Monday, December 17, 2012

Fruitcake Anyone?






I don't need to see twinkling lights on a Christmas tree or even hear Christmas songs in December to know the holidays are coming. Right around Thanksgiving I will ask my sister for her holiday wish list and I know panettone cake will top that list every year.  Janet has more exotic taste buds than I do and she waits all year long to be able to indulge them in this delicacy.  And as luck would have it, every Christmas she will open at least one if not two of that tasty treat.

When I was growing up my mother insisted on making fruitcake every Christmas.  No doubt for her is was conjuring up memories of her own childhood whenever she would pull out the candied fruit, nuts, and raisins to mix into the cake batter.  For me, it was simply torture.  Despite the fact that my mother was a pretty good cook, fruitcake was NOT one of her specialties and I grew up in a household where you either ate what was put in front of you or suffer the dire consequences of refusal.

Thank goodness today we have choices.  There are many types and flavors of fruitcake to choose from as well as the choice to simply not choose it at all.  Writing is like that.

One only has to look around to see an abundance of tasty stories from which to choose.  Some are basic like an old fashioned sugar cookie.  Others have a little bit more flavor and spice to them like a chewy caramel granola macadamia nut bar.  And then you have the full blown, soaked in rum and crammed  with goodies fruitcake to melt in your mouth, helping to bring back all the sweet memories of your childhood.

What kind of stories will you write this holiday season?  Something to enrich the lives of others or something readers will shove to the back of the bookshelf?  For me, I want to write gloriously decadent treats for my sweet readers to enjoy all the year long...and maybe even regift to others...

Fruitcake anyone?






16 comments:

  1. Hi Donna .. a rich rich full of fruit fruitcake is my absolute favourite ... thankfully for my waistline it only happens once a year .. but I do love kitchens full of those spicy scents ...

    Writing .. I'd love to write things people want to read and want to come back for more ...

    Here's to happy Christmas and successful New Year .. cheers Hilary

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    1. Hi Hilary! I'm glad you enjoyed this post...I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a successful New Year to you as well!

      Thanks for stopping and come back any time!

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  2. I am running a little behind, but to night I am baking my fruitcakes as I always do for Christmas. I love the rich dark moist, fruit soaked in cherry kind, the way I make them. :)

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    1. Hi Diane! I hope you enjoying your fruitcake...I'm sure yours probably turns out better than my poor mother's ever did...lol...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  3. I may BE a fruitcake, but it's not on the top of my list of favorite treats :)

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    1. Lol, Susanna...I think I'm with you about the fruitcake thing...I'm afraid I can't get my mother's attempt out of my mind so I've never really given any other fruitcake a real chance...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  4. If you haven't read Junie B. Jones and the Yucky Blucky Fruitcake, you should. It's hilarious, and you'll learn a great new purpose for fruitcake.

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    1. Hi Genevieve! I haven't read that book yet but I think I might have to take a trip to the library...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  5. Mmmm, I used to love fruitcake! This is such a good analogy to writing. I want to write luscious stories that will make kids want to come back for more, again and again!

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    1. Hi Beth! Thank you for your kind words...I try. I really, really try...lol...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  6. Give me ALL of the fruitcake, plum pudding, and panettone that any of you don't want. Just don't use my mother's recipe when you make the fruitcake. Yiickkk!!!! Call me peculiar, but fruitcake isn't supposed to be dry and crunchy. Hers was.(Is that a complete sentence?)

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    1. Hi Janet! It never ceases to amaze me that you actually LIKE that stuff after all we had to eat growing up...lol...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  7. I haven't actually ever tried fruitcake. I don't know if I want too... ;) Great analogy!

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    1. Hi Erik! You would really have to like candied fruit (yuck!) and nuts and raisins (yum) and other stuff to maybe like fruitcake but I say take a chance and take a bite...you never know, you might like it! ;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  8. Like Erik, I like the analogy. I love fruitcake and will eat more and more just like I want to write for readers who want more and more. thanks, Donna.

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    1. Hi Clare! I promise if anyone sends some fruitcake my way, I'l make sure I send it your way...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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