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Alright. Do people really hate fruitcake?
I love serious food and I love good fruitcake too. The best mass-available is Georgia's Claxton Fruitcake, first made by Italian immigrants to south Georgia in 1910. It has the day-glo candied fruits that people claim to hate (why be such snobs?), but the Claxtons are fresh and somehow manage to be cakey and chewey at the same time.
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Grilling Smackdown: Lump Charcoal vs. Briquettes
There was a legendary post on the Big Green Egg forum years ago by Elder Ward (archived at http://www.nakedwhiz.com/elder.htm) in which Ward brilliantly explains how to achieve a long burning, low temperature fire using lump charcoal for a long, low smoke. He opens an entire bag of lump and sorts the coal by size. Clean all of the ash out of the bottom of your grill (especially important for the Big Green Egg where airflow can be controlled precisely if ash isn't clogging the airway). Place the largest pieces evenly in the bottom like a jigsaw puzzle. Use smaller pieces to fill in the gaps. Light with a little square of wax/sawdust firestarter. Following Ward's method in my Egg, I can keep a steady 200 degree fire going for twelve straight hours or longer. Because the fire can't be set off center, I use a ceramic deflector to create an indirect kind of heat.
Alright. Do people really hate fruitcake?
I love serious food and I love good fruitcake too. The best mass-available is Georgia's Claxton Fruitcake, first made by Italian immigrants to south Georgia in 1910. It has the day-glo candied fruits that people claim to hate (why be such snobs?), but the Claxtons are fresh and somehow manage to be cakey and chewey at the same time.
Grilling Smackdown: Lump Charcoal vs. Briquettes
Briquettes or lump? I think it boils down to what you are cooking and for whom? If I want to grill up some hots dogs and burger meat, a few briquettes are fine. Briqs are cheaper, for me, cleaner and easier. If I am smoking brisket, sausages, tri-tip, or anything else that requires lots of love and perfection, I will use quality wood. I have found cheaper off-brand or store brand briqus require a lot of lighter fluid and don't give good flavor.
Grilling Smackdown: Lump Charcoal vs. Briquettes
i've found with the lump that density of the chunck has a real effect on the speed at which the coals burn and being a natural product its impractical for them to produce a consistancy that the briquette has when it comes to density/burn time, i really love the flavor of the lump [ as long as its not cabinet shop scrap ( real trash ) ] but i really like the control i get useing briquettes, but the chemical flavor is terrible on the finished meat or whatever, a sure way to ruin a great ribeye or any other meat, veggie, fruit etc. so i'll look into the kroger, nature glo, wildfie,holland brands or any other natural briquettes, anyone know of sources for retail hands-on purchases. royal oak claims to be natural but i read a breakdown of ingredents and they included coal, anthricite, and the other usual suspects and to top it off royal oak claims it is necessary to put these ingredents in to manufacture a briquette and all mgf's use the additives. who do you believe NOT a salesman thats for sure do we have to analyse all brands or what
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.
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
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!!
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
Alright. Do people really hate fruitcake?
I thought there was only one that makes it way around the world?
I had a recipe from the depression era (poor boy cake?) that was boiled and had no eggs. Tasted exactly like every fruitcake I've ever tasted. I tried substituting chopped gumdrops for the fruit, but that couldn't help the taste and texture.
I'll always taste, just in case, but haven't met one I could enjoy yet.
Alright. Do people really hate fruitcake?
My mom used to make fruit cake that was pretty ok but I changed up the recipe years ago and to be honest I love the stuff and everyone thats ever tried it does too. Very simple spice cake, with fresh fruit and nuts rather than preserved, I tried the dried fruit and even that was too sweet for me. So I guess mine isnt a "real" fruitcake but it is festive and more important to my mind ppl like it.
Alright. Do people really hate fruitcake?
If anyone wants a great recipe for a mixed nut fruitcake email me @ imcookinsewgr8@hotmail.com.
Alright. Do people really hate fruitcake?
My husband and I fight over the first, second, ..., last slice of fruitcake. We'd eat it daily but at $15/loaf, it's not something we can afford to buy every day (not that we can find it). I love spice cake, I love fresh and dried fruits, so I love fruitcake! I usually spit out the nuts when it's in there, since I'm not a fan of nuts.
Alright. Do people really hate fruitcake?
Like HomeSickTexan and AnnieNDM, I think the Collin Street Bakery in Corsicana, Texas makes (by far) the best fruit cake available to the masses. My family has been eating them for 50 years!
Alright. Do people really hate fruitcake?
I send them to people i don't like ;) ... LOL only kidding.
I don't like fruit cake
Alright. Do people really hate fruitcake?
I love fruitcake - so dense and moist and fruity.No nuts though please, well maybe a few almonds to decorate the top.
When I was a kid I always wanted fruitcake for my birthday cake. YUM.
Please send any unwanted fruitcake to me and I will happily give it a good home.
Alright. Do people really hate fruitcake?
I loathe fruitcake. I've tried it several times and to me the flavor pretty much varies from merely bad to really awful. I do, however, LOVE a well made friendship cake, which if you've never had it, is fruit that's marinated in sugar and brandy for about 3 weeks (per my great aunt's recipe) and then mixed with a basic white cake that has a bit of the liquid from the marinade and some walnuts mixed in and baked in a bundt cake pan.
Alright. Do people really hate fruitcake?
Depends on the fruitcake. Generally it's only good for a doorstop. Maybe as an anchor. Or alternate building material, should brick be unavailable.
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.
Alright. Do people really hate fruitcake?
Does anyone have a good recipe for fruitcake that isn't awful?
Maybe we could all try "the good ones" and compare our thoughts.
Alright. Do people really hate fruitcake?
Heh. Funny clip, 9five. Thanks for sharing!
Alright. Do people really hate fruitcake?
Want to know what I think about fruitcake??? GO HERE - http://www.themustangs.net/mp3/MXmix/IMYAFFC-.mp3 - a short clip
Alright. Do people really hate fruitcake?
My husband and I are fruitcake lovers, and can go through a fruitcake pretty fast... Just like all food, there are bad ones and good ones.
Alright. Do people really hate fruitcake?
I personally love my Mom's fruitcake. It's a dense and moist, not very sweet cake, w/ some fruit and nuts in it. She wraps it in cheesecloth and mists it w/ bourbon, just enough to add some flavor.
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There was a legendary post on the Big Green Egg forum years ago by Elder Ward (archived at http://www.nakedwhiz.com/elder.htm) in which Ward brilliantly explains how to achieve a long burning, low temperature fire using lump charcoal for a long, low smoke. He opens an entire bag of lump and sorts the coal by size. Clean all of the ash out of the bottom of your grill (especially important for the Big Green Egg where airflow can be controlled precisely if ash isn't clogging the airway). Place the largest pieces evenly in the bottom like a jigsaw puzzle. Use smaller pieces to fill in the gaps. Light with a little square of wax/sawdust firestarter. Following Ward's method in my Egg, I can keep a steady 200 degree fire going for twelve straight hours or longer. Because the fire can't be set off center, I use a ceramic deflector to create an indirect kind of heat.