Menu items have been moved

So I removed the fruitcake ratings from the right side of the blog and put them on their own page, which you can get to from the right side.

Is it clear? Can you see it? Let me know in the comments!

Next fruitcake: Genesee Abbey

Hello! It's been a crazy busy summer for me but I've managed to get around to ordering a fruitcake. This time it's from the Trappist Genesee Abbey in New York. I think this is one of the last monastery fruitcakes I have to cover -- but someone please correct me if I'm wrong! You all know by now that, in general, monastery fruitcakes are my favorites. So I'm looking forward to this one. I still have at least 6 others on my radar to review, can you believe it? Eilenberger bakery, June Taylor, Dancing Deer Harvest cake, Neiman Marcus.... welcome to fruitcake season!

Mary of Puddin Hill closing?

Carolyn, one of my blog readers, subscribes to Mary of Puddin Hill's e-newsletter. She recently forwarded along shocking news: Mary of Puddin Hill is closing as of May 21. Here's more from MoPH:

Mary of Puddin Hill today announced that it will close effective Saturday, May 21st. Efforts to sell or merge with another bakery company will continue.
[...]

Owner Ken Bain further explained that the largest fruitcake company in Texas, Collin Street Bakery of Corsicana has disclosed plans to build a megastore in Greenville similar to their stores in Waco and Corsicana.
[...]
To continue to compete we would have to do extensive remodeling or relocate, equip with the newest baking equipment and add the newest digital age media tools to our marketing efforts.
We are deeply grateful to our many longtime friends and customers throughout Texas and America.  We are especially humbled to have been able to continue the rich legacy of the Horton, Lauderdale "Puddin Hill" story over these past ten years.

There doesn't seem to be anything more on their web page, and it is to be hoped that they can find a buyer to carry on the tradition. Seems weird that there actually seems to be a fruitcake competition down there in Texas.

It's a very sad deal, as this is one of the more delicious Southern style fruitcakes I've had. You might want to buy one now!!

The recipe for Kate & Will's wedding cake

If anyone should know how to do a proper Christmas cake, or in this case, wedding cake, Fiona Cairns should, as she created the cake for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Here's a link to it on the ABC News website. How I would love this for my own wedding cake. I think in the US, if fruitcakes are EVER used as wedding cakes, they tend to be called the "groom's cake." Anyone care to comment?