside four whole cherries, two pineapple slices and 16 pecan or walnut halves. Chop remaining fruit and nuts. Crush vanilla wafers; combine the chopped fruit, nuts and raisins and set aside.

In a bowl, beat eggs well. Stir in sugar, salt and milk. Combine wafer/nut mixture with egg mixture. Pack into a waxed paper-lined 10-in. tube pan. Decorate top with reserved whole fruit and nuts. Bake at 325° for 45 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes. Run a sharp knife around edge; turn cake out of pan, then back over again so decorations are on top. Cake can be made ahead and frozen; taste improves with age.