Spicy Italian Plum Cake

Step 1: Place plums in large saucepan with about 1 inch of water. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes, or until soft. Drain and cool.

Step 2: Preheat oven to 350°F.

Step 3: Butter and flour a 10-inch bundt pan (or tube pan).

Step 4: In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, and continue beating until mixture is very light in color.

Step 5: Sift flour with spices and soda. Add to butter mixture in thirds, alternating with the milk. Beat just until ingredients are incorporated.

Step 6: Stir in plums and walnuts. Pour batter into pan and bake 1 hour, or until cake begins to pull away from sides of pan. Let cool in pan 5 minutes. Turn out onto wire rack and cool completely beforefrosting.

Step 7: For frosting: Cream butter. Add powdered sugar and cocoa gradually, stirring until well blended. Stir in salt.

Step 8: Stir in coffee, a little at a time. Add just enough to make the frosting a spreadable consistency. Beat until fluffy and add vanilla. Frost cake.