Ok, who else doesn't like fruitcake? Maybe I've just never had one that was really good, but I've never been able to tolerate the stuff. Back in the 80s, my Mom used to order them from Mary of Puddin Hill, and they weren't too horrible, but they were still chock full of nasty, plastic-like, candied fruits. My Dad loves fruitcake, even the cheap rectangles of the stuff they sell at the drug store starting the day after Thanksgiving.
One year, I thought I'd make homemade fruitcake - heavy on the nuts and booze, light on the fruit and cake. The recipe I used resulted in two huge rings, each of which I wrapped in booze-soaked cloth and stored in the bottom of our spare fridge. After several weeks of faithful re-boozing, I discovered that they had started to grow mold - the fridge was far too humid a spot to cure fruitcake. Both went in the garbage. What a waste!
Oddly enough, considering I really don't like raisins, I do enjoy a good Christmas pudding. I've made those from scratch before with much success. This year, I ordered one online, a Duchy Originals organic pud. I popped it in the microwave for 3 minutes and served it with Bird's Custard (also prepared in the nuker). HRH Prince Chuckles makes a good product! The pudding was extremely moist and flavorful and better than the several home-made varieties I've eaten in the past.
So who out there actually likes fruitcake? Who gave or received them as gifts? How about Christmas pudding?