Happy Friday everyone,
We are waiting for it to warm up a bit this morning before we head outdoors-I have lots I want to accomplish over these 3 days of 80' F Since it is fall it is slow to warm up, thinking around 10 am I can get outdoors. We do have full sunshine today and no wind-a biggy, but they added us back into the red flag situation which means No burning.
I took some photos of the baked fruitcakes and the process to age it-if anyone not familiar.
I cut each long bread pan into fourths
These baked up nice-a tad overbaked but these will hold up well with soaked brandy cheesecloth
I cut the 8 pieces of cheese cloth so ready to go, a dish of brandy-place the cheesecloth in to soak a bit-squeeze gently, still want it to be damp
Wrap the cakes
I had picked up these containers a few years ago to store christmas baked goodies and candies-since I am only making the one recipe of the fruitcakes now-these are perfect for that-4 in each one. I then place these in another sealed container and store in a cool spot in the house. Check every month or so if need more brandy or not
Happy Friday and weekend everyone.
I'm sure I can smell those wonderful cakes from here! Have a great weekend, hugs, Valerie
ReplyDeletehugs
DeleteKathy, great idea to wrap the cakes in a cloth soaked in brandy. I imagine how fragrant and moist they will be in a few days.
ReplyDeleteyes by christmas they will be perfect
DeleteLooks delicious and autumn-y!
ReplyDeletethank you, they are pretty cakes
DeleteI wish I could taste some of your fruitcake! They look really moist and great.
ReplyDeletethanks-they will be even better by christmas
DeleteThese are really beautiful! Hope your weekend is nice.
ReplyDeletethank you Debra
DeleteYes like I said my grandmother was not a brady person she used cider. A slice if that with tea in the afternoon was heaven.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of aging it with cider-I can see where that would be really good-thanks for sharing that Yum, yes perfect with a cup of tea-hugs
DeleteYour fruitcake looks amazing!
ReplyDeletethank you
DeleteHappy Friday!
ReplyDeleteFruitcake is a lot of work.
Have a beautiful weekend!
yes these fruitcakes to take some time-but they are baked with love
DeleteI've never made fruitcake. I forgot about them being soaked in alcohol. It looks good right now to me as I'm not sure about all the brandy in it. But then I don't know if I've ever had an alcohol soaked fruitcake either. Have a great weekend Kathy. Hope you get your chores accomplished. hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteHi Erika, after the aging, you really don't taste that much of the brandy, it's part of the aging process. some of the older European recipes actually pour the spirits over the baked cakes-I wouldn't make it that way.
DeleteThanks, such perfect weather here right now-I did get allot done today
Erika, the brandy ages nicely and the alcohol dissipates over time, leaving a sweet taste that can't be equaled elsewhere.
DeleteWe hit 90 F today and it could get hotter tomorrow. Too hot to be outside. Thankfully, today my craft room was a bit cool, so when I went out to check my mail, I was blown away by the blast of hot air.
ReplyDeleteI hope those fruitcakes taste as good as they look. I probably didn't "squeeze" my cheesecloth like you did. Mine was pretty nicely soaked (grin).
wow 90 is a bit much-we were low 80's no humidity so perfect to work outdoors. Yes these fruitcakes will be delicious. yours sound delicious too-I will check them in a couple weeks and re soak the cheesecloth again in the brandy
DeleteThe cheese cloth I think we do not have like that here. My Brother had one that was a bit thicker and we called it "Nuckeltuch"... "suckle-cloth".
ReplyDeleteI think in the earlier days they were used as diapers, before the plastic stuff came. My Brother had it in his mouth all the time, especially as the teeth came through. It was always wet, LOL.
I would have no idea what to take here for that! Glad I don´t like sweets ;-)
Enjoy that cake when it´s time, hugs to the lake!
do you have stores that have art craft supplies? allot of times one can find cheesecloth there or in grocery stores. allot of people use for halloween displays here so that's when I buy it-as it can be hard to find.
Deletehugs back
What an interesting process Kathy.. I have never done that nor heard of how to do that. They look very good ... as good as a fruit cake can look!!! :) HUgs! deb
ReplyDeleteI have always enjoyed making these. I know most don't like fruitcakes-but from scratch and aged they are really good. and friend Cathy suggested using apple cider if you don't want use spirits
DeleteYour fruitcakes are definitely something very special. Like others who have commented above, I knew next to nothing about this process, but I surely would like to sit down to a slice with a mug of coffee.
ReplyDeleteperfect with a mug of coffee-hugs
DeleteYour fruitcakes look delicious. I can't imagine it getting to 80 F at this point in time where I am. Although we got close to 70 F, which seemed a bit warm. (We had some cold days, so I think I adjusted to the cooler temperatures, which then made 70 F feel "hot". :-) It's all relative.)
ReplyDeletethanks I have baked up this recipe for 50 years now-yikes haha the 80's wee very unusual but gave me time to do some work outdoors lots of rain tomorow
Deleteyes, Larry is anxious for them to be ready to eat haha
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Kathy! You and your hubs have been working hard to get things ready for winter. The dock looks fabulous. I love seeing your food too. It's been raining and storming here everyday so our winter is here. I am with you on easy meals. LOL. Enjoy your day.
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