Sterling Silver

All Things Gorgeous Sterling

Fruit Spoon

Fabulous Fruit Cake

Ingredients

1 cup golden raisins
1 cup currants
1/2 cup sun dried cranberries
1/2 cup sun dried blueberries
1/2 cup sun dried cherries
1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped
Zest of one lemon, chopped coarsely
Zest of one orange, chopped coarsely
1/4 cup candied ginger, chopped
1 cup gold rum
1 cup sugar
5 ounces unsalted butter (1 1/4 sticks)
1 cup unfiltered apple juice
4 whole cloves, ground
6 allspice berries, ground
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 eggs
1/4 to 1/2 cup toasted pecans, broken
Brandy for basting and/or spritzing

Preparation

1) Combine dried fruits, candied ginger and both zests.

2) Add rum and macerate overnight, or microwave for 5 minutes to re−hydrate fruit.

3) Place fruit and liquid in a non−reactive pot with the sugar, butter, apple juice and spices.

4) Bring mixture to a boil stirring often, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.

5) Remove from heat and cool for at least 15 minutes. (Batter can be completed up to this
point, then covered and refrigerated for up to 2 days. Bring to room temperature before
completing cake.)

6) Heat oven to 325 degrees.

7) Combine dry ingredients and sift into fruit mixture.

Quickly bring batter together with a large wooden spoon, then stir in eggs one at a time
until completely integrated, then fold in nuts.

9) Spoon into a 10−inch non−stick loaf pan and bake for 1 hour.

10) Check for doneness by inserting toothpick into the middle of the cake.

11) If it comes out clean, it's done. If not, bake another 10 minutes, and check again.

12) Remove cake from oven and place on cooling rack or trivet.

13) Baste or spritz top with brandy and allow to cool completely before turning out from
pan.

14) When cake is completely cooled, seal in a tight sealing, food safe container.

15) Every 2 to 3 days, feel the cake and if dry, spritz with brandy. The cake's flavor will
enhance considerably over the next two weeks. If you decide to give the cake as a gift, be
sure to tell the recipient that they are very lucky indeed.

This recipe yields: 10 slices

About the Author

I love healthy eating and hope that you enjoy this recipe as much as I do. If you enjoy eating great tasting food, then I strongly urge you to visit Barbecue Party, where you will not only find a delicious selection of BBQ recipes, but you will also be able to read up on the infamous and popular BBQ Pitmasters TV show that is aired by TLC.

How can I encourage my kids (ages 3 and 5) to use a spoon and fork (instead of fingers) when eating?

When my kids were younger, what they ate (fruit, veggies, salad, fish) was more important to me than how they ate, so I did not emphasize table manners. Unfortunately, now, all too often, their spoon and fork sit cleanly beside their plate for the entire meal while they use their fingers! I can remind them to use silverware, which works for a bite or two, but how can I encourage them to use their silverware and/or help them want to have good table manners? I'm concerned that I'm neglecting my parental duties by not addressing this matter. I'd prefer not to result to extreme measures or fear tactics (e.g., "Next time you use your fingers, you'll be dismissed with no more food for the rest of the night") if I can help it (although, come to think of it, this would probably be effective). They are still working out their motor skills, so I can understand their temptation, plus we often eat corn on the cob, grapes, and other things that "are" acceptable finger foods. Thoughts?

This is a simple one...
If their hands are clean after dinner (because they used their utensils,) then they get dessert--popsicles are usually a real pleaser and you can use sugar free pops if you are calorie conscious...if their hands are dirty, then they don't get the dessert. You can remind the children during meals to not get their hands dirty because they want to get dessert....
The key here is to remember that in time they will use their utensils, and don't make this a way to make meal times torture time for the kids because every time they eat they get scolded and or yelled at. Don't withhold food...
The five year old is clearly too old to be using his or her hands to eat foods that are not acceptable finger foods like grapes. If the popsicle thing doesn't work after a few weeks with that one, I suggest putting loose socks on the childs hands during dinner so he or she can't use fingers but can still use the fork and spoon. Don't do this in a punishing way, though, introduce it as a way to help remember to use the fork and spoon.
Our children are little and precious for such a short time in our lives...we really need to treasure them...don't jump to punishment when there are ways to coerce them to do what we want in other ways. Punishment is necessary sometimes, but not very often.

Triangle Melon Baller, Fruit Spoon, Fruit Decorator

Tags: antique fruit spoon, baking, dessert, food, fruit, fruit spoon rest, fruit spoons, kiwi fruit spoon, recipes, stainless steel fruit spoons

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010 at 2:50 am and is filed under sterling silver. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.