This is another 60yr old family recipe. My mother use to say back in the 50's that it was called a "Poor Man's Cake" because it was expensive to make.

Poor Man’s Cake


2 cups water
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
1 box of raisins
2 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cloves

Boil all of the above together for 5 minutes stirring frequently and then cool completely.

Add to the cooled mixture

2 tsp baking soda
1 cup chopped walnuts
½ tsp salt
4 cups of flour

Pour into a greased and floured 13 x 9 baking pan and bake at 325 degrees for 35 minutes. Very moist cake.