Love of Fruitcake

Robert Parsons, left, eats a piece of fruitcake made by his wife Adelaide Parsons, right, in their home Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016 at Chateau Girardeau in Cape Girardeau. Robert Parsons ate her fruitcake over 30 years ago on Christmas and had proposed to his her three months after. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

A fruitcake recipe that was handed down by Adelaide Parsons's grandmother, Adelaide Fitzpatrick, is used today make for Christmas for her husband Robert Parsons and friends and family. Adelaide mixes together the cake batter, fruit and other ingredients at their home Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016 at Chateau Girardeau in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

Robert Parsons eats a piece of fruitcake made by his wife Adelaide Parsons (not pictured) in their home Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016 at Chateau Girardeau in Cape Girardeau. Robert Parsons ate her fruitcake over 30 years ago on Christmas and had proposed to his her three months after. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

A freshly sliced fruit cake made by Adelaide Parsons in her and her husband Robert Parson's home Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016 at Chateau Girardeau in Cape Girardeau. Robert Parsons ate her fruitcake over 30 years ago on Christmas and had proposed to his her three months after. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

Adelaide Parsons, left, and her husband Robert Parsons, right, sit in their home Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016 at Chateau Girardeau in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

Adelaide Parsons reaches into the oven to bake a fruitcake she made in her home Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016 at Chateau Girardeau in Cape Girardeau. Robert Parsons, her husband, ate her fruitcake over 30 years ago on Christmas and had proposed to his her three months after. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

Adelaide Parsons mixes together the cake batter, fruit and other ingredients at their home Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016 at Chateau Girardeau in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

Adelaide Parsons places fruitcake mixture into a pan at their home Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016 at Chateau Girardeau in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

Adelaide Parsons mixes together the cake batter, fruit and other ingredients at their home Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016 at Chateau Girardeau in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

Adelaide Parsons baptizes a fruitcake with brandy at their home Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016 at Chateau Girardeau in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker)

Adelaide Parsons baptizes a fruitcake with brandy at their home Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016 at Chateau Girardeau in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker)