The Great and Terrible Fruitcake Project

[browngirl]

So, the wind is cool in the mornings, the sky clear and blue in a way only seen in the fall. As they have for several years, my thoughts turned to fruitcake.

But this year, I felt a certain... terror. I don't know if I have it in me this year to do the project like I have in previous years, especially around J. and E, but mostly just based on what my available energy currently seems to be. I know every year I talk about scaling it back, but this year I really must or risk promising more than I can accomplish, which would be utterly unacceptable. I could just take the year off, but I do love this project, and I'm afraid a hiatus will turn permanent. So.

For those who haven't seen me descend into fruitcake-related insanity before: I usually offer 4-5 different recipes/flavors of fruitcake (last year's are described here with recipes here), and a box of samples with 6 or 8 assorted bite-size cakelings. A gallery of cakes may be seen here.

[Poll #1457318]

Comments

[popfiend.livejournal.com]

My only advice is to do what makes you feel happy. YOU are sharing of yourself, so the final arbiter and the person who knows what's best is really you.

Make the choices that present you with the most chance to make yourself (and then your audience) happy. They will be received as acts of love regardless.

/my valueless 2 cents ;)

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

Would it feel easier to do a Fruitcake Recipe Bonanza (mailing out a little recipe booklet or similar) instead of actual fruitcakes this year? On the "teach a person to fish" motto.

Your postcard is making me happy every day from its place of pride on my refridgamerator.

I like this idea...

[fangirl715.livejournal.com]

...that is, if it's something you'd want to do. You shouldn't have to be the only fruitcake baker around (count me in as someone who'd like to learn how), and you shouldn't have to totally run yourself ragged, either. (If you really Just Won't Feel Right without baking at least some fruitcake, though--and I understand this kind of thing, believe me--I'd say either limit it to 4 sample-size cakes per box, or 1 cake per recipient/household/whatever.)

[thnidu.livejournal.com]

What they all said.

[mama-hogswatch.livejournal.com]

Don't be absurd. Cutting back isn't chintzy. While I'm sure your fruitcake is absolutely delightful, you don't owe it to the world, but bestow it when and where you can, right?

[bearfairie.livejournal.com]

As I read your post I was so completely overcome with love for you that I nearly hugged my computer screen. I love that you're such an avid fruitcake-baker, and that you're so generous with your time, cake, and love.

Do the version that works for you. Lots of folks have said that in 80 gazillion different ways already and wow you have smart and loving friends on your flist!

Hey, do you have a good gluten/dairy free fruitcake recipe? Butter is easy enough to sub for (I like to use coconut oil as a butter substitute if the flavor will work in a recipe), I'm just not sure about the substitutions for a gluten-lacking flour in a gluten-containing fruitcake recipe...

[guruwench.livejournal.com]

Lots and lots of What They Said. I love your fruitcake, but I'd rather you take good care of yourself and not run yourself ragged. If you need a year off, take it. :)

*hugs offered*

[tibicina.livejournal.com]

You also could go on hiatus, but cutting back the choices on offer doesn't look chintzy.

I love your fruitcake, though.

[libitina]

I voted for the 1 cake per household instead of the set sampler because I get the impression that a large part of it for you is getting to think about the individual person as you pick which fruitcake gets packed up to go somewhere, and this way you still get the creative variety of baking different batches and the care of the individual - and you just cut back on time, materials, and expense.

FWIW - I'd be willing to reimburse on postage, and if you were mailing everyone the same size box, you could get info ahead of time on how much postage would be for every package. And it could be purely voluntary.

[katarik.livejournal.com]

You do lovely fruitcakes, and I adore getting little packages of deliciousness, but I would rather have you calm and unstressed. ♥ ♥ ♥