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The Fruit Loaf Many years ago, my husband and I always looked forward to a particular Christmas tradition at our family gathering: Cousin Katy’s fruit cake loaf. Katy would bake six homemade loaves and give them out to each family member. She would first wrap each loaf in a brown paper bag, place them in an oblong shoe box and then “Christmas” wrap each one. One Christmas, Katy distributed the fruit loaves. After my husband and I received ours, we gave her a quick thank you. "We always look forward to your delicious fruit loaf.” Katy raised her eyebrows and smiled. After arriving home, we removed the Christmas wrapping and placed the box in the refrigerator for next week’s get-together with neighbors. They, too, enjoyed Katy’s fruit loaf. Tea and fruit cake loaf were on the menu for that afternoon. Table set. Tea served. Oven set on 350 degrees to remove the chill from the fruit loaf. While our friends were talking to my husband, I was meticulously removing the brown paper from the loaf. I noticed the heaviness when I lifted it out of the box. I even said, “Katy must have put extra walnuts in. This fruit loaf is really heavy.” My husband said that the look on my face was priceless when I removed three cast iron trivets from the shoe box. All of their laughter could hardly compensate for my total embarrassment. Lilliane Erickson | Maggie Valley | Haywood EMC |
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