Capitol Hill Blue Forums Misc. Topics General Stuff Christmas Shopping, Gifts, Cards, Parties etc.

A friend of mine sent me a fruit cake, and it arrived today. I opened the box, and the cake smells of good quality bourbon. I am going to have some tonight for dessert, with a nice hot cup of coffee.

My Orange Tort is a rather primitive fruitcake; nuts and dates, orange juice and orange zest in a simple batter, baked in a tube pan and drenched with sweetened orange juice after it comes out of the oven. Dark or Spiced Rum can be added if you wish.

Greger, that sounds delish!

TV, movie, comedy etc. give fruit cake a bad rap. If they've ever had a good fruit cake they'd change their opinion. I'm a big fruit cake fan from way back. I was young we'd make them and age them for Christmas by wrapping them in cheese cloth and soaking them in rum, although bourbon's fine, too. However, you'll have to lay out a few bucks to either make the fruit cake or to buy one. That's the stickler. I suspect that most of these critics have had the low cost discount variety inflicted upon them. Good fruit cake is right up their with good cheese cake or any baked good for that matter. Quality ingredients (and a dollop of whipped cream on it doesn't hurt either).

P.S. You've got a good friend. Even a small good quality tin round costs around $35 (and it's worth it!). If you can have it, try the whipped cream topping.

This year our Festivus pole is a certified replica of the legendary centrifuge tubes in Iraq. My wife and like to do the airing of grievances before the feats of strength as it adds considerable spice. And the recitation of Festivus miracles for the year is better than petting a cat for lowering blood pressure.

Merry Festivus everybody!

My mother use to make these fruitcakes that I could use for patio bricks. Everyone dreaded them but my wife - The Lovely Cynthia thought that they were the greatest. Actually was a highlight of Xmas for her. No accounting for taste since she also married me.

Every Xmas eve dinner a requirement by my wife is to say what we are thankful for. My mother had died in September so it comes to my turn and I say "If my mother had to die I am thankful she did it before she had a chance to make any fruitcakes." I ducked before the bottle had a chance to hit me. Everyone roared since they knew if my mother was around she'd laugh the loudest at that one.

The fruitcake my friend sent me is delicious! I've had both rum and bourbon fruitcakes, and they are both very good. I like the whipped cream on them, too.

!

I'm with the lovely Cynthia on this one, I like ALL fruitcakes. Even the bad ones.

For those either willing to consider fruitcake as a gift next Christmas or for this coming New Year, I'd recommend [b]Fruitcakes from Holy Cross Abbey.[/b] People either like fruitcake or they don't. Those that do like it generally fall into one of two categories: Like it just around Christmas or some other holiday or occasion; or, never get tired of it and enjoy fruitcake year round. I fall into the former category. I look forward to fruitcake for the holidays- Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year. How about you?