Fruitcakes Finally Done!!

[Marilyn]

Finally got the fruitcakes done & thought I'd share some pics:

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...s/DSC_0025.jpg

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...s/DSC_0029.jpg

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...s/DSC_0026.jpg

This represents two weekends. One for preparing by chopping & packaging the fruit, weighing out and packaging the pecans, and mixing and packaging the dry ingredients. I get it all ready to mix and bake. The parchment paper is also precut. The next weekend, is baking. Lining the pans with greased parchment paper and mixing the ingredients, putting them in the pans, decorating and baking. Each batch takes almost 2 hours to bake at 250 F. A batch makes 2 to 4 cakes depending on the size. I mix and bake two batches at a time.

Next year, I plan to somehow scale this down a lot. This is what makes the holidays so stressful for me. I enjoy doing it, and the recipients are so appreciative. For some of them it brings back fond memories of times gone by. But, working like I do, there is just not enough time to do all the other things like shopping for my family. By the time I was able to find out what they all wanted and start shopping, the hot items were sold out, so I had to buy from folks on eBay who had bought early and wanted to make a little profit. Oh, well, guess in our own small way, we are helping to stimulate the economy.

[2tiredmom]

What alot of work. But yummy. I had an uncle that went to his grave with his
recipe. It was the best fruit cake I ever had. I'm sure your family appreciate all your hard work.