First, let me state that I am in no way Roman Catholic. I am Protestant as they come. However, I did stumble across a recipe for fruitcake that looked rather good in my RC mother's RC Cookbook. Hence the name I gave it, the Catholic Fruitcake. It is not referring to anyone in particular.Anyway, my fruits have been macerating in half a bottle of Remy Martin VSOP Cognac since early December, in anticipation of Christmas. That came and went like Katrina, and up to the frist week of January, the raisins were still getting plumper by the day, enjoying their brandy spa. Any longer and they'd have turned back into grapes.
So, since last last week was quiet, viz a viz cake orders, I decided to end the raisin's holiday, and get them in the oven. I had picked up a tip while bantering with other tai tais (or see lais, not sure which were they) in Bake With Yen, to use brown paper to line the baking tray. Fruit cakes need thick paper lining, and rather than using layers of baking paper, apparently this was a better and cheaper alternative. Of course the innermost layer has to be baking paper.
As fruit cakes take forever to bake, I could put it in the oven, go 1 utama jalan jalan, come home to take it out just in time. Of all cakes, I think fruit cakes are the most painful to make. Takes forever to bake, cant be eaten immediately, needs constant follow up, by feeding it with brandy.... I honestly dont think its worth my while to offer these for sale. Half a bottle of brandy, already cost like RM50. What, am I to charge RM100 for a 4" x 4" block? Who'll buy???
Verdict : Well, after "maturing" (it's probably still a toddler by fruitcake standards) fro 1½ weeks, I couldn't wait any longer, and proceeded to cut a slice to sample. It was okay then. Yesterday, I proceeded to the second row, ie, no side crusts. I have to say that it was rather good. Easy to cut too, which is a good sign, ie, moist enough.
Oh well, whoever wants a sample, email me. I'll pass you a morsel. (size of those slices of wedding cake they give out at hotels).
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