(Google Image) |
By
Diane Forrest,
There are some foods you only see during the
holidays....the other day we talked about eggnog, and today, its
fruitcake. I don't think I have seen
fruitcake at any other time of the year, or even the fruit to make it
with. Fruitcake has been around for
quite a while, but contrary to Johnny Carson, it’s not the same one being
passed around from person to person.
Fruitcake is cake made with chopped candied fruit, nuts
and then it may or may not be soaked in spirits…such as brandy. The alcohol preserves the cake and prevents
mold and will keep it edible for many years.
In fact, one family has an heirloom fruitcake made in 1878, and in 2003
it was sampled by Jay Leno, on the tonight show.
There are a couple of companies that are well known for
Fruitcake, one is Collins Street Bakery in Texas and the other is Claxton
Bakery in Georgia. Today is National
fruitcake day, so if you got some as a gift, have a piece, if not, below is a
good recipe for you to try.
Great Fruitcake
Recipe
You'll need the following: a cup of water, a cup of
sugar, four large eggs, two cups of dried fruit, a teaspoon of baking soda, a
teaspoon of salt, a cup of brown sugar, lemon juice, nuts, and a bottle of
whisky.
Sample the whisky to check for quality.
Take a large bowl. Check the whisky again. To be sure it
is the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink. Repeat. Turn on the
electric mixer, beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add one teaspoon
of sugar and beat again.
Make sure the whisky is still okay. Try another cup. Turn
off the mixer. Break two legs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried
fruit. Mix on the turner. If the fried fruit gets stuck in the batterers pry it
loose with a screw driver.
Sample the whisky to check for consistency. Next, sift
two cups of salt. Or something. Who cares? Check the whisky. Now sift the lemon
juice and strain your nuts. Add one table. Spoon. Of sugar or something.
Whatever you can find.
Grease the oven. Turn the cake tin to 350 degrees. Don't
forget to beat off the turner. Throw the bowl out of the window, check the
whisky again and go to bed.
White
Fruitcake Recipe
Ingredients:
1 cup chopped candied pineapple
1/2 cup chopped citron
3/4 cup finely chopped or shredded almonds
1 1/2 cups coconut
2 1/4 cups cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
6 egg whites
Preparation:
Prepare fruits and almonds. Measure the sifted flour and
reserve a few tablespoons to dredge fruit. Sift remaining flour into a bowl
with baking powder and salt.
In mixing bowl cream butter with sugar until light and
fluffy.
Stir in sifted dry ingredients, alternating with the
milk.
Beat well and add the dredged candied fruit, shredded or
chopped almonds, and the coconut. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold
into batter.
Line a greased loaf pan with waxed paper or parchment paper
and grease the paper. Spoon batter into the prepared pan.
Bake at 300° for about 90 minutes, or until a wooden pick
or cake tester inserted around center of cake comes out clean.
(Google Image) |
No comments:
Post a Comment