Yes, something did happen that made me fall in Love all over again…with…hold you breath…‘Cake’. (Yes the new shoes, too). The cake that Karan prepared for me (or to himself, which he generously shared with me).

Never wish for something when you are hungry. It might just come true.

Just like any other Friday evening…we had nothing in mind, he had rented a movie to watch. I had some other plans…like, to file my non-existent nails and try some paint job on it…to see if it works.

So, after done talking all about ‘how stupid’ all the people we don’t know are…the topic shifted to ‘Christmas Holidays’. And, I lamented…how much I craved for ‘fruit cake’ (just like I did every year towards this season – I think its a seasonal food!).

I don’t know what had gotten into this guy! All the sudden he said…he would make one! Its like Tamil Cinema’s ‘Medical Miracle’. He, turned the cruise control on, browsed the recipe on his iphone, made a U – turn to Food Lion…shopped a whole lot of ingredients. And, set forth to cooking. The fellow who thinks, people still use flint stones to create fire in the kitchen…now, bakes!

Trust me folks…we didn’t follow the recipe…we just eyeballed all the ingredients as we wished. And, expected it to turn into a molten lava. Now, that would have been a serendipity, if I liked it! Anyway…

It turned out simply unbelievable. The Most Awesome Cake Ever. And, did I mention…its the first cake we (although its technically only ‘I’) ever baked.

Ingredients

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 stick butter (unsalted, softened)
• 4 large eggs
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 4 tsp caramelized sugar
• 1 large orange – zest
• 150 ml fresh orange juice
• 150 ml gold rum
• 150 gm almonds, sliced
• 150 gm cashew nuts, chopped
• 150 gm pecan, chopped
• 1 fistful dates, chopped
• 1 fistful prune, chopped
• 1 fistful cherries
• 1 fistful apricots
• 1 fistful golden raisins
• 1 fistful dark raisins
• 1 fistful craisins
• 1 fistful tutti frutti (I didn’t use)
• 1 tsp cinnamon powder
• 1 tsp nutmeg powder
• 1 tsp allspice powder
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 pinch salt
• 2 tsp vannila extract
• 1 tsp black cumin
• 10 cloves
• 1 cube butter for smearing or butter paper

Method 

1. Day 1 – Soak all the nuts and dry fruits in the rum. 24 hours minimum for a flavorful treat.
2. The next day, prepare a quick caramelized sugar. Take two heavy tsp of sugar and add a bit of water and boil it down to near saturation and finally finish it up with lemon juice. Voila, caramelized sugar ready in minutes.
3. Now, if you have a electric beater, please use it. As it makes the job easier. Bring softened butter plus sugar…beat till you tire. Then, followed by eggs and whisk to peaks followed by caramelized sugar and flour and all the powders from your ingredients list. Once you find this satisfactory (very homogeneous mixture) add the well-soaked nuts and fruits to it. Now…if you have any further liquid left in your bowl. Please discard it.
4. Smear the butter in your cake pan and pour the batter in it. Now, set your oven to 350°F and bake it for at least 45 minutes. I placed it in the middle rack. Then, use a tiny toothpick to check…if it is thoroughly done in the middle.
5. Give it some resting time and cut through. Enjoy.