BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 01:17 PM

There are sourdough starter kits available on the internet - it's probably the best way to go because a new one (which would depend on "wild" yeasts could easily develop an off flavour.


and a tuttti-fruitti jar can pretty easily be started.


see: SOAR database for one recipe

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 01:01 PM

My rule of thumb, established by experience, is "never buy cheap fruitcake--you'll regret it." The bakery I linked to makes a rich dark cake with big chunks of premium candied fruit.

On a somewhat different note, my mother used to have a big jar of what I think was called "Brandied fruit." I forget how it worked, but I think we added canned fruit every so often. It was fermenting and the new fruit kept it going (this is apparently the fruit world's answer to sourdough). I liked the fruit, but a little went a long way. There must have been a starter of some sort, like sourdough. Anyone know how you would go about it (or while you're at it, how to start sourdough starter?)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 11:41 AM

Currants, sultanas and raisins are all different grape varieties. You can make wine from them I do believe, but I am not an expert - they are normally grown to be sundried. I suppose there is nothing to prevent you from making wine with the dried fruit - I have heard of currant wine. I do believe blackcurrants are not grapes.

Oh, and a Sultana is the wife of a Sultan...

:-)

Candied peel (the good quality stuff) is used because it gives a delightful citrus fragance, and kept well. In earlier days, nothing was wasted on a farm, which is why we have sausages.... :-)

Windfall apples (scrumps) were used to make cider - which is where the name scrumpy comes from - actually a good use for them as windfall apples are too sweet and ripe to keep long in storage...

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: Schantieman
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 09:06 AM

Come off it, Ranger: candied peel may or may not be your thing but it only features as one of the ingredients alondside currants, sultanas, raisins (one day I shall find out the difference between those three. I mean the official difference - I know what they look/taste like!), glace cherries and, of course, figs! (not to mention the flour, eggs, brandy etc. etc.)

Yum^3

S

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: Kim C
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 08:35 AM

When fruitcake is good, it's very, very good; but when it's bad, it's horrid. Sort of like gin.

There's an old story in my family, that back during the Depression, someone gave my great-grandmother a fruitcake. She threw it out in the yard because she thought the little green bits were "pizen." :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: freda underhill
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 07:34 AM

are you going to chop them up and soak them in brandy, before tossing in some eggs, sultanas & the rest?

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: Naemanson
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 07:20 AM

Funny you should say that. Just today my landlady gave me two packets of dried mango. I imagine they would go well in a fruitcake.

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: freda underhill
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 06:52 AM

fruitcake an aphrodisiac? it depends what side of the anagram you're on. fruitcake could be an ARTIE FUCK then again, for those who are strongly against fruitcake it could be an IRATE FUCK, or for those who use packet mix, it could be a CUTE FAKIR.

personally, I think that's what's really important among all this is the spirit of mangoes.. and I have never yet had a mangoe fruitcake.

fred

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: Two_bears
Date: 15 Dec 03 - 08:33 AM

> Fruitcakes have always been scary.

I couldn't agree more! Fruit Cakes are evil (almost as bad as clowns).

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: Naemanson
Date: 15 Dec 03 - 02:00 AM

See, it must be an aphrodisiac!

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 14 Dec 03 - 08:19 PM

Interesting word, FrUitCaKe...

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Dec 03 - 06:36 PM

"By their fruitcakes shall ye know them."

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: RangerSteve
Date: 14 Dec 03 - 06:22 PM

It's not the cake, it's the fruit that sucks. And it's not really fruit, it's fruit peels. We don't put hair and feathers in beef or chicken stew, so why put citrus peels in cake? Peels were meant to be thrown away, or turned into compost.

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 14 Dec 03 - 05:04 PM

My father used to make the Christmas cake every October. Then it would be put in a quiet, unused room, and once a week we'd all go in and he'd pour one glass of whiskey into the cake and drink another.

Some time in the middle of November it got that just going into that room would make you come out ffeeling a bish funnnny.

By the time Christmas Day came the thing could practically reel down the street by itself. And on Stephen's Day all the neighbours would be fluthered, purely from coming in for a genteel cup of tea and slice of cake.

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: freda underhill
Date: 14 Dec 03 - 05:58 AM

The most delicious fruitcake I have ever had was made from persimmons, from a tree that grows in the cook's back yard. It was a beautiful, light fruity pudding, home made and delicious, served with a light vanilla custard...

fred

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 10:09 PM

I'd imagine it'd be easy enough to make a Semtex Fruitcake.

The thing is, it's virtually impossible to screen out everything.

As they said in the war (the big war) "Is your Journey Really Necessary?"

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: Donuel
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 09:53 PM

Anything wrapped in tin foil is opaque to X ray scanners.

Should we all start wrapping our underwear in tin foil for our next flight we may be able to add a few more articles to the anti terrorist contraband list.

A classic example of our zero tolerence laws was preventing a Congressional medal of honor winner to board a plane with his medal.
It was apparently made of metal.

