There is only one more sleep until Christmas, and all over the land, last-minute preparations are being made for the big day at hand. For UK fans, this includes the annual Downton Abbey Christmas episode on ITV. US fans may debate the reasons why PBS broadcasts new episodes months behind ITV, but in the spirit of the season, why not focus on the long-standing fruitcake debate?
CBC Radio (Canadian Broadcast Corporation) ran a fun story about the love/hate relationship with Fruitcake today. I did my best to stick up for our favourite holiday treat, but more about that below.
The Great Fruitcake Debate
CBC is Canada’s national broadcasting system. I grew up listening to CBC radio, and it is my family’s travel companion on our annual fishing trip through the mountains. One of my favourite shows is The Current, a topic news event show that normally tackles more serious issues. Today’s story dug deep into the mystery of the fruitcake and why so many people have an aversion to it.
In the Great Fruitcake Debate, I provided the historical context (the current version dating back to the Middle Ages and popularized by Queen Victoria), and as I did my best to praise the well-made fruitcake, it did occur to me that the debate really wouldn’t be taking place in the UK where fruitcake is revered. Most people who don’t like (hate) fruitcake have likely had a bad experience with a commercially prepared cake. I think the quality dropped when the fruitcake began to be mass-produced. Indeed, a factory can’t put the same love into a cake as a home cook can. There is also something magical about using alcohol to keep it moist and more flavorful. And when the cook can sip a bit of brandy after giving the cake a little drink, well, that is just how it should be. I think I had host Piya Chattopadhyay almost converted to becoming a fruitcake fan.
In any event, this story was great fun…with “man on the street” opinions, a chef who has Canadianized the recipe, and a food scientist who spoke about how picky eaters don’t like all the inclusions (stuff) in the cake. Suggesting that chocolate chips might bring people around. If you still don’t want your fruitcake, there are also some helpful ways to recycle, such as using two as hand weights as part of your post-holiday workout regime. There is always the Annual Fruitcake Toss in Colorado, which takes place in January.
Downton Holiday Desserts
Christmas has its traditions, and they always include food. Here are links to recipes for traditional English favourites. Scroll down the post to locate the recipe, or you can purchase my book, and you will have these and other recipes on hand.
