it’s fruitcake weather! so i am at the national fruitcake preservation institute to partake in the annual fruitcake ritual. as you can see, all the ingredients of a good fruitcake have been assembled.
this is the most important ingredient – a copy of truman capote’s “a christmas memory.” omitting this vital ingredient renders the fruitcake inedible. this is the flaw with many commercial fruitcakes. these doomed fruitcakes remain unopened and circle the worldwide postal system never finding a home.
fruit cake always tastes better when prepared on a table that is covered with a plastic christmas table-cloth on it. non-christian fruitcake aficionados use a festive table cloths related to joyous occasions such a hanukkah, kwanza, winter solstice or the japanese emperors birthday.
no fan fare heralds the start of the ceremony. the ritual begins with the lining of the baking pan. butter secures the wax paper to the special fruitcake pan that has been handed down through the ages.
i have the important task of creaming together the sugar and butter. the goodness of this fruitcake depends on how well i do this. i will live up to this challenge.
the careful sifting of the secret dry ingredients reminds me of a gentle winter snow fall,an enchanting snow globe or baby powder on a hot summer day. don’t you think so?
yummy nuts, candied fruit, holiday colored cherries, raisins and cute little currents are all mixed together in another bowl.
i had better taste a walnut to make sure that is tasty enough for this special fruitcake. yep. it is.
bedecked in the ceremonial floral apron, the fruitcake master whips all the ingredients together with my creamed butter and sugar. what a stirring moment.
the melange or fruits and nuts are then gingerly folded into the rich and creamy batter.
it is always appropriate to taste the mixture at this point of the ceremony. i take just a little taste being mindful not to drool on the spoon.
accompanied by the humming of a cheerful improvised tune, the batter is poured into the fruitcake pan.
spreading the batter carefully in the pan assures that the cake will bake evenly and be attractive.
oh! look! this wooden spoon looks like it needs to be licked clean. i am always happy to offer my services to such a task.
now, the solemn moment comes when the cake is placed in the preheated oven.
a moment of silence is observed then the oven timer is set.
all the ritual implements are now washed, dried and put away for use next year.
the guardian of the fireplace has started a lovely roaring fire and the comfy chair is pulled close to the hearth.
this part of the ritual assures that the fruitcake tastes wonderful. i have the honor of reading “a christmas memory” out loud for all of the assembled guests.
“imagine a morning in late november. a coming of winter more than twenty years ago…”
“…as if i expected to see, rather like hearts, a lost pair of kites hurrying toward heaven.”
i think i sounded exactly like the author, truman capote, as i read that, don’t you?
buzzzzz! the fruitcake is cooked! the aroma is over whelming and the lovely golden brown color is so stunning that it brings tears to my eyes.
using the traditional festive holiday pot-holder, the hot and friendly cake is placed on a cooling rack.
then we wait for the cake to cool. this takes forever….
after a while, the fruitcake is removed from the pan and the protective wax paper is peeled off to expose the attractive character of the warm fruitcake.
we wait some more for the cake to cool completely. this gives me an opportunity to admire the beautiful cake and ponder its mysteries just as the monks from the abbey of gethsemani do when they make their scrumptious fruit cakes.
inspired by the divine and etherial qualities of this unique holiday treat, i have written this poem:
fruit cake golden brown and warm,
tasty fruitcake with such charm.
i bet that you will taste so yummy
and feel real good in my tummy.
i inspect the combination fruitcake vault and aging receptacle (aka cookie tin) for cleanliness. i am prepared to eat any stray cookies that may be found in the tin should it be necessary. not everyone is willing to make such sacrifices, you know.
a delicate basting of bourbon is applied to the cake to keep it moist and happy while it is sealed in the lonely dark cookie tin.
a hush falls over the room as the fruitcake is lowered into its new home. how calm and aromatic the fruitcake is during all this attention.
now that the fruitcake is hermetically sealed in the high tech fruitcake vault. we must now wait for it to age to perfection before we open the container to taste it.
the other guests have left, but, i am going to stick around so that i can be the first to greet the fruit cake when it comes out of the tin.
i will take this opportunity to jot santa a little note about how good i have been this year.
i’ll sit in my monkey sized comfy chair and relax a bit.
i think i’ll enjoy a little exercise and self expression with a few of my favorite dance steps.
i’ll play outside a little, but, i’ll be within earshot of the fruitcake should it need me.
leaping around in the fall air was invigorating, but, maybe i need to take a little nap now.
i’m just checking to make sure that the fruitcake is properly sealed in the tin. we don’t want any of those flavor molecules sneaking out!
it’s been a long day, it’s time to dream about fruitcake!
more waiting…and waiting… i’m glad i that i brought a book to read…and more waiting … and still more waiting!
i wonder if i will ever get to taste the fruitcake…
the day has finally come to taste the fruitcake! yippeeee! this is just as exciting as waiting for the ground hog to come out and see his shadow on ground hog’s day!
i’ll just climb up here and help open up the top of the fruitcake vault.
hmmmmm! it smells delicious!
hello fruitcake. for a moment, i believe it is stunned by the bright lights after all that time in total darkness.
it sure looks well rested and tasty, doesn’t it? i don’t think i would look so good if i has been sealed in a cookie tin for a couple of weeks. would you?
how moist and relaxed the fruitcake is even though it is about to be removed from it’s tin and sliced. i am so impressed.
the fruitcake is placed on the ceremonial cake plate and we all wait for the fruitcake master to begin.
the initial cut is made by the fruitcake master. i sure hope she washed her hands first.
then i am asked to make the second cut symbolizing the passing of the tradition from the masters to the young initiates that are present. it is one of the most moving and memorable parts of the entire ritual.
then i am asked to make the second cut symbolizing the passing of the tradition from the masters to the young initiates that are present. it is one of the most moving and memorable parts of the entire ritual.
no, after thinking about it, i will be able to eat. look at the delectable little currants, the sweet and colorful cherries and those nutty nuts. who could resist? not me!
no, after thinking about it, i will be able to eat. look at the delectable little currants, the sweet and colorful cherries and those nutty nuts. who could resist? not me!
now, can i get you a slice too?
