Yo fruitcake!

What's the deal with fruitcake? Most people I know hate fruitcake. It's become a source of jokes at Christmas, but why? What's so horrible about it? It had been years since I tasted fruitcake. I think the last time I did, I was a little girl at one of my mom's hospital Christmas parties. I didn't like it. It was sticky, chunky and weird. That was a long time ago. Afterall, I'm older now and my tastes have changed. Cake made with nuts and candied fruits doesn't sound that bad. Could fruitcake really be that horrible? My curiosity got the best of me and I wanted to try it again.

I've seen little fruitcakes at Walmart. Scary. They're on the lowest shelf in the Christmas aisles. Tossed down so low that I'm sure every kid who comes by takes a poke at them. I didn't want one of those. And besides, I didn't want a whole fruitcake. What if I don't like it? There's a store here that sells individual slices of fruitcake, so I had my husband pick one up on his way home from work last night. Of course, the lady at the register had to say something. "Oh, I see someone likes fruitcake." Rest assured, he told her it wasn't him and how he hoped I didn't make him taste it. I had to try it again to see what the fuss was about. Was it really that bad? So, I'm sitting on the bed talking to Rick when I decide to try it. My cat goes bonkers. She wants what's in that little plastic container and she's not going to stop until I give her a bite. The crazy thing is -- she liked it! I looked at the cake. It certainly was colorful with red and green candied cherries. There are some other fruits I didn't recognize, but certainly nothing that scared me. I took a bite, I chewed, I swallowed, I was still alive. Hey, this stuff isn't that bad. It's actually kind of good, like a heavy nutbread with gooey, sticky things on top. I couldn't eat the entire piece, so I put the rest in the fridge for later. In my investigation, I learned 3 things about fruitcake --

1. Fruitcake isn't as horrible as people say it is.
2. Fruitcake is expensive. My single slice cost $7.49.
3. My cat likes fruitcake -- who knew?

So why the fuss over fruitcake? Other than some people not liking it, why has it become a source of holiday ridicule? Fruitcake dates back to ancient Rome where it was made with pomegranate seeds, raisins and pine nuts. Later alcohol was used and the cakes were soaked in brandy, which preserved them. Did you know fruitcakes can take over a month to make? After baking, they're brushed with brandy once or twice a week. It's a long process to make a good one. The cake I tried last night didn't have alcohol, but I think the one I tried as a kid did. I was probably around 10 years old and it sounds like something my mom would let me do. No wonder I didn't like it. She nearly scared me off fruitcake for life. Johnny Carson joked that there was only one fruitcake in the world and it was constantly passed from family to family each Christmas. I'm sure that didn't help the poor fruitcake's reputation. Fruitcake is like eggnog -- you love it or hate it. There is no in between. I'd like to try a good brandy soaked fruitcake with a glass of spiced rum eggnog. I can honestly say I've finally turned into my mother.