Christmas Cake and Creativity

Misty mornings but still relatively warm for November here in south Cheshire. Leaves are littering the drive and paths but the Beech tree is still a blaze of gold and orange. The big Acer is almost bare now but has been a glorious sight and the leaves gathering on the ground look so pleasing.

The tall silver birches behind our garden are shedding their leaves and the crows who nest there are having serious conversations. It’s a pleasure to hear them and to see the changing seasons around us.

The flower garden has almost gone into its winter sleep. A few flowers defy the time of year and provide a little colour here and there.

Morning dew and misty rain decorate the leaves with crystal drops.

This is very much a wildlife garden and I encourage creatures as long as they do no harm. Snails haven’t been a big problem among the flowers so I leave them alone. They look very pretty at times.

The Spring cabbages are galloping along with this mild weather. I expect them to be a bit earlier to harvest. The celeriac are ready now and they’re good but I think I might try celery next year instead. Celeriac have lots of knobbly roots to trim off. I think celery might be easier to prepare in the kitchen.

I made stuffed apples again but this time I baked them for 26 minutes in my air-fryer at 145C. Success! They kept their shape and the juice didn’t ooze out too much. They were delicious served warm with vanilla ice-cream. Although they lose their colour a bit in the baking they’re such a treat.

It was my birthday at the weekend and as usual I made the Christmas cake with the help of my daughter Sam. It’s been our tradition to do it on or around my birthday. The kitchen smelled wonderful and it was a lot of fun. Here’s my recipe if you’re looking for one. I perfected it many years ago and we think it’s delicious. Be warned! It’s quite boozy.

Freda's Christmas Cake
I've listed the ingredients in the order that you use them to make it as simple as possible. The spirits can be used separately or mixed. I like a dash of brandy and rum together.
First, line a deep cake tin with a removable base with two layers of greaseproof paper. Line the sides first then cover the base and push it down inside to hold the side lining in place. This helps to keep the outside of the cake from over-cooking while it's baking.

50g Pecan Nuts
1 Orange
1 Lemon
100g Glace Cherries
2 lumps Stem Ginger
40g Candied Peel

Grind or chop the nuts into small pieces.
Grate the orange and lemon peel.
Finely chop the cherries, stem ginger and candied peel.

Heat the oven to 150C/130C fan oven. Gas mark 2.

4 large Eggs
225g Muscovado Sugar
240g Self-raising Flour
225g Sultanas
225g Raisins
230g Sunflower Oil
1 rounded teaspoon ground Cinnamon
1 rounded teaspoon ground Ginger
1 level teaspoon ground Cloves
half a teaspoon of Mixed Spice (optional)
2 tablespoons of Brandy or Rum

Put all ingredients, except the brandy or rum, into a large mixing bowl and mix thoroughly. 
Add spirits and mix again. Smells wonderful!
Put the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for one and three quarter hours.
Test with a skewer to make sure the centre is cooked. Should come out cleanly if it's ready.  Let it cool for a while then remove from the tin.
Allow to cool completely and rewrap in fresh greaseproof paper and store in an airtight tin.

Cream Sherry

After a couple of weeks, unwrap the top and prick all over with a sharp fork. Spoon sherry gently over the cake. Don't oversoak.
Repeat in another two or three weeks.
The sherry will make the cake moist and full of Christmas flavours.
I no longer ice my cake but you may want to do this.
Roll out marzipan to fit the top of the cake.
Brush the top of the cake with a little warmed jam; traditionally apricot but any smooth jam will do.
Place the marzipan on top then cover with Royal Icing or a ready made icing.

I hope you enjoy making and eating the cake as much as I do.

My lovely daughter gave me a basketful of goodies for my birthday. They were wrapped in lovely paper before I revealed the much appreciated gifts. Sweet treats, some pink fizz, Allium bulbs in a lovely bag she’d made, pretty little containers and a book I very much wanted to read. Happy Mum! She also made me a beautiful card drawn from one of my photos of Cosmos flowers. My lovely sister also made me a beautiful card of a wren she’d painted. I’m fortunate to have such creative ladies in my life.

I’ve finished knitting for a while. I’ve done a few Christmas gifts and just completed a little doll. I can’t honestly say I enjoyed making the doll! The needles were thin and sharp and it felt like hard work. Anyway, despite that I’m fairly pleased with the result and I hope some little person will love it.

That’s all this time. Much to do before Christmas. I hope your plans are going well and you’re enjoying them. with you again in two weeks. Bye for now.