Go my Maths-Fu!

[reynardo]

While calculating the total amount of mixed fruit required for yet-another-fruit-cake ¹, I noticed that the Australian Women's Weekly Cookbook (1970 edition, reprinted 1981) stated the following proportions:

Quarter-pound² cake - 685g mixed fruit
Half-pound cake - 1.75 kg mixed fruit
One-Pound cake - 2.75 kg mixed fruit
One-and-a-Half-pound cake - 4.25 kg mixed fruit

My mind realised that something was wrong with those figures, and through careful adding, I realised that the figure for the Half-Pound cake was too high by about 30%. This book has been through about 5 reprints, so I can only assume either someone made an error with the first translation of the quantities (from 2¾lbs) or transcried the amount incorrectly.

And as these cakes are the "bundle of fruit just barely held together with cake mix" sort, that error makes quite a difference.

So the huge jar has been sitting by the stove, with 3 kg of mixed fruit soaking in the best part of a bottle of brandy for the last month. The last of my brandied cumquatss have been choped and mixed through, and thefruit and mix has been mated (in the biggest serving bowl I had - large enough to hold pasta-and-sauce for 8 people so you can imagine how large that is) and carefully placed into two 20 cm cake tins (which have been previously lined with 2 layers of brown paper and one of baking paper). The oven has had its one hour on "slow"³ and is now heading into the 4 hours of "very slow"⁴, after which the cakes will be removed, cooled, and then infused with as much brandy mix as I can pour into them without them collapsing.

Oh dear. And this is the part where I realise I've put in too many eggs!⁵ Oops. Oh well - too late now.

1) This one is for my step-mother-in-law-to-be and father-in-law's wedding cake. You're right, I couldn't refuse.
2) That's a quarter-pound of butter. The Pound cake has a pound of butter, a pound of brown sugar, 5 cups of flour, 8 eggs, 2.75 kg (5½ pounds) mixed fruit, assorted spices and peels, and a cup of brandy.
3) 300º F or 150 C
4) 250º F or 120 C
5) I've used 12, it was supposed to be 8. Oh dear...

Comments

[moxie_man]

I realised that the figure for the Half-Pound cake was too high by about 30%.

Perhaps they were taking into account the amount of cake mix that would disappear before it makes it into the oven?

[panacea1.livejournal.com]

Aren't you supposed to be working? ;-)

[scascot.livejournal.com]

Working?

I love work - I can sit and watch it for hours.

[moxie_man]

Noon to 1pm local is my "normal" lunch break. "Normal" defined as those days when I can escape from the Cube Farm by noon before someone chases me down to put out their fire.

[tenner.livejournal.com]

I think I shall never hear anything so lovely as the concept of brandied kumquats.

Mmm... loves me some kumquats. I'm totally thinking about this as a future dessert concept.

[reynardo.livejournal.com]

I have to warn you, they're as sour as all get-out. I was considering cumquat marmalade, but I think I'd have to buy futures in sugar first.

[quatranoctal.livejournal.com]

The best part is the kumquat-flavoured brandy left over afterwards. Great for colds. And for just plain drinking.

[nefaria.livejournal.com]

> the fruit and mix has been mated
**toescuff**
So, when are the kids due, and what will they look like?

[sootysmudge.livejournal.com]

Its rare to find a mistake in a Women's Weekly cookbook. They are generally most reliable!

[reynardo.livejournal.com]

You know, I think I've found the mistake. The original recipie was in pounds and ounces, and I think it's the conversion is the error. 2¾lbs converts to about 1.35 kg, so I think someone mis-typed the new figure when they metricised the recipies.

[ambitious-wench.livejournal.com]

So, what are the chances of some of your cake making it across the pond to Yosemite for a taste test?

Why, yes, I *do* love fruit cakes.

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