Fruitcake, doorstop or delicious treat?

In our family we receive a fruit cake every year by Airmail from overseas. We having a running joke that it’s the same one, because the one from the year before mysteriously disappeared and no one seems to remember what happened to it. We DO recall not eating the thing and we are pretty sure we didn't use it for a doorstop.

Fruitcake has a bit of a bad rap. Although these two suggestions are my favorite in terms of what to do with one of those rock hard ones that seem to turn up perennially:

1. Hollow out to store valuables - no one will touch it, so your valuables will stay safe!

2. Send one to the junk mail company with a note asking them to take you off their list or you will send more of them.

Here's an old family recipe though that is quite delicious and does not have the traditional nuts or candied citron in it and the Grand Marnier makes a nice touch as well.

Grand Marnier Fruitcake

Recipe Yield 1 - 6 inch round pan

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup dried orange flavored cranberries
• 1/8 cup chopped dried sweet cherries
• 1/8 cup chopped dried mango
• 1/4 cup dried blueberries
• 1/4 cup Grand Marnier
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 cup dark molasses
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1/4 cup Grand Marnier, split in half.

Directions:

• Soak the dried fruit in 1/4 cup of the Grand Marnier over night, covered and store at room temperature.
• Grease a 6 x 3 inch round pan, and line with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Beat in the eggs. Mix together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; mix into the butter and sugar in three stages, alternating with the molasses and the heavy cream. Stir in the soaked fruit.
• Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes. While still hot, sprinkle with 1/2 of the set aside Grand Marnier. Let cool. When the cake is cooled remove from the pan and sprinkle with the remaining Grand Marnier.
• This cake is best stored wrapped in Cheese cloth soaked in Grand Marnier and does actually improve with age.

I tried one of these ideas a few years ago, the Chocolate covered fruitcake balls and they were great, so here is a great article about Unusual Uses: Christmas Fruitcake Leftovers 7 Ways (real ways to recycle fruitcake)

http://www.diylife.com/2009/12/21/unusual-uses-christmas-fruitcake-leftovers-7-ways/

Don't forget: Gift Certificates for the '6 House Pub and the 1896 House make wonderful stocking stuffers for that special person in your life or a great getaway for your parents (or your kids).