Brazil Nut Fruitcake Recipe

 "This cake is more of a confection than a cake. It makes a beautiful, festive presentation. This recipe came to our family from a dear lady, Mrs. Barrows, in Corpus Christi in 1948. She shared this family recipe with my mother. Remember to leave all the fruits and nuts whole. Slice the cake thin. The slices are beautiful because you slice into the whole fruit and nuts."  Original recipe yield: 3 - 8x4 inch loaf pans.

INGREDIENTS:

4 eggs
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup white sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 pound red candied cherries
1 pound green candied cherries
1 pound Brazil nuts
1 pound walnut halves
1 pound pecan halves
2 pounds pitted dates

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 3 - 8x4 inch loaf pans and line them with parchment or waxed paper.
Beat eggs, salt and vanilla together until very light and lemon colored. Stir in sugar, 1 cup flour and baking powder.
Place cherries, nuts, and dates into a large bowl. Dust with the remaining 1/2 cup flour. Then stir in sugar mixture. There is very little batter which makes this a very stiff mixture. Mix with hands.
Press batter into prepared loaf pans. Bake for 1 hour.

Candied Apples I

 "This recipe produces a very red, shiny candied apple. You can substitute a drop of cinnamon oil for the candies. After the apples are cooled, you can wrap them in colored plastic wrap and tie shut with curling ribbon. Makes a nice Halloween party treat."  Original recipe yield: 8 apples.

INGREDIENTS:

8 apples
3 cups white sugar
1/2 cup white corn syrup
1/2 cup water
8 cinnamon red hot candies
1 teaspoon red food coloring

DIRECTIONS:

Insert a wooden craft stick into the bottom of each apple. Butter a baking sheet and set aside.
Combine sugar, corn syrup and water in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Heat, without stirring, to 270 to 290 degrees F (132 to 143 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms hard but pliable threads. Remove from heat and stir in candies and food coloring until just mixed.
Holding each apple by its stick, quickly twirl in syrup, tilting pan to cover apple. Lift out of syrup, turning to allow drips to adhere to apple. Place apples on prepared baking sheet to cool completely.