|
|
So What's Wrong With Fruitcake?
About Truespace Archives
These pages are a copy of the official truespace forums prior to their removal somewhere around 2011.
They are retained here for archive purposes only.
So What's Wrong With Fruitcake? // Roundtable
Post by frootee // Dec 20, 2007, 8:52am
|
frootee
Total Posts: 2667
|
Hey folks. Since 'Tis the season for regifting, I wonder... if fruitcake is so bad why do they keep making it? It's a longstanding joke about fruitcake. Hey, it's nutritious and it tastes good! And, in a pinch, it makes a great doorstop too! If you collect enough of them, you can make a nice smelling house, if you don't mind the ants.
So... I'll create a poll for the fun of it.
Feel free to post your fruitcake stories here!
Froo |
Post by Steinie // Dec 20, 2007, 9:10am
|
Steinie
Total Posts: 3667
|
Although I actually like the taste of a good fruitcake with coffee I like shooting them out of cannons even better!:D (9 out of 10 clowns agree) |
Post by jamesmc // Dec 20, 2007, 9:18am
|
jamesmc
Total Posts: 2566
|
Fruitcake as a pest repellent.
When I lived in Texas we had problems with ants, possums and raccoons. We tried everything, nothing worked.
So, I figured if I can't get rid of them I will use bait to attract them to a different area.
I had a fruitcake that was sent to me that no one wanted to eat, including me.
So I set the fruitcake around and in a tree in the corner of the yard.
The fruitcake lasted two complete years and was left untouched. Possums and Raccoons avoided that tree like the plague; and ants made paths around the fruitcake laden tree.
The fruitcake tree was the healthiest living specimen in my yard! Nothing bothered it!
When the fruitcake finally fell apart and dropped to the ground, the decaying remnants killed the grass where it had dropped and the dog would never use that tree to relieve itself.
My family has eyed with great suspicion the fruitcake packs that come to our house around the holiday season.
We're not sure whether to put it out on the table, sliced up and decorated with great precision.
Or simply call the hazardous waste disposal team to get rid of it. :D |
Post by butterpaw // Dec 20, 2007, 10:17am
|
butterpaw
Total Posts: 831
|
The very best fruitcake I've ever had (and I mean supreme) was made by my dad's secretary, Anne Donato. Now, she has since passed away.. so I think it's ok to use her real name.
But this was so good.. we always looked forward to it every year. She finally shared the recipe with us.. and it's (of course) Anne Donato's Fruitcake. (sadly, in my family, we are all getting of an age and shape where we are not allowed to enjoy some of life's goodies... but .. still I'm tempted to make up just one more batch (although my sis does it best of all).
I think the reason the ants don't like fruitcake and it keeps forever (just about) is the alcohol content... The dried fruits are soaked in brandy or rum (depending on recipe - bourbon or scotch might be good too I suppose ;) ) for several weeks beforehand.
If you have a hard dry unappealing or heavy stodgy fruitcake... uhm.. well I suspect somebody stinted on the booze, and it's only good for doorstops or Steinie's cannon. :D
Well there is another sort that is very light and non-boozy.. erm.. well ok .. I find it hard to call that fruitcake :rolleyes:
oh.. and don't forget it's a very concentrated thing.. like candy.. moderation is indicated. :D
C'mon now folks.. tell us the really bad fruitcake stories - can you top James's?
^_^ |
Post by 3dfrog // Dec 20, 2007, 10:39am
|
3dfrog
Total Posts: 1225
|
Never tried fruitcake, never will. So I have no fruitcake stories. But when I was a kid someone called me a fruitcake and I punched his nose. |
Post by butterpaw // Dec 20, 2007, 10:41am
|
butterpaw
Total Posts: 831
|
While I don't exactly condone the violence.. I just want to say hah! he was a brat. and them was fightin' words for a little kid. :p |
Post by Burnart // Dec 20, 2007, 11:53am
|
Burnart
Total Posts: 839
|
Gosh all this anti-fruitcake propoganda atsonishes me!
I love a nice dark fruitcake - what I hate is the marzipan and/or icing that it's often coated in. Usually peel that stuff off and chuck it away. More often I buy, or make, an un-iced one.
(If I was to talk about a food hate it woud have to be olives - they are the most appalling things that make me gag. It makes me feel sick watching other people eat them. Can't eat a half and half pizza when the other side has olives on it because the gross flavour pollutes the whole thing..... and so on.) |
Post by butterpaw // Dec 20, 2007, 11:56am
|
butterpaw
Total Posts: 831
|
I agree! don't sully the fruitcake with icing .. yeesh! like gilding a lily.. just wrecks the lily.. :D |
Post by TomG // Dec 20, 2007, 1:13pm
|
TomG
Total Posts: 3397
|
I love marzipan. Dont gild the lilly with marzipan, this is true - just buy a block of marzipan, cut off a slice and munch, mmmmmm. Franzipan is also good. But marzi and franzipan are best saved for Battenburg cake and not put on fruitcake.
