I've had this recipe for so long I don't know it's source. Harwich is a town on Cape Cod, once a whaling spot, and hermits were a heavily spiced cookie that sailors took out on ships, the spices rendering them tasty on their lengthy voyages. The list of spices is long. You could probably shorten it but if you use them all, the taste is complex and delicious. As to the fruit list, the original is below but of any combination, about 1 cup, of dried fruits (including dried cranberries or dried cherries) will work. I'd recommend keeping the dried orange pieces for their tang. I double the nuts to 1 cup.