Friday, January 1, 2010

Celebration with fruit cake



New Years time always puts me in a nostalgic frame of mind. I somehow always remember the good old days when I was young - really young. My dad was a fun loving person. He loved movies, Hindi movies. I have been watching Hindi movies since I was a year old I guess. Every Wednesday (or at least most Wednesdays) we would go to see a Hindi movie in the evening. Those were the days when there was no TV at home and so it used to be an evening to look forward to. During the intermission of the movie, papa would get a cold drink for me. After the movie, sometimes we went to eat chat! Life was so simple and blissful.

So here is to a simple and blissful fruit cake. Enjoy it when you want. It is easy to make though takes long to bake. And this fruit cake celebrates my 1st anniversary in the blog sphere. Again I feel blogging is a simple pleasure of my life and I am glad to be doing it, very therapeutic after a stressful day job. Thanks to everyone who listens to my ramblings here and also provides their thoughts comments. Your words and advise keeps me going.

Here is to sweet and lovely New Year - 2010.

Ingredients
1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs separated
2 cups of candied fruit (tuti frutti)
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup cashews
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 tea spoon of baking powder
1 tea spoon vanilla essence (optional)
1/2 cup orange juice

How To
Soak the candied fruit in orange juice overnight.

Preheat oven to 275 degrees F. Place a small pan of water in the oven.
Line one loaf pan and 1 small cake pan with aluminium foil. Grease it well.

Mix the flour with baking powder. (this is my 3 yr son's favorite job. I start with more than 2 cups of flour and end up with about 2 cups after he is done mixing/playing/throwing...).

Break the cashews into smaller pieces (this is also a job my son loves, wonder how much of it eats while breaking them)

In a large bowl, mix butter and sugar. (it doesn't have to beaten in a food processor as shown on food TV. Mix well with hand for 5 min).

But the egg whites have to be beaten well as shown on food TV. [This is where you get your family members to help - if you don't have an electric beater. You make it a family project. I do - since I don't have the electric beater and I think we all have loads of fun doing it]

Stir in beaten egg yolks and the soaked fruits and cashew and vanilla essence.

Fold in the flour into the batter. Add the additional juice left over from the soaked fruits, if needed.

Pout the batter into the pans and fill them 2/3 full.

Bake for 1 hr and then cover the cake with aluminum foil and bake for 1  more hours until golden brown.

Check if the cake is done by using the toothpick inserted in the center to check if it comes out clean.

Once baked, let the cake cool for 5 minutes, before diving in...




42 comments:

  1. Looks like I am the first..Happy New Year and that cake looks just delicious..Oh I used to love those tutti frutti that used to get there..I believe you get that here too but never bought them..

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  2. This is my most favorite cake..SInce I got my sense, MY father used be bring home this cake only and I think thus it became my favorite one..still I'm passionate about this cake...Wish you & your family a happy. healthy & prosperous new year

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  3. Shri - thanks... Yep fruit cake is the best in the nostalgia moments...
    Indrani - yep it is a staple during the New Year time in India... Thanks.

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  4. Lovely Cake..Wish you too a very happy New Year

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  5. perfect beginning of a lovely year with this yummy cake...looks really good...

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  6. Dear somoo
    So back in full action!!Great!
    I like this recipe with orange juice.
    But my baking is limited to PoDo Pitha,,every time I think of baking a cake or so..I always end up in Podo Pitha ha ha
    Have a nice weekend

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  7. nothing like a great cake to welcome the year and remember the lovely moments of the past

    I doff my hat to anyone who bakes.. and this looks yum

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  8. WOW... Lovely cake.. looks sooo yummy.. :)

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  9. Beautiful fruit cake, looks scrumptious!! Happy new year to u & ur family..

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  10. Thank you so much... Yes a cake that I have made atleast 10 times, if not more...

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  11. Somoo the cake is really great. I love any kind of fryit n nut cake and this year baked one too. your one is truly crumbly. love it!
    Happy New year to you n family!!!

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  12. Nice fruit cake-
    Wishing you and ur family a Happy and Healthy New Year!

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  13. My all time favorite cake. Very nice one. Wish you and family a very happy and prosperous New year dear.

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  14. My favourite!
    http://padhuskitchen.blogspot.com/

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  15. Wonderful fruit cake,i always die for them!

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  16. Friends - yes fruit cake signify the holiday season truely for us...

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  17. Where have u been my dear..really misses ur dishes from ur kitchen.btw that one lovely delicious looking fruit cake:)

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  18. Nice memories and delicious cake dear :)

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  19. Sara - back finally. Thanks for missing me.
    Gita - thanks. Its the season for memories...

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  20. Wow awesome... Yummy cake...Love to finish that piece..:)wish u & ur family Happy & Prosperous 2010!!

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  21. I love this cake and always connect my X'mas memories to this..:-) We had a post on this a few days back..Happy New year !!!!

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  22. Kothiyavanu - thanks
    Gulmohar - yes I did see your post. Looked perfect and what lovely pix...

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  23. I swear abt the days we were kids..I so want to go abck to those ays, holding appas hands n chit chatting things.cake looks wonderful somoo.

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  24. Wow!!! Looks absolutely delicious...

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  25. Shubha -yeah the simple pleasures of childhood...
    Sarah - thanks

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  26. Cake looks delicious.Have a wonderful 2010 dear:).

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  27. this looks great..im always wary of making fruit cakes....never comes out good..but this one seems delish!

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  28. Thank you - yes it was easy or relatively easy...

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  29. Yummy cake and the best part is its non-alcoholic!!

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  30. Deesha and Ramya - thanks! Yes I don't want to serve alcohol (even if in tiny amounts) to kids...

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  31. you make me nostalgic with your childhood souvenirs!!!

    nice fruity cake!!! Happy Anniversary to "Homeoriyafood" !!!!! Enjoy!!!

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  32. Very well done. Thanks for sharing.

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