Rosalyn,
I agree. I make Alton Brown's Fruitcake recipe every year for my
father and my husband's step father. I don't like fruit cake, but they love
it and say this is the best they have ever had. The fruit is definitely
important, and I buy the really good kind from Trader Joe's. It's not
cheap, but I always think you should bake, and cook, with the best
ingredients, so the whole is better.
I have learned that it does matter to take your time and mix well.
My dad tells me this year's was the best yet because it was lighter. One
tip Alton Brown said on the show is to cook it with a pot of water in the
oven for moistness. This isn't mentioned when you get the recipe on line,
just on the show.
Sandy