What comes to mind when you think of Christmas, what yearly tradition officially ushers in the season?For me it's fruitcake. There are strong memories of Mom taking the fruitcake down from the cupboard over the stove, unwrapping the cheesecloth, and splashing the cake with it's daily dousing of rum so it would be moist, then rewrapping it and tucking it back in the high cupboard. With six kids in our house, if you wanted anything to last, it had to be hidden somewhere up high. It's hard to say whether it was the daily dousings of rum, or the merischino cherries, but when Mom finally brought it down for our bunch of banchees to enjoy, I knew a good thing when I tasted it.
Every year a fruitcake, baked by and shipped from the Collins Street Bakery in Corsicana, Texas - arrives at our door, from my Daddy. (That's him in the lounger. Daddy in his lounger with a glass of iced tea, year round, well that's a strong memory too. When I phone him nowdays, I love the mental picture that conjures up of him grabbing his tea and settling in for our talk.)
I'm well aware many people think a fruitcake is the perfect doorstop. Most of my own family would agree on that one.
That just makes more for me. Slice by slice, with a cup of coffee, it's the perfect breakfast to usher in the holiday. Ten slices, each 480 calories, that equals 4,800 calories if I eat the entire thing myself, and approximately one lb of weight gain from 3,500 extra calories.
I can live with the math. Merry Christmas everybody, however you may celebrate it. I plan to enjoy mine, devouring doorstop, one slice at a time.
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6 comments:
LOL. Hubby and I were just talking about this. He's a fruitcake lover. Me, nah. Won't touch it. So he gets it all to himself and he couldn't be happier not to share. LOL.
Have a very Merry Christmas with your family, Bev!
Fruitcake all the way here in England! Merry Christmas, Bev!
My dad adores fruit cake. I usually try to buy him one for his b'day (12/24) or for Christmas. Didn't do so this year, but...I'm sure he got some. :)
For me? Those Reeses Trees...And orange zest(ed) shortbread cookies 1/2 dipped in semi-sweet chocolate.
And coffee...Lots. To combat the lack of sleep on the evening of the 24th!
Much love and blessings to you and yours in the new year and always. Merry Christmas.
BTW, what a sweet memory/tradition with your dad and his tea. :)
The doorstop Daddy sent me arrived on Wednesday. LOL
I love it too. And it's all mine because like you, my whole family hates it.
xoxo
I was skimming through your past posts in my Google Reader, since I'm hopelessly behind in my blog reading this month. When I came to this one, I just had to click on your blog so I could comment.
First of all, I loved hearing your memory of your mom and the fruitcake, and I think it's terribly sweet that your dad sends you one each year. Seeing the picture of him in his recliner, holding his glass of tea, made me miss my own sweet dad who could frequently be found in that same pose. I'm sure he's got a comfy recliner in Heaven, though. ;-)
Prior to his retirement, I remember my dad receiving a fruitcake from Collins Street Bakery each Christmas, sent to him by a business associate. I think it's a fair assessment to make that anyone who thinks they don't like fruitcake has never tasted one from Collins Street Bakery (or one of your mom's)!
Happy New Year, Bev! :-)
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