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: Naemanson
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 07:47 PM

I thought the same thing but the major influence here on Guam was Spanish. Spain took control of the island in the 17th century and held it until the end of the Spanish-American war in 1898. England had almost no presence here.

As for the rest of you,

FRUITCAKE LOVERS UNITE! FILL THE LAND WITH GOOD FRUITCAKE. DEPLETE THE LIQUOR STORES IN CONSTRUCTION OF THIS FINE CONFECTION.

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 07:19 PM

Uh-oh! Here in the Pacific fruitcake is not just for Christmas! On Guam the only proper wedding cake is fruitcake. I mentioned that in Oz and learned the same thing holds there.

I suspect they (both of 'em) may have gotten that from England, where it also seems to be the preferred kind of cake for a wedding (covered with marzipan and royal icing, as Schantieman mentioned).

Cheers,

YY

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: GUEST,Sandy Claws
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 05:31 PM

Do not send by US post. We will refuse to deliver them!

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: tar_heel
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 04:38 PM

sandytoes makes great fruitcake!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 04:19 PM

Hey Schantie, you've now got another fruitcake!

X

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 03:30 PM

My fruit cake may get through the x ray but it would never pass the alcohol limit!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: Lady Hillary
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 02:01 PM

EBarnacle here. Send me all your excess fruitcake. I makes a wonderful construction material and has never been known to rot or otherwise deteriorate.

Actually, I have had quite a few good fruitcakes over the years. Of course, the best ones had so much rum or cognac or bourbon in them that the morning after the night before comes too soon.

We sing it as:

It's the song of the Temperance Union.

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: Peace
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 12:32 PM

There is a bunch of fruitcakes in the White House. Why are we worried now? Bah, humbug!

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: GUEST,Ghost of Christmas Past
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 12:26 PM

Does anybody want some 10 year old fruitcake?

Here, I've got lots.

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: JennyO
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 11:29 AM

Spot, your ex sounds like a woman after me own heart, but it's still definitely not me.

Mussht be time for anotherr whishky...........

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: freda underhill
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 08:21 AM

you can always try the Society for the Preservation and Protection of Fruitcake - they have some good recipes - & can be checked out at

http://mbgoodman.tripod.com/mbrecipe.html

where I come from, a fruitcake is a bit of a nut case..

fred

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: Bill D
Date: 12 Dec 03 - 06:21 PM

Nicole...I'll be over..YUM!...(if it has nuts also!)
I have eaten GOOD fruitcake, though not recently....and I have eaten at the gummy, sickly-sweet "weapon-of-massive-destruction" some try to pass off as 'fruitcake'...(plastic seems to be a major ingredient).....

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: NicoleC
Date: 12 Dec 03 - 05:03 PM

There is fruitcake, and then there is fruitcake. Those ridiculous gift cakey things with candied cherries in them bear the same resemblance to fruitcake as a unicycle does to a Ferrari.

For die-hard self-proclaimed fruitcake haters, I simply wait an extra month and re-label my fruitcake and "Dark Fruit and Nut Loaf," and they always love that ;)

Originally, fruitcake was devised as a means of preserving the summer's fruits and goodness over the winter, which is probably why we still assocaitge it with Christmas in many places. The symbolism of a properly preserved cake, chock full of nutrition, that will last many years makes ti particularly appropriate for a traditional wedding gift.

And I use cognac on my fruitcake...

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: Schantieman
Date: 12 Dec 03 - 01:32 PM

Rich, dark, fruit and rum (or brandy)-laden fruitcake is indeed one of life's most wonderful confections. Ideally it should be covered - not too thickly - in marzipan and royal icing.   What we have here, of course, is proper old-fashioned birthday/wedding/Christmas cake.

When I got married, I insisted on this type of cake. My bride insisted on sponge. So the bottom layer was rich & fruity, the top two were light and inconsequential.   It didn't last. (The marriage, that is. I was able to keep some of the fruitcake for our first anniversary).

S

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: Schantieman
Date: 12 Dec 03 - 01:28 PM

It's biscuits that we never eat because they never have yeast - at least, on this side of the pond!

But of course, the staff of life also depends on the activity of this marvellous fungus. How do the Christian temperance lot square that?!

Steve

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 12 Dec 03 - 06:11 AM

Linda baked her Christmas cake on Tuesday night. Since then she's been feeding it a small glassful of booze every evening - brandy one night and rum the next. Hrmm - it could be quite nice to be a cake.

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: Metchosin
Date: 12 Dec 03 - 02:14 AM

thanks Mudlark, I knew it seemed odd, but its been awhile and the old grey cells they ain't what they used to be. Come to think of it though, yeast in cookies is just as illogical and thank god my old Mum only smoked her tobacco.

We're coming, we're coming, our brave little band.
On the right side of temperance we do take our stand
We don't chew tobacco because we do think
That the people who chew it are likely to drink

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: Naemanson
Date: 12 Dec 03 - 01:02 AM

Say what you like, fruitcake is one of my favorite foods. In fact, maybe I'll swing by the grocery store this weekend and pick up a can of fruitcake for the weekend. And a bottle of rum.

