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Post by Goldbrick on Oct 28, 2022 10:47:27 GMT -5
Back in 1981 my wife and her mother got together and made a big, round fruitcake. It was around this time of year, but fruitcake isn't one of those things you can eat the day it's made...they wrapped the cake in cheesecloth, and every few days they would dampen the cheesecloth with white, cream sherry. At Christmas that year they cut me a slice, and wanted my honest idea of any pros or cons. I told them to take away the nasty, candied orange peel, cut the amount of fruit by half, and use twice the nuts and they'd have what I'd call a perfect fruitcake, and that's how they made em until my mother-in-law passed in 1995... In the fall of 96, one of Sharon's older sisters stepped up, and they been turning out an ever-growing number of what I like to call " my fruitcakes " every year since then. Gone is the huge, round, twelve-pounder of the first few years, replaced with a loaf shaped five-to-six-pound cake that many of our friends and family look forward to as their Christmas gift. I don't know if it's my improvements on the original, or all the sherry, but more than a few people who say they don't like fruitcake, reach for a second slice of this one  And all that to say...It's that time again...things are buzzing in the kitchen, but all I have to do is cut candied cherries in half, then go out on the porch and smoke my pipe, rest my sore foot, and keep quiet. |
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Post by Silver on Oct 28, 2022 10:53:48 GMT -5
Sounds like a great tradition, Herb!
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Post by oldcajun123 on Oct 28, 2022 11:03:06 GMT -5
 Beautiful tradition, I always order one from Collins bakery, wife’s sister also fell in love so I always put her in my yearly order. I love fruitcake!
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Post by just ol ed on Oct 28, 2022 11:11:44 GMT -5
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Post by Plainsman on Oct 28, 2022 11:18:03 GMT -5
Oh, geez. I thought this topic was about the coming election.
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Post by Ronv69 on Oct 28, 2022 11:34:54 GMT -5
Another vote for the Collin Street Bakery fruitcake. It's the only fruitcake I've ever had so I can't compare, but I buy one for myself and my family every year.
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Post by trailboss on Oct 28, 2022 12:13:59 GMT -5
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Post by oldcajun123 on Oct 28, 2022 15:37:30 GMT -5
Just finished ordering a medium fruitcake from Collins, felt strange as wife’s sister passed away and only had to order 1, she loved that fruitcake.
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Post by toshtego on Oct 28, 2022 15:44:22 GMT -5
I never was a fan of fruitcake. Just too sweet. Made my teeth hurt.
Then Ron sent my a cake from Collins Street Bakery. That all changed. I enjoy some fruitcake now. I eat so few sweets that it is not one I would have around the house.
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Post by mgtarheel on Oct 28, 2022 15:44:25 GMT -5
Southern Supreme Fruitcake made in NC is the best I have ever had.
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Post by Ronv69 on Oct 28, 2022 16:50:24 GMT -5
It was a big loss, but they are a big company. Their Corsicana location is very busy all the time and they sell a LOT of fruitcakes. 1.5 million cakes each year at $40 each. Not to mention their Pecan pies and other items. |
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Post by toshtego on Oct 28, 2022 17:51:06 GMT -5
It was a big loss, but they are a big company. Their Corsicana location is very busy all the time and they sell a LOT of fruitcakes. 1.5 million cakes each year at $40 each. Not to mention their Pecan pies and other items. The make a nut Brittle which great. I cannot remember which nut. Not Peanut. |
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rastewart
Junior Member
Posts: 360
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Post by rastewart on Oct 28, 2022 18:09:12 GMT -5
I'm right fond of fruitcake and have never really understood the opprobrium attached to it, though I know it's real and widely shared. One or two years we ordered Kentucky Bourbon Fruitcake from Gethsemani Farms, and oh my. I don't think I will ever taste a more sublime creation of that kind.
The Abbey of Gethsemani, by the way, is where Thomas Merton lived and wrote for the last twenty-seven years of his life.
