A FRUITCAKE WORLD

Elise Bauer

Sometimes it feels like we are living in a fruitcake world, doesn’t it?  The word on the decorated holiday street is that only about 11% of the population actually LIKE fruitcake.  How about you?  Do you like it?  Has it ever been gifted to you?  Is it found on your holiday get together table?  Would you go for a slice or a bowl of lima beans?

Sometimes it kind of feels like a fruitcake world.         .          .

• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup (236ml) full fat sour cream
• 2 cups (280g) raisins
• 1 cup (130g) chopped dates
• 1/2 cup (75g) chopped glazed cherries (can sub dried sweetened cranberries)
• 1 cup (100g) chopped walnuts
• 2 cups (260g) all-purpose flour, divided
• 8 tablespoons (113g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup (200g) sugar
• 1large egg
• Finely grated zest of 1 orange
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 to 2 ounces (30 to 60ml) brandy, optional

Any one of these ingredients are seemingly alright by themselves but once you mix them up, well, now that’s the problem.  Much like our World which is made up of so many different kinds of ingredients are all okay on their own but mix them, WHOA!

It kind of brought me to a poetic moment as I stood inside my favorite bakery, Fragapane Bakeries, Inc. in Bay Village as I looked at the different options of fruitcakes they offered FOR ME:

Ahhhhhhh
To be disliked by many
even when a carefully mixed
Sweetness
is offered
makes no matter
for seemingly the batter 
which does in fact batter

My ingredients 
won’t match or exceed the intentions
even when served up
during a holiday party
or dared to be given as a gift
most assuredly dared re-gifted