Adapted from Mma Ramotswe's Cookbook: Nourishment for the Traditionally Built by Stuart Brown,published in the UK in 2009 by Polygon, an imprint of Birlinn Ltd.

www.ReadingGroupCenter.com

AlexanderMcCall Smith

METHOD:

Grease 10 inch baking pan with some butter. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cream Grease 10 inch baking pan with some butter. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cream butter or margarine and add sugar. Add eggs one at a time, mixing in thoroughly before adding the next egg, and continue until all the sugar has dissolved. Sift flour, cornstarch and baking powder into butter mixture. Once flour mixture has been incorporated, add dried fruit, almonds and lemon rind. Pour batter into baking tin and smooth over top. Bake cake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on rack. Before serving, cover cake with powdered sugar.

3 tsp baking powder1 cup dried mixed fruit1/2 cup chopped almondsgrated rind of 1 lemonpowdered sugar

INGREDIENTS:

2 1/4 sticks (18 tbsp) soft butter or margarine3/4 cup caster (super-fine) sugar4 eggs1 1/3 cups flour1/2 cup cornstarch

The powers of Mma. Potokwane's delicious fruitcake are well-known to fans of Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. The matron of the orphanage uses this delicious treat both as an instrument of persuasion and a balm to soothe her friends' nerves. As your book club settles in to discuss club settles in to discuss The Double Comfort Safari Club, treat everyone to acup of red bush tea and a slice of cake.

Mma. Potokwane'sPERSUASIVE FRUITCAKE