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Post by Ronv69 on Oct 28, 2022 19:02:27 GMT -5
It was a big loss, but they are a big company. Their Corsicana location is very busy all the time and they sell a LOT of fruitcakes. 1.5 million cakes each year at $40 each. Not to mention their Pecan pies and other items. The make a nut Brittle which great. I cannot remember which nut. Not Peanut. Pecan? They are the biggest Pecan consumer in the state. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Oct 28, 2022 19:08:48 GMT -5
I'm right fond of fruitcake and have never really understood the opprobrium attached to it, though I know it's real and widely shared. One or two years we ordered Kentucky Bourbon Fruitcake from Gethsemani Farms, and oh my. I don't think I will ever taste a more sublime creation of that kind.
The Abbey of Gethsemani, by the way, is where Thomas Merton lived and wrote for the last twenty-seven years of his life. Ever notice that good fruitcakes are really expensive? I think that the secret is that you can't skimp on the ingredients. My wife used to make a New York cheese cake from a recipe from the New York restaurant that made it famous. Lindys I believe. Back in the 70s it took $16 worth of ingredients. It was worth, every penny. In today's dollars, it would be $75. |
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Post by don on Oct 28, 2022 19:57:07 GMT -5
Eating some right now. Drinking Baileys too. I love fruitcake.
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Post by mgtarheel on Oct 29, 2022 11:01:59 GMT -5
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Post by Plainsman on Oct 29, 2022 14:31:27 GMT -5
I do something heretical to fruitcake: I lightly toast it, sliced of course.
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Post by Silver on Oct 29, 2022 15:52:31 GMT -5
I do something heretical to fruitcake: I lightly toast it, sliced of course. If you toast it, then you have a reason to put butter and/or honey on it, too. |
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Post by Plainsman on Oct 29, 2022 16:20:35 GMT -5
I do something heretical to fruitcake: I lightly toast it, sliced of course. If you toast it, then you have a reason to put butter and/or honey on it, too. ¡I’m busted!! |
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 29, 2022 17:08:53 GMT -5
GoldbrickSounds like a great tradition. Traditions are important. Mine is making my dad's/granddad's peanut butter fudge. My grandfather made it for his family for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas every year - and taught my dad. My dad taught me. I've shown my son's and provided the instructions, but they have yet to try it. I've been making it for about 15 years now. Last year I added my own Butter Pecan fudge to the tradition.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 29, 2022 17:11:11 GMT -5
I'm going to have to try fruitcake this year - buying it, not making it.
In the past, I've never cared for it but I'm sure it's because it wasn't a quality product in the first place.
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Post by Silver on Oct 30, 2022 0:46:35 GMT -5
I think it would be great to drop by Monty's and Herb's places for the holidays!
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Post by don on Oct 30, 2022 10:16:51 GMT -5
Just had some with my coffee!
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Post by peterd-Buffalo Spirit on Oct 30, 2022 10:48:21 GMT -5
I love it!
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Post by Goldbrick on Oct 30, 2022 13:42:40 GMT -5
I think it would be great to drop by Monty's and Herb's places for the holidays! Great idea Pete  , just be prepared to help make all the coffee; I'll be busy with the egg-nog...the gals turned out twelve full size loaves, and eight small loaves. As luck would have it, our new neighbor's just dropped off a plate full of banana-nut bread with brown butter frosting. we were napping, me with my foot propped up, and the wife in her oldest PJs, with our hair three-ways -from -Sunday...we'll try to be in better shape when you-all get here!  |
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Post by trailboss on Oct 30, 2022 14:54:11 GMT -5
I will pray for you Herb, it sounds like you are on the rough road of life.
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Beautiful tradition, I always order one from Collins bakery, wife’s sister also fell in love so I always put her in my yearly order. I love fruitcake!
, just be prepared to help make all the coffee; I'll be busy with the egg-nog...the gals turned out twelve full size loaves, and eight small loaves.