Guest post from Annie's sister Susan

Five and a half years ago if you would have told me I would be standing in Annie’s kitchen making a Christmas fruitcake under the watch full eye and supervision of Annie, I would have said no way.

But this past Saturday morning I was in Annie’s kitchen facing a beautiful Austin morning sunrise and cutting cherries in three long parallel slices for a fruit cake that Annie would be taking to a party in Dripping Springs Texas.

Annie had all of the ingredients out my job was to slice, measure, combine and pour in to the butter greased glass dish with Annie supervising every step.

I have observed when Annie is in her wheel chair, communication is always chaotic. I have to remind Annie to stay on one subject which is baking the fruitcake. The wheel chair gives Annie’s mind the chance to whirl around because she doesn’t have to focus on walking or standing.   And whirl around it does, a dozen different subjects were brought up.

If Annie is not in her wheel chair, she always is focused on her balance and making sure she will not fall. This makes me realize how unbelievable it is that she has accomplished so much in the past five and a half years since her stroke. If I had to think about every step I take I would never get anything done.

Bob corrected the oven setting from convection to regular, we put the fruit cake in for one hour and it came out perfecto!

It will be too late for you to make this for Christmas but the red cherries look so pretty it will work for Valentines Day. I hope you will make this fruitcake and with every bite think of Annie and remember the love and effort and devotion she puts forth every day in all that she accomplishes!

FRUIT CAKE RECIPE:

Set oven to 325 degrees

1 lb. candied cherries (sliced)

1 7oz. package coconut

½ cup diced dates

3 cups chopped pecans

1 tsp. vanilla

1 can sweetened condensed milk

¼ tsp. salt

¾ cup flour

Mix sliced cherries, coconut, dates and pecans in large bowl.

Mix salt and flour and sprinkle over fruit and nut mixture.

Stir well

Add vanilla and sweetened condensed milk

Mix well

Pack into greased 4 ½ x 2 ¾ loaf pan

Bake 1 hour at 325 degrees