Since we were in Maryland until just a few days ago we just didn't have our act together for the holidays this year.
Therefore, I thought it would be fun to make fruitcake for Art, Mom and my friend, Diane. Not everyone loves fruitcake, but they do. Actually, my son, daughter-in-law and grandson in Maryland love fruitcake too. Let's be honest here. My 2 year old grandson, JD loves any kind of cake. We don't even dare say the word around him.
Art loves fruitcake so much that every time we've traveled in Europe, he's had his eye open for fruitcake. They've never quite measured up.
Well lo and behold, this is why I love blogging. Photos By Jalna posted a recipe for fruitcake that her husband made. I made it and everybody loved it. Wow!
I brought some to Maryland with me, but didn't soak one of the cakes with brandy so my grandson could have some. Well... turned out everybody liked the one that wasn't soaked in brandy better.
I told mom who was quite dubious so I made 3 fruitcakes on Christmas with brandy and 5 without.
We shall see what she says when they're ready.
And then the doorbell started ringing and neighbors and friends started dropping off lots of baked goods and candies. Added to these were sweets that were sent to us (many of which aren't pictured because they've been put in the fridge or cabinets before I decided to take a photo for this post). It was rather overwhelming. I have a feeling I'll be gaining back the weight I lost in Maryland this past month.
To make Christmas extra special for mom, we bought giant sea scallops which Art cooked to perfection and awesome sushi. Would you believe Kozo Sushi on Oahu stays open on Christmas and New Year? And the capper?
We opened the bottle of umeshu which we bought in Japan with mom in mind. Umeshu is a sweet plum wine. Ummm... I tasted several varieties before settling on this bottle because I knew she'd love it. We almost finished the bottle and she definitely loved it.
She says this was the BEST Christmas dinner she'd ever had. She reflected on how hard her life had been when she was younger which made her present happiness that much sweeter.
I hope your Christmas was sweet and jolly also.
Do you like fruitcake?
Therefore, I thought it would be fun to make fruitcake for Art, Mom and my friend, Diane. Not everyone loves fruitcake, but they do. Actually, my son, daughter-in-law and grandson in Maryland love fruitcake too. Let's be honest here. My 2 year old grandson, JD loves any kind of cake. We don't even dare say the word around him.
Well lo and behold, this is why I love blogging. Photos By Jalna posted a recipe for fruitcake that her husband made. I made it and everybody loved it. Wow!
I brought some to Maryland with me, but didn't soak one of the cakes with brandy so my grandson could have some. Well... turned out everybody liked the one that wasn't soaked in brandy better.
I told mom who was quite dubious so I made 3 fruitcakes on Christmas with brandy and 5 without.
We shall see what she says when they're ready.
And then the doorbell started ringing and neighbors and friends started dropping off lots of baked goods and candies. Added to these were sweets that were sent to us (many of which aren't pictured because they've been put in the fridge or cabinets before I decided to take a photo for this post). It was rather overwhelming. I have a feeling I'll be gaining back the weight I lost in Maryland this past month.
To make Christmas extra special for mom, we bought giant sea scallops which Art cooked to perfection and awesome sushi. Would you believe Kozo Sushi on Oahu stays open on Christmas and New Year? And the capper?
We opened the bottle of umeshu which we bought in Japan with mom in mind. Umeshu is a sweet plum wine. Ummm... I tasted several varieties before settling on this bottle because I knew she'd love it. We almost finished the bottle and she definitely loved it.
She says this was the BEST Christmas dinner she'd ever had. She reflected on how hard her life had been when she was younger which made her present happiness that much sweeter.
I hope your Christmas was sweet and jolly also.
Do you like fruitcake?
Yes, I like good fruitcake but it's been awhile since I have had any. I'm glad you had such a nice quiet Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI do not like fruitcake but I do like a little bit of brandy... You had a lovely Christmas and your mom looks so good!!
ReplyDeleteIsn't that lovely! We don't have visitors, all our friends are in Ottawa and busy with family.
ReplyDeleteI'm not in favour of fruitcake, although my dad used to make them every year!
I find it amazing that someone who doesn't have her act together has her act together enough to make fruit cake.
ReplyDeletesuch beautiful gifts! We do love fruitcake, my Mother always made it, I made it a few times but in the last few years I have bought it from The Shriners, they sell a delicious cake every year as a fund raiser. I'm glad you had a lovely time.The scallops sound wonderful!
ReplyDeletesuch a wonderful xmas! i used to make fruitcakes a lot but haven't the last couple years. this year i have the flu!
ReplyDeleteI never had fruitcake, I always assumed it was horrid from all the tales
ReplyDeleteI am not a big fan of that candied fruit that goes in fruit cake. I once made it using dried fruit instead and liked that fine.
ReplyDeleteThis was the best Christmas season ever, all our friends and family seemed to be in the mood to celebrate. We have so much chocolate and goodies, I have to stop eating them.
ReplyDeleteThis was the most comfortable Christmas we ever had. Just simple and delightful days and nights until last night when G came down with a cold. So very glad that your mom loved her Christmas. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, we all love fruitcake here. I have a couple of recipes I use- the ones with less flour are better IMO. When my husband was alive, I'd make a plum pudding for him every year too- a fruitcake type recipe but steamed. My sis works with a man who loves fruitcake so I'm sure to make him one every year even though I've never met him. I just one left in my fridge and you reminded me to spritz it with some rum. Some years I use brandy or even bourbon, but this year it was rum!
ReplyDeleteI do like fruitcake, but only ones made like my grandmother's fruitcake and sadly, none are and I never got her recipe! She made white fruitcake and dark fruit cake and began about six weeks before Christmas when she baked them and them wrapped them in brown paper and put them on the shelf by her basement steps. Once a week she unwrapped them and drizzled brandy on them and rewrapped them and returned them to the shelf. I think the alcohol evaporated but a delicious flavor remained.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas a day late, Kay and family. Your dinner sounded wonderful. I actually copied the fruit cake recipe to try next year since my husband wanted some this year and I can’t seem to get a copy of the recipe of my grandmother’s wonderful fruit cake. She was a teetotaler, so when she made her fruitcake, she called my father and asked him to buy some brandy to put on the cakes. It seems she poured it on rather that soaking a cloth and wrapping the cakes. I will have to ask my mother about just how she did it. Oh those cakes were heavenly.
ReplyDeleteI love fruitcake. I have coffee and cake for my bird watching group just before Christmas. And you guessed it. We have fruitcake.
ReplyDeleteBlessings on you all!
ReplyDeleteI love fruitcakes
ReplyDeleteI've only had the commercial ones but I loved them. Have a piece of one in the fridge right now.
ReplyDeleteNever been a fan of fruitcakes, but one year I remember someone convinced me to try hers, and I remember it was incredibly good. Nothing comes close these days. I am so glad to hear your mom had such a wonderful holiday with you all. :-)
ReplyDeleteI do love fruitcake, especially the kind I make. I have not made it for the last two years, however, because few other people eat it and we end up eating too much of it. Maybe next year.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you had such a wonderful Christmas dinner, and what wonderful neighbors you must have.
The monks here in Conyers, Georgia make fruitcake and they ship it all over! It is very good.
ReplyDeleteIn England, they have Christmas pudding with cream. I like it, it tastes like fruitcake to me!