POLL: Fruitcake-a great holiday tradition or you have enough door stops?
Ok so it turns out some of you cultured Ladies and Gentlemen have conflicting opinions on the love-able yet misunderstood Fruitcake.
Lets settle this once and for all and solve this important issue.
I chose 3, but I don't think people are crazy because they eat it. It's just not for me.
I'm 75, but I do have a distant memory from my childhood of someone taking a bite of fruitcake and actually smiling. But that could be a false memory...
I have understood that there is only one fruit cake in the world. Whoever gets it as a gift saves it until the next year and gives to someone else. Oh, wait! I may be thinking of plum pudding.
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I love a good fruitcake soaked in rum or in sweet bourbon, served with a creme anglaise made from melted Haagen Dazs vanilla ice cream (Ina Garten's trick).
This year I had thought to do an experiment: buy two small fruitcakes, soak one and leave the other one plain. Do a taste test after the soaking phase is over (it takes several weeks). Well, the fruitcakes are still tightly wrapped in their packages in the fridge. I was not able to put in the effort 5 or 6 weeks ago to start the soaking process. I may bust them out this week and start my experiment.
BTW, these are apparently not the terrible fruitcakes (Claxton brand comes to mind) that we've all been gifted at some point in our lives. These fruitcakes are from Southern Supreme bakery in Bear Creek, North Carolina. It was written up in the December Southern Living magazine--a huge rave review. I'm eager now to give them a try.
Here's the big Southern Supreme fruitcake that they sell. I didn't buy it, I bought two 8 oz cakes for my experiment. I plan to follow the booze-soaking guidelines from this article.
Kathryn
Last edited by fzxdoc; December 27, 2022, 07:40 AM.
WayneT , after I posted this, I found another topic (the one that this one spun off of) and saw that you've tried SS fruitcake and are not a fan. In that respect, I hope my mileage varies. It's good that you got a Xmas wreath idea out of the visit, though!
mcook2201 , I didn't shop through their site much. If I like the fruitcakes, I'll for sure check out those fruitcake cookies. Thanks for the tip.
fzxdoc I'll be interested in hearing your critique of the SS fruitcakes, before and after soaking in booze. For someone who grew up in the south and had ancestors who baked these as the celebratory dessert centerpiece, I'm considered somewhat of a pariah.
I have found that they work great for lawn mower wheel replacements, Mow the grass and feed the birds at the same time! One set usually lasts about one season.
I vaguely recall, long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away a fruitcake that showed up at the fire house that was pretty good. But, that was long, long ago....
Gear includes: Char-Griller's Grand Champ off set stick burner/smoker, SnS Kamado Deluxe, Weber 22, PBC, Victory gasser, Victory 36 griddle, Smoke Hollow electric smoker. ThermoWorks Thermapen Mk4, Smoke, Signals, and RFX4, Meater+, SNS-500, roti fits 22 n gasser, Emeril countertop TO, InkBird Sous Vide, Potane Vac/Sealer. Fire&Ice griddle/cooler ensemble.
3-pkg of Collapsible Prep Tubs
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Just got into charcoal Dec ‘21 (PBC)
fav is brisky. Love Turkey on PBC. also Turkey in the glass,(any nice bourbon)
Bud has always been my barley pop.
Been smoking a handful of years, just got serious in the last two or three years. Thanks to AR n @glemn picked up an SnS Kamado for appx 1/3 price of new. I dont think he used it twice. Love AR! keep calm n smoke on! Miss you Bonesy.
I have always loved fruitcake! The dry crumbly impersonation, not so much. I can see how FC gets a bad rep. The good ones are an enjoyment that cannot be described.
The holidays, especially Christmastime, were pretty cool at our station. we had a long counter in the kitchen that was always loaded with all sorts of goodies from well-wishers. Some of the best holidays of my life were spent with comrades and family at the fire house.
Smokin-It 3D
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Thermoworks Thermapen and Chef Alarm
The fruitcake you showed on the other post looked pretty good. I’ll be honest, fruitcakes have never really been around in my family, so I don’t have an opinion. Maybe growing up, they were and I didn’t try them, but I cant say take it or leave it.
The way fzxdoc talks about setting up a fruitcake, with ice cream or an anglaise sounds excellent thought! And a spiked egg nog on the side?
I of course love smoked meats of all kinds, but also like quick cooks like chicken portions, pork tenderloins, steak and fish. Really into cooking of all kinds.
My outdoor kitchen has a Lone Star Grillz Adjustable and it is wonderful. There also is a Pit Boss 5 Burner Ultimate Griddle and a Pit Boss Copperhead pellet grill.
There is an outdoor fire pit that has grilling capability and limited Santa Maria-style grill raising and lowering.
My wife has asked me to chime in that’s she loves a good fruitcake. As for me, I voted for the chili but, under duress, I would admit to once or twice encountering edible versions.
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