Photo: Great grandparents at their farm in Blandinsville, IL, with five of their six children .. my grandpa was yet a twinkle in grandma's eye. Stable boy and governess also pictured. Hodges farm, circa 1903-4

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Fruitcake ?

Yes or no?  Do you like fruitcake? Give me a fruit laden cake made with naturally dried fruits and nuts .. not the candied sugary fruit from a plastic tub at the store, brushed with brandy.  My grandma used to make such a cake.  I think my mom and I are the only ones in the immediate family that even like fruitcake.  The history surrounding fruitcake is centuries old and a bit muddled.  Today I am going to try my hand at baking such a treat.  I have purchased: dates, prunes, raisins and nuts.  I have some dried citrus zest to add as well.  Do you make fruit cake?  Anyone wanting to 're-gift' such a cake .. let me know and I'll (ahem) take it off your hands :)

vintage fruit image from Vintage Holiday Crafts

10 comments:

Rebecca said...

We fruit-cake lovers are few and far between. My only requirement is that the cake be moist. I like it with candied fruits or dried fruits. Makes me no difference!

Anonymous said...

A good fruitcake can't be beat. I can only eat just a slice though.
Merry Christmas
vickie

Kathryn said...

My mother makes an Amish Friendship cake (made with some sort of starter you can share) with raisins and pineapple and other fruit, and it is really good. But not something i really crave.

The "normal" fruitcakes (i remember years ago my mother made even these from scratch) are simply horrible. But i've come to realize, for me, that is because of the candied fruit. I have never liked the candied cherries and pineapple that were put into these cakes. I didn't like them straight from the package before they were put in the cake, and i didn't like the cake with them in it. Yuck! And why bother? I tried to eat the cake around the candied fruit.

The problem for me is that beyond just going gluten free (most of the time), i just don't think that eating carbs is all that good for us. I admit i struggle with sugar and sweets, but most of the time i try to avoid cakes, breads, cookies, and the like, even if they are GF. I don't hold myself to that at holiday times, but over all, it is becoming more and more of my thought process. Not to rain on anyone's parade. Sorry.

Mr. H. said...

We also love traditional fruit cake, my wife's friend gave us some the other day and it was so good. Apparently she makes it many, many months in advance and pours rum over it every so often to keep it from drying out...all I know is that it was very good and we will be making some ourselves for the first time one day soon.

Hope you all have a very merry Christmas.

Mr. H. said...

Oh, and I love your new header picture.:)

meemsnyc said...

Hmmm, I've never liked store bought fruitcake. It's a bit weird to me. But I would love to try fruitcake that someone actually baked. Home made is always better!

Mrs. Mac said...

humm .. I guess I need comment moderation enacted due to some extremist leaving a not so nice comment. Sorry ..

Trish said...

I enjoy fruitcake...don't make it though since I would be the only one eating it! LOL.
My Daddy loved, loved, loved it! He would eat the whole cake by himself.

LynnS said...

My husband's Mother made fruit cakes for gifts among family members. When she passed on, her daughter carried the tradition forward. Each year we get one and it is a real treat! Their family cake is made with a Manischewitz wine soaked and wrapped in cheesecloth, and refrigerated. We manage to keep it for more than 6 months every year, taking very thin slices every so often. It is so delicious!

How did your fruitcake turn out? Are you soaking yours or aging it in some way?

Happy New Year to you and your family!

Mrs. Mac said...

Lynn .. the fruitcake came out nice .. it's been brushed twice with brandy .. and doled out a thin slice at a time. Two were made and I'm the only one that is even interested in them .. hope to make mine last a long time .. we'll have to see ;)