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Happy Holidays

Hearthyholiday

November 23, 2008

Fruitcake a Health Food?

I know, I've heard all of the fruitcake as Holiday gift jokes and many of the mass produced, bought in drug store varieties should be used as door stops.  However a good fruitcake is actually a tasty treat and if not exactly a healthy food, one that contains healthy nutrients, anti-oxidants, fruit and fiber.  The earliest reference I found to the baking of fruitcakes dates back to Roman times.  In 18th century Europe ceremonial cakes were baked at the end of the nut harvesting season and eaten at the beginning of the following nut harvesting season. In England at that time there were actually laws restricting the use of plum cake (the term used at that time) to Holidays such as Christmas, and Easter and celebrations such as weddings and funerals.  Legend has it that Queen Victoria  received a fruitcake as a gift and saved it for a year to demonstrate restraint, moderation and good taste.  The biggest draw back to this being a "healthy" food is that the cake contains a lot of sugar.  But the high sugar content and low water content is what keeps the mold from forming, giving the cake it's long shelf life.

For those who like to bake, I found this "traditional fruit cake" recipe:

  • 3 cups walnut halves
  • 1 package candied cherries (8 ounce)
  • 1 package chopped dates (8 ounce)
  • 1 package candied pineapple (4 ounce)
  • 3/4 cup sifted all purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 eggs slightly beaten
  • 3 tablespoons dark rum or rum extract
  • 1 tablespoon freshly grated orange peels
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Preparations:

  • Preheat oven 300degrees F
  • Line 9X5 inch loaf pan with greased wax paper
  • Combine walnuts and fruit in large mixing bowl.  Set aside.
  • Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.  Sift over the walnut and fruit mixture.  Toss gently until well covered.
  • Blend eggs, rum, orange peels and vanilla. Spread in prepared pan.
  • Bake one hour and 45 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Cool completely in pan on wire rack.

I don't bake so I make no guarantees as to how this will turn out, but it sounded good!  If you want a delicious, no fail fruitcake, I understand that Collins Street Bakery in Texas is THE place to go!

My cooking and baking skills are quite limited but I will share my favorite recipe with you.  I don't know if it has a name other than "Trail Mix" but I do know that, when presented in a unique container, it makes a great gift for co-workers, teachers, secret Santa's, or for your kid's school parties and it tastes GREAT.  Making this trail mix is a fun project for kids too!

Empty the following ingredients into a very large mixing bowl:

  • a 16 ounce jar of peanuts
  • a 12 ounce package of Nestles semi sweet chocolate chips
  • a 11 ounce package of Nestles butterscotch chips
  • a 16 ounce box of raisins
  • a 14 ounce of M & M's

Mix well and pour mix into containers.  A small holiday tin filled with the trail mix makes a nice gift.  Sandwich bags with trail mix and tied with curling ribbon make easy and inexpensive gifts for your children's holiday party.

A Little Something for Everyone

Although Laurel Mountain Basket Company is known for it's creatively designed gift baskets (which we have in plentiful supply),  for this Holiday Season we have filled the Studio with an assortment of locally made, unique gifts that are perfect for that someone you want to give "a little something" too. Soaps hand made by Ipswich Soap Company, cookie mix from Terra Americana, the inspirational book, I Wish Someone Had Told Me by Tanny Mann, are all great gifts that are easy on the budget.  We have designer mugs filled with cocoa, coffee, or tea and a cookie and chocolate, and we have an assortment of gift baskets starting at just $15.00!

And don't forget your favorite pets and the people who love them!  Our personalized dog treat tin is filled with an assortment of treats and toys is truly a one of a kind gift.  Our Cat Napping catnip pillows are filled with home grown cat nip and hand sewn with a different cat design fabric by volunteers at the "In Honey's Memory" cat shelter in Huntington MA.

A Season of Giving

In the spirit of the Season,  we have put up the Warming Tree and it is ready to receive your gift of mittens, scarves, hats, and socks to be giving to the children at Jessie's House, the family shelter, formerly located in Northampton, now located in Amherst.  This year we have offered to be a station for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign.  Bring a new, unwrapped toy to the Studio and know a child in our area will have a happier holiday because of your generosity.  We also donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of our pet products to F.A.C.E.S. Inc, the all volunteer dog rescue and adoption service in West Springfield MA and In Honey's Memory cat shelter in Huntington MA. so when you purchase a gift for a special pet, you will also be helping a shelter animal enjoy a better life.

We are so blessed with health, happiness and good friends.  Please join us in sharing with our neighbors and strengthening our community.

December Dates to Remember

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