When someone is called a fruitcake, this is not a good thing. I got this from Stack Exchange, English Usage and Language:
nutty as a fruitcake Crazy, idiotic, as in Mary's nutty as a fruitcake if she thinks she can get away with that. The adjective nutty meaning "insane" was first recorded in 1821; the similarity to fruitcake, which literally contains nuts as well as fruit, was first recorded in 1935.
Well, no—"nutty as a fruitcake" was recorded at least 23 years earlier, in "On Main Street: A Decline in a Noble Industry"—a rather silly take-off on "Who Killed Cock Robin?"—in the Saturday Evening Post (July 20, 1912)
Anyway, suffice it to say it's not good to be called a "fruitcake."
But maybe this year, I've fallen into the deep end.
Art and his sister have always LOVED fruitcake. My brother and I will just as soon pass it by. It's either you like it or you don't. My son and family love it. My daughter and family don't.
Jalna, a blogger in Hawaii posted a recipe online and I decided to try it. Art, his sister, my son and family really liked it so I started making it for friends, neighbors and relatives here in Hawaii.
At first, I soaked the fruitcake with alcohol and in 2016 when Keola and Sarah were here, we did a blind taste test with Rum, Brandy and Scotch. Rum and Brandy were tied. Scotch was out. But then one year we went to Maryland and I made a couple of loaves without alcohol for the grandsons and everyone said it was better without it.
After that, I made all my mini fruitcakes without alcohol. One year, I couldn't find candied fruit and another friend told me I could just get dried fruit and soak them in juice.
Really?
Then I discovered there were a LOT more people who liked this modified Hawaiian version of fruitcake.
Last year, I made 6 batches. That were 48 fruitcakes. A lot of it was frozen for Art and mom to have in the following months but most were given away.
This year, I made 8 batches. Half way through, I don't know what I did, but I had too much batter (or fruit?) that overflowed so I began making 9 loaves for every subsequent recipe. (The loaves marked with 4 cranberries were made especially for a friend who is allergic to walnuts.)
Maybe I have been nutty as a fruitcake.
I have always loved fruitcake! My mom had a rather strange recipe that I have made several times... google "Betty Crocker mystery fruitcake (1957)" if you're interested. The trouble is, it makes a big fruitcake, and guess who ends up eating most of it? Me! In December last, my husband pointed out some fruitcake at Walmart he thought I might like... and amazingly, I loved it. And it wasn't so big that I'd end up the size of a whale. I hope they have the same kind next year.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I would love your recipe. I generally dislike desserts with alcohol in them.
ReplyDeleteHere’s the web address to Jalna’s blog post about the fruitcake. Granted, I’ve modified it a bit with more dried fruit soaked in juice (mango orange). https://jalna.blogspot.com/2016/12/wendells-fruitcake.html
DeleteSue would like them. I wouldn't. But you have really gotten into this in a big way.
ReplyDeleteI might like this version as it is the candied fruit that puts me off fruitcake. That is a slightly nutty amount of baking!
ReplyDeleteGosh this reminds me how much I love fruitcake.....I used to have a recipe with dried fruit and applesauce, wonder if I could recreate that (since no kind friend is giving it to me anymore!).
ReplyDeleteCeci
Hmmmmmm.... apple sauce? I'm rather liking that idea. I'll note that for next year.
DeleteNot a fan of fruit cake so never have made it. That's a full freezer.
ReplyDeleteLooks so good I love fruitcake. -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteMy daughter has a friend whose husband makes a wonderful fruitcake with apricots. We are lucky; he gives us one every year. I am impressed with your stash, for sure.
ReplyDeleteHow kind of you to make that many fruitcakes! I don't care for candied fruit so I probably wouldn't like them, but I would have to try a slice to verify that. :)
ReplyDeleteI've never been a fan of fruitcake, but that is a term I would not ever think applies to you!
ReplyDeleteI love fruit cake. The fruit cake idea is humorous but doesn't mean anything. Enjoy hour cake!
ReplyDeleteAt the height of my "nuttiness" baking, I made mini white fruitcake. Based on cream cheese, nuts and a small quantity of candied fruit ( only for color)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds quite interesting. I've never seen a white fruitcake before.
DeleteSorry Kay, don't have the recipe after all these years. It was from one of those inexpensive Women's magazines sold right at the grocery store check-out. Totally not the standard recipe and spices. It was so rich, you had to be sure to bake it long enough!
DeleteLi
Hello Li, It's so very nice to meet you. That's quite all right. I'm done with fruitcakes for this year. I think I'll make some blueberry muffins once the blueberries go back to normal (smaller) size. The Costco and Sam's Club blueberries have been super huge lately.
DeleteGoogle white fruitcake! There's a mess of recipes.
DeleteI haven't acquired the taste for fruitcake. Too fruity for me.
ReplyDeleteYou might be a bit nutty for making that many fruitcakes, but I'm sure your fruitcake eaters love you for it.
ReplyDeleteYou certainly will make Art and Mom happy this year.
ReplyDeleteWhen you've made as many fruitcakes as you did the beautiful covid masks, then we'll declare you officially nutty. My Mom's recipe was used by her church for a fund raiser for a jillion years. It has so much fruit and nuts in it, that there's barely any batter. Not at the top of my list. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteOh gosh..... masks.... I still have lots of elastic that I now don't know what to do with. That was a sewing marathon!
DeleteI think I enjoyed making the fruitcake more even if I didn't eat them. I was just happy the recipients enjoyed them.
I'm not a fan of fruitcakes either... mostly because I don't care for candied or dried fruit. DH likes them though... and my friend who passed away a few years ago used to make a modified fruitcake (more nuts than fruit) for us... and I'd soak it in Bourbon or rum. DH loved that one. But I can see where you might enjoy making them more than eating them yourself.
ReplyDelete68!! Wow, but I think you enjoyed the making of them, the scents in your home of baking must have been yummy!
ReplyDeleteLin Floyd says I hate fruitcake but my mom made it year after year and we also got a loaf or two.
ReplyDeleteWow! You are so capable! That's awesome! Aloha from townside Kay
ReplyDeleteThis Missouri family loves fruitcake made with candied fruit.. no booze!! Haven't made it for awhile .. please remind your readers to make it next winter!! LOL...
ReplyDeletehehehehe, i was thinking the same thing "you are as nutty as a fruitcake"!! i have never really liked fruitcake but maybe if i had yours i would!! good for you on making so many, thats a lot of work!! i hope you are enjoying your weekend!!
ReplyDeleteIf, by next Christmas, you still have fruitcake in your freezer, well...I think you will have deserved the 'nutty as a fruitcake' monicker. However, if the cake is gone by then, well, you have simply provided for your family. That's a good thing!
ReplyDeleteMy dear mum used to make amazing fruit cakes ...
ReplyDelete68 fruitcake loaves is certainly a good (high) number.
All the best Jan