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The Ten Most Recent Comments By AnnieNDM

From Talk

Overheard: strange things you've heard people say about food.

As a kid my mom told us we didn't like dark chocolate or coconut. As a adult, years before she passed, I said, "Mom why did you tell us we didn't like dark chocolate or coconut? I do to like them." Typical mom response, "It's the only way I ever had to get a piece away from you kids." I still have not told my sister she probably does like...

My mom would have loved the "warm cookies will make you sick" and I use to hear that Mayo was dairy!

My mom was from Galveston, Texas and I grew up in New Jersey....fresh fish everywhere in the 60's. So I do appreciate the comments on Red Lobster. I was asked to go to one in Fresno, California. Saved my money.

AnnieNDM at 1:15AM on 04/13/08

From Talk

Alright. Do people really hate fruitcake?

I agree with HomeSickTexan....Collin Street Bakery is the bomb, best ever, finest-kind.....Thanks to Collin Street Bakery for one fine product.

AnnieNDM at 12:38AM on 04/13/08

Responses to Comments by AnnieNDM

From Talk

Alright. Do people really hate fruitcake?

Costco's has a remarkably tasty fruitcake available during the holidays. It is filled with pecans and cherries and other non-dayglo fruits. It reminds me of the kinds of fruitcakes I see for sale at Saks during the holidays for $50 but at Costco it is only $12.

Bouchon also has a delightful fruitcake like loaf. I think it is also seasonal. No problem with bad fruit overcoming the cake there, of course.

JohnFred at 9:14AM on 04/14/08

From Talk

Overheard: strange things you've heard people say about food.

A friend and I had been sharing vegetarian recipes online and one day a lurker asked if we could post something for people who eat meat. I replied that one reason we posted vegetarian is that anyone can eat plant-based meals. Something seemed to click for her because about a month after that she was talking about how she'd been discussing with her doctor about limiting the meat in her diet and eating meatless meals more often. Apparently she ended up losing 40 pounds.

I know the author of "Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone" mentioned something about being at a talk highlighting meatless meals, before she came out with that book, and a guy came up to her after to tell her it all sounded so delicious and how sad he couldn't eat any of it since it wasn't a vegetarian.

Certainly my daughter had no problems among her friends when she went vegetarian but the parents were a different story. Almost everyone looked at her stunned and asked, "What do you eat then?" Days later a parent will proudly serve her a meal when she's visiting, pointing out they'd remembered she was a vegetarian. However the meals are often chicken, fish or shrimp based. One was sprinkled heavily with bacon.

Sieseye at 10:06PM on 04/13/08

From Talk

Overheard: strange things you've heard people say about food.

My best friend in high school was making dinner for her family (probably for the first time). She called to ask "is the meat supposed to be green?"

lovetoeat at 6:20PM on 04/13/08

From Talk

Alright. Do people really hate fruitcake?

Regarding the cakes at the Collin St. Bakery, they make one that only has apricots and pecans. I guess it still qualifies as a fruitcake. Check it out.
http://www.collinstreet.com/pages/apricot_pecan_cake

grampart at 12:48PM on 04/13/08

From Talk

Alright. Do people really hate fruitcake?

I don't like fruitcake, even when it's homemade by a talented cook (like my mother; she made it as part of her Christmas baking binge for several years).

I know I'm not alone. I once heard the Chieftains sing something called "Miss Fogarty's Christmas Cake." You can google the lyrics easily.

It wasn't until I was grown that I figured out why I hated it so: it's mostly the day-glo fruit - which is composed principally of bitter, leathery CITRON. That, plus the fact that there is far too little cake. Oh, and the raw taste of whiskey or brandy, not calculated to appeal to a child's tastebuds.

And yet I love pannettone, which is a nice challah-type bread spangled with the same day-glo fruit. But not nearly so much, and no whiskey.

If the Corsicana Fruitcake is anything like the "quintessential fruitcake of the South" that brooke29 links to - no wonder it's a thriving business. No citron!!

gentlyferal at 12:17PM on 04/13/08

From Talk

Alright. Do people really hate fruitcake?

There are all sorts of things called fruitcakes, and it's a little like saying you don't like cheese because you tasted one kind of cheese and didn't like it. As a former deeply picky eater, I can sympathize. I don't like the red and green candied cherries, I don't like the soggy nuts, and I don't like the fake rum flavorings. However, I make a dark, spicy cake that utilizes raisins, currants, dried apricots, mangoes (if I can find them) and pineapple, that goes by the name of fruitcake but tastes very different than the stuff one thinks of under that name.

There are also some Irish fruitcakes that are blonde, so to speak, and they're also marvelous. Don't condemn all fruitcakes.

lemons at 11:48AM on 04/13/08

From Talk

Alright. Do people really hate fruitcake?

I always thought fruitcake was some sort of holiday gag gift. I would never think of actually eating one!

izatryt at 11:35AM on 04/13/08

From Talk

Alright. Do people really hate fruitcake?

I was a fruitcake hater until the day I was given one of these-

http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1919,154167-236194,00.html

This is the quintessential fruitcake of the south, and is similar to the one popularized by The Colin Street Bakery in Texas. It ain't cheap to make, but if one does not skimp on quality ingredients, it is an fruitcake epiphany!

drfugawe at 11:07AM on 04/13/08

From Talk

Alright. Do people really hate fruitcake?

I don't eat cooked fruit, with a notable exception of Apfel Strudel (somehow, it grew on me ever since I tried it in Salzburg), so to me even the idea of a fruitcake does not sound appealing at all. However, when I saw Alton make one, I wanted to make it too. Not to eat it, mind you, but to make it...for somebody who does like a fruitcake.

brooke29 at 10:46AM on 04/13/08

From Talk

Alright. Do people really hate fruitcake?

Make it yourself. Use real, (unsweetened) dried fruit, toasted nuts, citrus zest, and freshly ground spices. Use a light touch with the sugar. Do not frost or glaze with anything. Marinate with brandy. I follow Alton Brown's recipe, with a few small alterations/additions depending on how I feel, but try to avoid anything that would significantly alter the texture.

The result is dense, moist, and intensely flavored. Cut into small slices to serve; a little goes a long way.

Nicholas H at 10:35AM on 04/13/08