MERRY CHRISTMAS!
My memories of Christmas go back to when I was six years old. Weeks before Christmas my mother was busy in the kitchen making fruitcakes for family and friends. Today, many people see fruitcakes as “old fashioned” and even make jokes about them. Well, I beg to differ. I have family members who actually look forward to getting a delicious cake from me.
Last night, I reflected on my childhood Christmas Eve. Mom made chicken noodle soup and butterballs for supper. After we ate and cleaned up the kitchen, we went to the Christmas program at church. Our Sunday school teacher had us all prepared to recite our poems and sing our songs. After the program, we each were presented with a brown paper bag of candies, assorted nuts to crack, and an orange. Sometimes even a little gift. I still have a cup that I got when I was eight.
After church, we opened our presents. I don’t remember much about a Santa Claus. I always knew my mother did the shopping and I looked forward to a doll.
Christmas day was a time for family and food. Mom put the goose in the cook stove oven and then prepared all the trimmings; a regular feast. After we ate, the women went to the kitchen to clean up and the men went to the living room and had a shot of schnapps. The rest of the day was for visiting and eating mincemeat pies, kuchen, and Halvah.
Guess I best be getting my fruitcakes wrapped and ready for delivery. The recipe I have given here is the one I have used since 1971. We lived in Vallejo, California, and were unable to go back to South Dakota to spend the holidays with our family. My children, even though young at the time: Michelle (4), Chris (2) were an inspiration to me to continue my cultural traditions. Fruitcakes were one of them. So, I purchased the ingredients and made my first cake. I have made them ever since.
OLD FASHIONED FRUITCAKE
Bowl 1
4 eggs
2/3 cup brown sugar
½ cup butter
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. baking soda
1 ½ cups flour
Bowl 2
½ cup orange juice
2 Tbsp. Brandy
1 tsp. allspice
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 cup raisins
1 cup dried fruit mix
1 cup chopped dates
1 cup walnuts
Mix bowl 1 and bowl 2 together. Pour into greased and floured baking pan. Bake at 300 degrees for l hour and 45 minutes. Have a pan of water in the over while cake is baking. After the cake is cooled, I wrap it in cheesecloth soaked in brandy.
May the Peace and Happiness of the Christmas Season be with you all through the coming year.
