A Recipe from Scotland

Scottish Fruitcake

30

NOVEMBER, 2020

By Chris Haney

Christmas will be here before we know it! Many of my friends are now making their favourite traditional Scottish treat so that it will be ready for Christmas. Fruitcake. It is not only served at Christmastime, but it is also traditionally used for a Scottish wedding cake covered in a thick layer of icing.

A Traditional Scottish Fruit Cake is heavily spiced and made with currants, sultanas, raisins, and cherries. Popular belief is that Mary Queen of Scots did not like glace cherries in her cakes, so a fruit cake was created for her using almonds instead of cherries. I have included a recipe of the lighter version Dundee (named after a Scottish town) Fruit Cake that Mary Queen of Scots would have enjoyed.

Do you love fruitcake or hate it? Seems there is no in-between.

I have my own twist on fruitcake. I call it Nina Cake. That name comes from years ago when children here were calling me ChrisNina as they could not say Christina. I take pieces of the traditional fruitcake and crumble them into a yellow cake mix batter and bake them in cute little tins and then put them in Christmas boxes. They make great gifts!

I love baking, crafting and sewing. I love making Christmas presents. Nina Cakes, blanket bags (think sleeping bags made from cozy fuzzy blankets), and even home décor. I enjoy the time making them as well as seeing the joy on the faces of family and friends who receive them.

This Christmas in particular, presents are still being made, but I am thinking more about how thankful I am for all I have.

The love, prayers and support of family and friends.

Our cupboards are full.

We have a lovely warm home.

I am thinking about family and friends who are without full cupboards and unheated homes. They are in my daily prayers. Prayers for provision for all of their needs.

God has shown his grace in many different ways. So be good servants and use whatever gift he has given you in a way that will best serve each other. 1 Peter 4:10

One of our friends answers the phone by saying, “How can I serve you today?” I love that. This is a year to see the needs of others and do all that we can do to serve.

By His Grace,

Chris Haney