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Friday, October 22, 2010

Friends Don't Give Friends Fruitcake



This past week I worked on lots of new Christmas stencils for signs. A few that I did were about the dreaded or beloved fruitcake....all depends on which side of the cake you are on.

Seems like many people have a love/hate relationship with the seasonal gastronomic delight. So I thought in spirit of the season I would do a little background and share just how the fruitcake came into being.

Fruitcakes date back to Ancient Roman times. The earliest known recipes were made with pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, and raisins that were mixed into a barley mash. As fruitcakes evolved so did the ingredients due to availability and religious restrictions. Butter and milk were "allowed" by the Pope in 1490 in the German version called stollen. In the 16th century it was discovered that a high sugar concentration acted as a natural preservative for the candied fruits used within the cakes themselves thus making them not only more affordable and popular.



Traditionally fruitcakes were made from fruit and nuts and soaked in alcohol. Alcohol acts as a preservative. In 2003, Jay Leno actually sampled a fruitcake that was baked in 1878. Hmmmm...wonder how it really tasted?

Fruitcakes have been the butt of many jokes. Johnny Carson would quip that there was only one fruitcake and it would be passed from family to family. In Colorado, there is a fruitcake toss held the first Saturday in January. The record for the longest toss stands at 1,420 feet.



I don't think I'll ever look the same way at another fruitcake. Not only are they suppose to be delicious, they are also aerodynamically shaped. As always you can find these and many other signs in my etsy shoppe.

If anyone has any delicious fruitcake recipes to share, please do so, as I'd love to try making one and getting the family to eat it.


28 comments:

  1. Dee, I love your signs.
    I actually like fruitcake. I order the kind from Corsicana Texas every Christmas for my Father. He loves it!!!

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  2. I know this will sound like I'm a 'square' but I've tried it and just can't stand the taste of the alcohol.

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  3. LoL! Dee,I'm on the don't eat it side.Harvest Blessings!~Amy

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  4. Love the friends sign LOL. I have never cared for fruitcake my mom always liked it YUCK LOL
    Brenda

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  5. I love your signs. I'm on the don't eat side.

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  6. I don't eat it either...ewww...gross...lol!! My opinion only!

    Brenda

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  7. Great choice for your new Christmas signs!

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  8. Pat,

    Thanks. I remember as a child those paxton fruitcakes and they never look appealing to me. Is the one from Texas made similar?

    D

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  9. Parsley,

    There are some cakes that I like with a little bit of alcohol in them, like traditional Italian rum cake. My grandma use to make it when she was living. Can't say I like fruitcake with or without the alcohol either.

    D

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  10. Amy,

    I haven't tried a piece since I was a young girl. I know there are probably some wonderful fruitcakes out there...just wish I had a few to sample.

    D

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  11. Brenda,

    I think liking fruitcake must be a generational thing...my grandma would eat it.

    D

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  12. PrimSue,

    I am on the don't eat side too! I would love to try a slice of a homemade fruitcake though to see if there is a difference.

    D

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  13. Brenda P,

    So, did you say you want me to send you a fruitcake for Christmas? LOL!

    D

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  14. Pat,

    Thanks! I have lots more coming...I just couldn't help but make the fruitcake ones first! LOL!

    D

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  15. I love fruitcake! Problem is no one ever gives me one as a gift, lol.

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  16. I also am on the don't eat side of the fruitcake thing. I remember as a child my grandmother would have it around on the holidays... never looked appealing! Love your signs :)
    Trina

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  17. Very cute signs Dee, I would go with the first one as I am NOT a fruitcake fan;)

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  18. love your signs..I haven't had a fruitcake in years..like since I was a little kid..and they were nasty back then..would be willing to try one again though to see if it tastes the same as I remember.;)

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  19. I love fruitcake! Especially the ones that Safeway makes each holiday season. This year I'm going to try making my own fruitcake. My hubby, Rich is a no-way I'm eating fruitcake guy. Love the signs!

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  20. Denise,

    Is there a particular brand of fruitcake or stores that you like. I've looked at them packaged in the stores and they really don't look all that appealing to me.

    D

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  21. Trina,

    I would love to try fruitcake again...not a store bought one but a homemade one, so I can really judge whether I really like or it that it's not for me!

    D

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  22. Carmen,

    LOL! I fruitcake doesn't really appeal to me either...although I would be open to trying a homemade one.

    D

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  23. Gina,

    Yep, that's the way I remember them too as not that good. I know that some of my tastes have changed since becoming an adult and would love to see if that is one of them or not.

    D

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  24. Shirley,

    My son works at Safeway. I'll have to give theirs a look as we get closer to the holiday.

    D

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  25. Well hopefully D you have lost my address...haha!! Unless it's something really awesome, but NO fruitcake!!

    B

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  26. The only fruitcakes that I truly liked were from Corsicana, Texas! They are famous there for their fruitcakes! Now I will need to look for a recipe! Hee Hee! Anne

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  27. B,

    I still have your address and have you on my christmas list for 1 fruitcake! LOL!

    D

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  28. Anne,

    Do they have a retail outlet where they sell to the public? I have to admit that I haven't tried many commercially made ones, but the ones I have, aren't very good. I would love to try a homemade one. I'm sure it would be better.

    D

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