The Great Fruitcake Debate

You can now Downtonize your Holiday Tree

Only one more sleep until Christmas and all through the land last minute preparations are being made for the big day at hand.  For UK fans this includes the annual Downton Abbey Christmas episode on ITV.  US fans may debate the reasons why PBS broadcasts new episodes months behind ITV, but in the spirit of the season why not focus on the long standing fruitcake debate.

CBC Radio (Canadian Broadcast Corporation) ran a fun story about the love/hate relationship with fruitcake today.  I did my best to stick up for our favorite holiday treat, but more about that below.  Today’s Downton Dish recipe which will come in handy in a few days. It is what I call the Remains of the Day Turkey Soup which is a great way to use up leftovers, or what I like to call “made overs”.  It is one of the recipes from my cookbook, Abbey Cooks Entertain. My holiday gift to you all.

The Great Fruitcake Debate

A good fruitcake is to be treasured. My recipe.

CBC is our national broadcasting system in Canada. I grew up listening to CBC radio and it is my family’s travel companion on our annual fishing trip through the mountains.  One of my most favorite shows is The Current, a topic news event show which normally tackles more serious issues but in today’s story dug deep into the mystery of the fruitcake and why so many people have an aversion to it.

In the Great Fruitcake Debate my role was to provide historical context (the current version dating back to the Middle Ages and popularized by Queen Victoria), and as I did my best to praise the well-made fruitcake, it did occur to me that the debate really wouldn’t be taking place in the UK where fruitcake is revered.  It is likey that most people who don’t like (hate) fruitcake have had a bad experience with a commercially prepared cake.  I think that when the fruitcake began to be mass produced, the quality dropped.  Certainly a factory can’t put the same love into a cake like a home cook can.  There is also something magical about using alcohol to keep it moist and more flavorful. And when the cook can sip a bit of brandy after giving the cake a little drink, well that is just how it should be.  I think I had host Piya Chattopadhyay almost converted to becoming a fruitcake fan.

In any event, this story was great fun…with “man on the street” opinions, a chef who has Canadianized the recipe, and a food scientist who spoke about how picky eaters don’t like all the inclusions (stuff) in the cake. suggesting that chocolate chips might bring people round.  If you still don’t like your fruitcake, there were also some very helpful ways to recycle, such as using 2 as hand weights as part of your post holiday work out regime. And there is always the Annual Fruitcake Toss in Colorado.

Click here to Listen to the episode. It is great fun, and thanks Piya for including me in the discussion.

Downton Holiday Dishes

Plum pudding is a British tradition

Christmas has its traditions and that always includes food.   Here are links to recipes for traditional English favorites. Scroll down the post to location the recipe, or you can purchase my book and you will have these and other recipes on hand.

• Fabulous Fruitcake
• Not Quite Traditional Mincemeat
• Mincemeat Cake
• Easy Mince Oatmeal Squares
• Plum Pudding
• Sugar Plums
• Classic Never Fail Shortbread

Downton Dish

I am proud to be the curator of the official DA Pinterst Board.

UK fans are in for a treat.  The final episode for Season 4 is playing Christmas Day, and this year promises a much more happy ending.

• 3 Days till Christmas: The Official DA Eat, Drink & Be Merry Pinterest Board
• S4 Downstairs Delight:  Daisy gets a Cinderella moment in the Christmas Special.

• Paul Giamatti on Downton:  Copious tea-drinking scenes in Downton Abbey ‘very bizarre and English

Upcoming Downton Events

Jan. 4/5: PBS S4 Launch Party Inspired by Downton in Burlington, VT

Vermont Public Television is hosting their second Downton inspired culinary weekend January 4th/5th. This event will launch Season 4 at the renowned culinary mecca, the Essex Resort, in Burlington Vermont. Look forward to this wonderful event of fabulous Downton food and festivity, and be among the first in the US to see Episode 1 in a theatre setting. Last year Lord D and I had so much fun dressing up for Day 1, that they chose to wear their finery on Day two. Tickets are now on sale for this great event in support of public television, the network which brings Downton to the US and Canada.