Fruitcake is fine if made well, I like variations like Dundee cake etc. It's popular stuff in Scotland, fruitcake, and the best sort of course features whisky :)
I live in Texas and no ants or raccoons will be getting MY fruitcake I can tell you.
Tom |
Post by jayr // Dec 20, 2007, 1:17pm
|
jayr
Total Posts: 1074
|
Hey, fruit cake and marzipan mix but only if you put the marzipan in the middle, like a fruitcake sandwich. It's called a simnal cake then, traditionally eaten at easter but it's good any time with a cup of earl gray! |
Post by butterpaw // Dec 20, 2007, 1:38pm
|
butterpaw
Total Posts: 831
|
Oh marzipan is good! but that's almonds .. really ... mmmmmm :p
simnal cake sounds delish.. I will just have to imagine it.. or I shall surely be in trouble with my doc :D
@Tom - good for you! don't spoil the critters - then they'll really be a nuisance ^_^ |
Post by RAYMAN // Dec 21, 2007, 1:40am
|
RAYMAN
Total Posts: 1496
|
I just put on pounds listening to you guys !:(:mad::confused::o:p;) |
Post by butterpaw // Dec 21, 2007, 1:49am
|
butterpaw
Total Posts: 831
|
Vicarious enjoyment is actually not fattening ;)
On marzipan.. when I was a girl.. I made little marzipan fruits, vegetables and such at Christmas time ... very fun and then you can eat them :D |
Post by RAYMAN // Dec 21, 2007, 3:01am
|
RAYMAN
Total Posts: 1496
|
Vicarious enjoyment is actually not fattening ;)
On marzipan.. when I was a girl.. I made little marzipan fruits, vegetables and such at Christmas time ... very fun and then you can eat them :D
OK OK ! You wanted it !
I call you Buttercake from now on ! hehehehe!:D:D:D |
Post by jamesmc // Dec 21, 2007, 3:16am
|
jamesmc
Total Posts: 2566
|
I love marzipan. Dont gild the lilly with marzipan, this is true - just buy a block of marzipan, cut off a slice and munch, mmmmmm. Franzipan is also good. But marzi and franzipan are best saved for Battenburg cake and not put on fruitcake.
Fruitcake is fine if made well, I like variations like Dundee cake etc. It's popular stuff in Scotland, fruitcake, and the best sort of course features whisky :)
I live in Texas and no ants or raccoons will be getting MY fruitcake I can tell you.
Tom
There was one company in Texas that made great fruitcake. Forgot the name of it, but it was moist and delicious - not like the dried out specimens one finds in a store. |
Post by frootee // Dec 21, 2007, 4:42am
|
frootee
Total Posts: 2667
|
hm... Elm Street Fruitcake company? Something like that. I saw them in the malls when I was in Dallas. Sigh... I'll ask Nellja. I think she remembers.
Froo |
Post by butterpaw // Dec 21, 2007, 5:21am
|
butterpaw
Total Posts: 831
|
@ Rayman - hahah you got me ..
buttercake :D |
Post by Heidi // Dec 21, 2007, 5:43am
|
Heidi
Total Posts: 335
|
There was one company in Texas that made great fruitcake. Forgot the name of it, but it was moist and delicious - not like the dried out specimens one finds in a store.
Oh!...there was just a special on TV on how fruitcake is made. It featured their factory. It's the Collin Street Bakery (http://www.collinstreet.com/)
I have to admit, though, I'm not a fruit cake fan. I voted for shooting it out of a canon (hehehe). |
Post by frootee // Dec 21, 2007, 5:51am
|
frootee
Total Posts: 2667
|
I can't eat a whole lot of fruitcake either. Maybe a small piece and that's it.
Maybe a fruitcake cannon would be a fun learning exercise for truespace physics.
Froo |
Post by RAYMAN // Dec 21, 2007, 6:04am
|
RAYMAN
Total Posts: 1496
|
From my trip to Paris in November i have pictures
from the best fruitcakes that money can buy !
Some people buy a TV for what some of these cost ....
One has 18 carat gold leaf !
I took those pics for a mag...... but i was tempted.....
One is from "Fauchon" Place Madelaine and the other
2 are from"Dalloyau"
Those are for the eye .....:D |
Post by jayr // Dec 21, 2007, 1:13pm
|
jayr
Total Posts: 1074
|
Butterpaw, why have you got a banana in your ear? |
Post by frootee // Jan 1, 2008, 6:00am
|
frootee
Total Posts: 2667
|
Wow! 52 % would eat the fruitcake, and 36% would use it for a doorstop.
Well, the eaters have it! :D
Froo |
Post by butterpaw // Jan 1, 2008, 2:19pm
|
butterpaw
Total Posts: 831
|
hahaha that was a fun poll :D so where's my piece? ^_^ |
|
