I make my fruit cake with dried fruit soaked in Irish Mist -

[hedgehog]

so, currents and raisins, of course. Anything else? Dried apples? Cherries?

Walnuts or hazelnuts?

[Glassunion]

1. You had me at Irish Mist.

Though I prefer Jameson, I see where you are coming from.

[hedgehog]

2. I also use honey for the sweetener.

[pinto]

3. A little dried ginger?

(aside) Irish Mist is whiskey, right?

[hedgehog]

4. Oh - of course ginger, cinnamon, a hint of nutmeg and cloves

Irish Mist starts with whiskey, then some honey, herbs and other spirits are added.It is considered a liquor rather than a whiskey. I always wonder if I should switch to Jameson's or Tullamore Dew, but I end up sticking stick with the Irish Mist.

I use the Irish Mist for my fruit cakes, and have a small sip every time a Democrat is elected President!

[japple]

5. Walnuts, pecans, dried cherries, dried apricots, maybe pineapple.

Also, put in fresh orange/lemon peel. But none of that candied fruit they sell this time every year. It sounds like a gift to be savoured by the gods.

[hedgehog]

6. Apricots! That's what I was forgetting!

I may use some cumin to add a citrus note.

[hedgehog]

11. Not cumin! Coriander!

[rsdsharp]

7. I just made Alton Brown's fruitcake last Sunday

He soaks golden raisins, currents, cherries, blueberries, cranberries, apricots, candied ginger and the zest of an orange and a lemon in a cup of golden rum overnight. The finished cake is periodically spritzed with brandy. I had a slice last night and it's twice as good as it was last week. Amazing.

[hedgehog]

8. Sounds like one of those cakes that only theoretically "keeps" -

it's supposed to be good for months, but no one has ever waited that long!

[japple]

9. I made one of Emiril Lagasse's fruitcake recipes a few years ago. It was

heavy on the bourbon and dried fruits/nuts. The problem is that the cake rose beautifully, but then fell. I think that I must have had my oven racks in the wrong place (I've since discovered the sweet spot in my oven for tube pans). Anyway, I was faced with quite a bit of sunken cake, so I just melted some good quality chocolate, squeezed and rolled the cake into balls and dipped them into the chocolate. They were quite a hit with the folks who received them and at least I salvaged that particular disaster.

[msanthrope]

10. Pineapple and apricots! nt