Abbey Cooks Entertains for Downton Holiday Entertaining: Now Only $4.00*

With 220 traditional Downton era recipes with a modern twist, this is a great book to to give for fellow fans planning holiday treats and meals.  This 432 page ebook sells for only $7.95. Book sales help offset my costs in food, equipment and time to keep bringing you new dishes each week. While the book is available on Amazon, you can only get a signed copy here on my site. If you don’t have an eReader I would suggest the PDF version which allows you to print recipes as you go, if you wish. Buy one for yourself, gift to another.  All you have to do is email the download link.

*Order now using “DowntonHolidays to get 50% discount until Jan. 5th.

Remains of the Day Turkey Soup

Remains of the Day

from Abbey Cooks Entertain

This is a great hearty soup which uses up ingredients from Christmas Dinner to enjoy the next day, “made over” in a new way.  Add as many or as few of the suggested ingredients as you please.

Feeds 6–8

Ingredients

• 12 cups Hangover Turkey Stock (see below)
• 1–2 cups turkey meat
• 2 tbsp. EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
• 2 medium onions, chopped
• 3 medium carrots, chopped
• 2 medium parsnips, chopped
• 3 celery ribs, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 cup dried lentils
• 1 cup dried barley
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 can white beans
• 1–2 cups stuffing
• 1–2 cups mashed potatoes
• 1–2 cups cooked vegetables
• Fresh parsley
• Fresh or dried thyme
• Kosher salt and freshly
• ground pepper

1. Heat oil in a large stock/soup pot, then cook the chopped  vegetables until softened. Add the turkey broth, lentils, barley, tomatoes, beans and spices simmering uncovered until the vegetables are cooked. I like to let the love flavors blend in so at least half an hour.
2. Add the stuffing, potatoes and cooked vegetables, simmering another 20 minutes, but you can leave on the stove longer to keep imparting those flavors. Season to taste and serve the love to your friends and family. This soup makes plenty for a full meal for family with extras to freeze, to share with a sick friend, to take to your local soup kitchen.

Hangover Turkey Stock

from Abbey Cooks Entertain

Abbey Cooks always find ways to stretch their food dollar. So after your family and
guests have enjoyed a wonderful Roast Turkey, save the carcass, and make use of the neck and giblets that came with the turkey (and you didn’t make giblet broth from them) toss it all into your stock pot along with root vegetables scraps and left over stuffing.

Makes 8–10 cups

• 1 leftover turkey carcass (from a 12- to 14-pound turkey)
• turkey neck and giblets (if you didn’t forget to keep them)
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 3 medium onions, chopped
• 2 large carrots, roughly broken
• 3 celery ribs, roughly chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1–2 cups of left over stuffing
• 3 broccoli stems, roughly chopped
• 1 bay leaf
• Bouquet garni of flat-leaf parsley and thyme sprigs, tied together or tossed in.
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

1. Place all your ingredients into a large stockpot or Dutch oven and cover with water (about 10 to 12 cups). Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and skim the foam off the top as you simmer for 2 or 3 hours if you have the time.
2. Remove carcass and cool, then pick the turkey meat from the bones, cut into bite sized pieces and reserve. You can now dispose of the turkey bones. Strain the stock through a sieve to separate the vegetables and herbs.
3. I make my stock ahead of when I plan to make soup. I refrigerate my stock in a tall juice pitcher so that the fat will harden and can be easily scooped off. If you want to make turkey soup that day, there are other ways to remove fat: a fat separator is great if you have one, but floating ice cubes on top of the broth will attract some of the fat.
4. You can freeze for future use in plastic containers, or for a dash of flavor, freeze in an old ice cube tray. When the cubes have frozen pop them into a freezer bag, mark the contents and date and have handy to use in your other cooking.

Your downton Holiday Gift Giving

Gift ideas for your Downton fan. Click on the icons to take you to Amazon to order in time for the holidays.