Today is a new day! I am getting ready to make Grandma Condie's "Fruitcake". I have been attempting to master the art of making fruitcake for my Dad and Uncles for a few years now. Every year, Grandma Condie would make fruitcake for her sons. I have fond memories of Christmas Day watching my dad open his fruitcake and put it up to his face smelling it with his eyes closed. I almost wanted to have a taste but I knew it was his special gift. He would take it to the kitchen, unwrap it and very sacredly slice a piece off. He would then slather butter all over it and take a bite. Dad would have a slice every day until it was gone. He would always wish there were more but he'd have to wait another year for his favorite fruitcake.
My first year at college, I spent Thanksgiving at the Farm. I was home sick so grandma quickly put me to work helping her make the infamous fruitcake. It took my mind off of home and I enjoyed spending time with her. I knew how much this cake meant to my dad and I quickly began to learn how much this gesture meant to my uncles as well. Uncle Clair told me how his chioce of birthday cake was his mom's fruitcake. I didn't know it then, but I was learning a different side of family history surrounding this little, brown, fruit filled cake.
As Grandma set out the ingredients, I could see many things that I liked, such as, raisins, dates (yum yum), and many normal things like flour, eggs, shortening, sugar, etc. There were some new things I had not seen before, citron and currants. I didn't much care for the citron but I trusted grandma when she said "this is what makes it fruitcake". Once the cakes were baked, grandma wrapped them in foil and placed them into a crock to "settle" for a few weeks down in the basement. I teased Grandma by saying, "you mean it needs to ferment?" She was not happy and insisted that it was "settling."
I have fond memories of that first Thanksgiving away from home. I really enjoyed learning more about my dad and uncles and being a part of something that was so special to them.
Grandma has passed on and her crock has been passed on to me. I have often heard my dad say how much he missed having fruitcake at Christmas. A few years ago, I thought I would try my hand at making fruitcake in the hope of carrying on Grandma's tradition. Good thing Aunt Chris had the recipe. I have been honing my fruitcake baking skills for about 5 years now. I love doing this for my Dad and my uncles. They are always so kind and grateful, even when it is a little dark - you know, slightly burned.
My Brother, Steven now joins in the tradition of getting a fruitcake every year. He seems to enjoy it as much as my Dad does. I have learned that Spencer, one of Mike's boys, liked to eat the fruitcake with Uncle Clyde.
It's tradition and I look forward to making fruitcake every year at Thanksgiving. Grandma would be proud that I try to let it "settle" for about the same time that she did. This is just one great part of Holidays, doing things that have meaning to us and others because we love them.
Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Tradition Making!
I. Hate. Lice.
7 years ago
