By Rob!!

Re: If I can just get a bit fruity for a moment???
10 Oct 2008 06:50

Checked my mum's cupboard for ingredients to do her Christmas Cake - the dried fruit, and a bag of almonds all went out of date in September and also a couple of bags in October this yr...now to me, they look fine, and as they are going into a cake, am sure they will be fine - would be such a waste if not....you reckon they will be ok to use??

xxxx

Replies

By witty vic

Re: If I can just get a bit fruity for a moment???
10 Oct 2008 07:24

Morning Rob! you are an early bird too I see. Hope your sore throat is better. I reckon the fruit should be fine, but I would not recommend using the nuts. Nuts past their best can become rancid tasting. It would be such a shame if they spoilt the cake. Witty x

By Rob!!

Re: If I can just get a bit fruity for a moment???
10 Oct 2008 07:27

excellent...cheers Witty...not to worried about the almonds, as only a small bag of them, but loads of dried fruit left...would have been a shame to have had to throw them...so quite pleased now....throat all better, just a little bunged up now, but all ok now....

thanks again Witty xxxx

By witty vic

Re: If I can just get a bit fruity for a moment???
10 Oct 2008 07:39

See what the others say. Given that the fruit is only JUST out of date personally I would use it. But the rest of the gang may have other ideas! Happy baking! You doing it today? I shall be rolling my sleeves up to tackle making a prawn curry later. xx

By jeni_hope

Re: If I can just get a bit fruity for a moment???
10 Oct 2008 07:46

Hi Rob. I agree with W Vic - unless the fruit looks crusty or mouldy I'd use it - the sugar content should keep it fine, but the almonds could have suffered - the oil content may make it a bit nasty flavoured. Try tasting it - it won't make you ill. They all have pretty long shelf lives so one extra month shouldn't matter much. I don't even think to check shelf life dates on goods like those.

By Rob!!

Re: If I can just get a bit fruity for a moment???
10 Oct 2008 07:54

not making the cake today...usually wait until the end of October for that, and make the Christmas Chutney at the same time! Am glad the fruit will be usable! They have been in my mum's cupboard since I made the cake for her last yr - I am trying to get her to cook more, but she is being resistant lol...I will break her will soon enough lol!! bless her, she used to cook loads, but doesnt have the confidence these days...funnily enough, she was only telling me yesterday that even before I was at school, when she was baking during the day, she used to plonk me in front of the TV to watch Delia - the only woman my mum trusted to leave me with, and the only thing on TV that my mum knew would keep me quiet! I do remember being mesmerised way back then lol...must have been younger than 4! funny the things you remember eh!

Thanks for your help guys

xxx

By SusanM

Re: If I can just get a bit fruity for a moment???
10 Oct 2008 09:05

I would use the fruit and taste a nut if Ok I would use . Susan xx

By Sheila (formerly Saffron Senior)

Re: If I can just get a bit fruity for a moment???
10 Oct 2008 10:34

Threaten to send Jamie Oliver round if she won't cook Rob!
Bet he'd go home with a thick ear though if he swore in front of her.
xx

By The Dinner Service

Re: If I can just get a bit fruity for a moment???
10 Oct 2008 11:20

Morning Rob. Didn't hear from you much yesterday unless I was just reading the wrong postings. Hope you are okay.
DS X

By Tooodlepips

Re: If I can just get a bit fruity for a moment???
10 Oct 2008 12:05

I would use the fruit - I'd also use the nuts provided they taste OK (and I'd be amazed if they didn't). Whilst you shouldn't use nuts that are months and months old (their high fat content means the structure will start to alter and the oils will go rancid) .. .but as they are only just past their date i don't think you'll hvae a problem.

By Flapjack

Re: If I can just get a bit fruity for a moment???
10 Oct 2008 16:45

I agree - check the nuts carefully, but the fruits should be fine if they have been stored carefully! I soak them fruits overnight in brandy anyway which plumps them up! Perhaps you could do the same if yours look a little over-dry?

The slightest sign of mould/white patches and you MUST bin them, as your entire cake will go mouldy during maturation otherwise making it a bit of a false economy!

The reason I say is that I have a friend who's entire batch of christmas puddings went mouldy during maturation and the only thing we could think of was the stale bread we used to make the breadcrumbs was on the verge of visible mould appearing - what an expensive and wasteful mistake!

Myself and a neighbour are making our cakes together again next week - only thing is last year we had a shot or too of leftover brandy after clearing up when the cakes were in the oven (cooks treat!) and we ended up sozzled and nearly burned them - oops - another almost expensive mistake....

By John S

Re: If I can just get a bit fruity for a moment???
10 Oct 2008 17:26

Use the fruit and def. buy fresh nuts, even the slightest taste of rancidness will ruin your cake, it's not worth the risk of wasting the time, energy and money spent on the other ingredients.
Chop the old nuts and feed them to the birds!!

By Rob!!

Re: If I can just get a bit fruity for a moment???
11 Oct 2008 08:06

thanks for all your advice...I think I will use the fruit - after all, as you say Flapjack, they get a good soaking anyway, so should be fine, and I will take John's advice and feed the nuts to the birds

xxxx