Holiday Fruit Soup

Enice Jacobson, from Wildrose, North Dakota, cherishes the memories of her Swedish heritage and the cherished Christmas traditions it brought, especially the delightful Holiday Fruit Soup. Passed down through generations, this sweet and comforting soup holds a special place in her heart, making it a must-have during the holiday season.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 pound mixed dried fruit (about 4 cups)
• ¾ cup small pearl tapioca
• 6 cups water, divided
• 5 apples, peeled and cubed
• 1 cup sugar
• Ground cinnamon

PREPARATIONS:

1. In a large saucepan, combine the mixed dried fruit, small pearl tapioca, and 4 cups of water. Cover the mixture and let it stand overnight, allowing the flavors to meld.
2. The next day, stir in the cubed apples, sugar, and the remaining water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover the saucepan, and let it simmer for an hour or until the tapioca becomes transparent and the fruit is tender. If needed, you can add additional water to achieve the desired consistency.
3. Serve the Holiday Fruit Soup warm or cold with a dash of ground cinnamon for an added touch of flavor and aroma.

YIELD: 8-10 servings

PREP/COOK TIME: 15 minutes preparation, 1 hour cooking, plus overnight soaking

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:

• You can adjust the sweetness of the soup by adding more or less sugar to suit your taste preference.
• For a festive presentation, garnish the soup with a sprig of fresh mint or a dollop of whipped cream.

TIPS:

• Feel free to customize the dried fruits used in the soup. Traditional options include raisins, apricots, prunes, and currants, but you can experiment with other dried fruits like cherries, cranberries, or figs for variety.

Enice Jacobson, from Wildrose, North Dakota, keeps her Swedish heritage alive by cherishing her family’s beloved Christmas traditions, especially the delightful Holiday Fruit Soup. This sweet and comforting soup, made with mixed dried fruit and small pearl tapioca, is a cherished delicacy that holds a special place in her heart, passed down through generations.

To prepare the soup, Enice combines mixed dried fruit and tapioca in a large saucepan, allowing the flavors to meld overnight. The next day, she adds cubed apples, sugar, and water before simmering the mixture to perfection. The result is a warm and fragrant Holiday Fruit Soup with tender fruits and translucent tapioca pearls, perfectly sweetened to her liking.

Served warm or cold, the soup carries the essence of Christmas in every spoonful. For an added touch of flavor and aroma, a dash of ground cinnamon complements the sweetness of the fruit. The presentation of this festive soup can be enhanced with a sprig of fresh mint or a dollop of whipped cream.

Enice’s Holiday Fruit Soup is a symbol of her family’s traditions and love. Each year, she looks forward to sharing this delightful treat with her loved ones, savoring the memories of her mother, who first introduced her to the cherished Swedish Christmas delicacy.

With the option to customize the dried fruits, the soup can take on a unique twist while maintaining its heartwarming essence. Traditional options like raisins, apricots, prunes, and currants blend harmoniously, but Enice encourages experimenting with other dried fruits, such as cherries, cranberries, or figs, to add variety and personal touches to the recipe.

In conclusion, Enice Jacobson’s Holiday Fruit Soup is a treasured delight that encapsulates the magic of Christmas and the warmth of cherished family traditions. Rooted in Swedish heritage and carried on through generations, this sweet and comforting soup brings joy and comfort to the holiday season. Enice’s love for her family’s culinary legacy shines through as she continues the tradition of sharing this special soup with her loved ones, creating lasting memories and celebrations of her Swedish roots.