Candied Fruit for the 21st Century
A gorgeous new book, fruitcake for those who hate it and the tiniest Christmas market on this third day of Advent
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting the hugely talented
at her book signing here in Chicago.NATURE’S CANDY is the definitive book on candying fruit and is accompanied by recipes you want to make — clear instructions, delicious outcomes and gorgeous to look at.
Camilla Wynne’s passion about her work comes through. Here she is in the introduction to the book talking about candied fruit:
I adore it, especially when it’s made at home with beautiful fruit using just a few ingredients, sometimes with creative flavors, creating a jewel-like confection that still tastes like fruit.
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You can find her on Substack at
where you’ll also find recipes and links to other publications that feature her work and more news on NATURE’S CANDY.It is a beautiful, beautiful book. 🍊 🍒
Fruitcake, For Those Who Hate It
In yesterday’s post about a 1956 Open House in the pages of Gourmet magazine, both candied fruit and fruitcake are prominently featured. Today I want to give them a little more love.
Cookbook author
, who writes the always delicious from her home in Tasmania’s far south, posted a recipe that adds cardamom, rose water and lemon to a traditional fruit cake base.Sri Lankan Christmas Cake
The cakes of Sri Lanka and India are heavily influenced by their colonial past - the Portuguese, Dutch, French and English have all contributed in some way, with the introduction of new ingredients or techniques. Sri Lankan Christmas cake is one of those hybrid bakes, essentially a British fruit cake but with ingredients and flavours more readily found in the region.
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Here’s Julia’s post, with recipe. Thank you, Julia!
Ruth Talks Fruitcake
For the last few years, my friend
, the wonderful writer behind the , has sent me a fruitcake from her home in California to my apartment in Chicago. I’m always touched by the care she takes to get it here.The fruit cake, of course, is delicious, because Ruth is an amazing cook and baker and it is also always so beautifully wrapped.
This from Ruth:
It’s a bit sentimental to say, but I believe a gift from your kitchen is a gift from your heart. I love to bake, but never grew up making fruitcake nor ate any either—probably because we celebrated Hanukkah and fruitcake is associated with Christmas. But I had a lot of friends who celebrated Christmas, and I enjoy giving gifts of food, especially ones I make myself.
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Here’s Ruth’s post from a few years ago, with recipe. Thank you, Ruth!
The Tiniest Christmas Market
Day Three of “The Little Town” Advent calendar takes us to a “Weihnachtsmarkt” and I was delighted to learn that it translates to “Christmas Market” — See you tomorrow for Day Four. 🎄
Jolene
I don't think I've ever had a really good fruit cake, Jolene. Not surprisingly, we always had panettone and pandoro in our house when I was growing up, and I've kept on the tradition. I do love the look of a good fruitcake, though, especially one with a layer of snowy white icing. Thanks for getting me into the holiday spirit with your daily advent calendar posts!
I’m so excited to be included in your Advent calendar line up - thank you. I’m hoping we can convert a few more people to the joy of fruit cake. I’m eagerly waiting for Camilla’s book - it should be good timing heading into cherry, berry and stone fruit season here. I have visions of a pantry filled with candied jewels of fruit.