I'm sure a lot of you who have lived in the States, particularly those who've lived in a southern state, are familiar with Claxton fruitcakes. I just got reacquainted with them after coming home for Christmas, and am going to have to practice some serious self-control when around them.
For those who've never had one, they defy all the standard jokes you hear about fruitcakes' being tossed out or "regifted" year after year. I don't usually have a sweet tooth but can make an exception with these--they're moist and packed with fruit and nuts, although I'm sure they can be lethal at 420 calories per serving. DOH!
The company is in Georgia and is family run, and given how busy they are this time of year, I was amazed that I made a big order last Friday and received it Tuesday. (I ordered online and begged the powers that be to have the order to me before Christmas, also saying that I'd pay any additional shipping fees if need be, etc. I also called them and spoke to a family member, a very polite southern gentleman with a laidback drawl. They didn't charge any additional fees, bless them!) One of my brothers instituted a sucky adults-draw-an-adult's-name and everyone-gets-the-kids-something gift-giving policy in the past two years--you leave the country for a few years and everything goes to hell in a handbasket.
(Everyone used to get everyone else something, which made shopping stressful at times, but ultimately worth it for the sheer chaos that ensued unwrapping gifts, the inevitable sibling competition over who had the year's best wrapping paper, etc.
). Anyway, I thought it would be cool to give everyone other than my chosen "big gift" family member at least a small gift this year, as well as have a couple of extras in case any last-minute guests showed up on Christmas Day.
I don't know for sure whether Claxton ships overseas, but the boxes note that they're "world famous" (yes, I believe everything I read
), so I suspect they do. Their website address is
www.claxtonfruitcake.com. For all you fruitcake skeptics out there, give them a shot.
They also sell pecans, chocolate-covered peanuts, etc.
Suzanne