As long as we are on the subject of holiday fare, try adding butterscotch schnappes to your eggnog instead of your usual additive.

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Dec 03 - 12:34 AM

Looks like this thread ought to move up the page and join the music discussions!

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: Mudlark
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 11:08 PM

It's cookies, We never eat cookies because they have yeast...

rum/bum.....yeast/beast

First verse:

We're coming, we're coming, a brave little band
On the right side of temperance we now take our stand
We don't use tobacco, because we do think
That the people who use it are liable to drink

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: Metchosin
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 03:51 PM

We don't eat fruitcake because it has yeast
And one little bite turns a man to a beast
Oh can you imagine a sadder disgrace
Than a man in the gutter with crumbs on his face.

I've never put yeast or dangerous objects in a fruitcake, to my knowledge. However, I do remember, when I was quite young, after efforts to retrieve the stuff proved futile, that my mother stirred the ashes that had fallen from a cigarette in her mouth, into the Christmas pudding batter.

For the past 50 years, we have never stuck a spoon into one of her Christmas Puds before questioning her regarding the potash levels.

She turned 83 this year and has decided to retire from making the pudding and it is now my turn for the ritual....hmmm....seems somewhat sad that something surrounding our family traditions will come to an end this year, because I can't think of a single thing to add to the pudding to continue to make it unique.

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 03:07 PM

PDQ, they may have recorded the same song, but I think he didn't listen to them, so its probably from a different source--they wouldn't have originated it. I'll look in SongFest, that's the book he used the most in the beginning around 1960. (My copy seems to have gone walkabout--does anyone else have it?)

Mmario, that icebox fruitcake sounds horrible! It reminds me of all of the goofy recipes my junior high home ec teachers used to come up with, the recombination of packaged good ingredients instead of just getting serious about your cooking and making an item from scratch with all of its intricacies.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 03:03 PM

The vanilla wafer recipe Mmario posted is the only fruitcake I really like. A friend's mother makes 'em , but his wife is a health-food nut and won't allow them in the house. Since our house is conveniently situated between Mom's house and his own, when Mom gives him a cake he just stops by here and we destroy the evidence.

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: Spot
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 02:22 PM

Message for JennyO... You sure you're not my ex...??? She used to that sorta cookin...!!!
                           Happy Chritmas...   Spot

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: Mudlark
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 02:16 PM

Guest 9:02...If your grandmother actually baked in a wooden stove it's a wonder she lasted through even one fruitcake.

The vanilla wafer recipe reminded me of a favorite fruitcake recipe in the area of the Ozarks that I lived in, which called for jellybeans instead of dried fruit, Coke, and of course shredded coconut. Shredded coconut was what set apart the chefs from the cooks, the women from the girls.

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: GUEST,pdq
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 02:15 PM

SRS- Try Chad Mitchell Trio...I think it is early, on Kapp, approx. 1962...

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: GUEST,Ely
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 12:58 PM

My mom is gearing up for the annual batch of fruitcakes. Hers are wonderful. None of the usual jokes apply.

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 11:19 AM

abc newscast - six o'clock news the 10th - oncludong interview with airport securoty chief

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 11:03 AM

Are we sure this isn't just another urban legend? Last year a cabbie taking me to O'Hare told me not to carry fruitcakes to the airport because they set off the new bomb sniffing gear. Sounds like a variation on a theme to me.

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 10:55 AM

Shantieman,

Your ditty rattled a few gray cells--I remember a similar song (different chorus) with that line about eating fruitcake until tight. I'll mull on it and see if I can remember the rest of it as my Dad used to sing it.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 09:23 AM

now this is a threat. Recipe from another list:

White Icebox Fruitcake

11 oz. box 'Nilla Wafers
14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
10 oz. pkg. sweetened coconut flakes
1 cup more or less candied dried fruit (original called for white raisins)
1 cup more or less chopped nuts

Crush the vanilla wafers. Mix all ingredients together.
Pack firmly into an airtight container. Refrigerate.
Best if allowed to sit a few days to meld the flavors



*shudder*

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: Schantieman
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 09:22 AM

We never eat fruitcake because it has rum
And one little bite puts a man on the bum.
Oh, can you imagine a sorrier sight
Than a man eating fruitcake until he is tight?

Away, away, with rum (by gum)
With rum (by gum), with rum (by gum)
Away, away, with rum (by gum)-
That's the song of the Salvation Army!

Subject: RE: BS: Latest threat - FRUITCAKE
From: Midchuck
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 09:19 AM

I read, somewhere, the hypothesis that there are only seventeen fruitcakes in the world. They just keep moving around as people receive them for Christmas and give them to somebody else, the next Christmas, so it seems like there are a lot more.

That refers to the eating kind of fruitcakes, not the babbling kind, of course.

P.