Patsy Cake.

My mother's sister, Patsy, read about Zona Cake and offered up her fruit cake recipe and the information that their mother, Gertrude, at one point began to candy her own fruit. Excellent.

Anyone up for a throwdown?

Here's Aunt Patsy's take on ice box fruit cake; and yes, she strongly dislikes citrus in hers:

NO BAKE FRUIT CAKE

In a double boiler melt the following ingredients:

1 stick margarine or butter

1 can Eagle or Dime Brand sweetened condensed milk (these brands use to be the only ones available)

8 oz to 1 lb bag marshmallows

cherry juice from about an 8 oz jar of maraschino cherries (I use more or less according to the amount of crumbs to be used)

When the ingredients are melted, pour over the dry mixture of the following:

Chopped pecans and/or other nuts

1 pkg dates-chopped

Candied fruit---pineapple & cherries (at least one pkg of each color-RED & GREEN)

Raisins

Coconut

Graham cracker or vanilla wafer crumbs (use more crumbs as needed, if your mixture is too moist)

(Amounts of the fruits and nuts may vary according to personal taste and/or availability)

Combine mixture with hands. When completely mixed, it may be rolled onto waxed paper or pressed into a greased container---loaf pan or casserole dish. Refrigerate and serve.

I DO NOT USE FRUIT CAKE MIX OR MIXES WITH CITRUS PEEL