For my daughters, who are making their own Christmas cakes this year.
I stand on this lane, and what I want more than anything else in the world is to see your cars driving this way. But it is not to be. We must all keep to our own homes, until we’ve had a vaccine, which hopefully will be soon. I’m so proud of you both. Not a single complaint has been heard this year. Things have not been easy for you, but you’ve taken everything in your stride and met every challenge with courage and determination. I’m so heartened to see you have both turned into such capable young women. Keep strong, as I know you will. And look forward to the day when we can all be together again, around our table, with grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, celebrating all the occasions we’ve missed this past year. Love Mum xx
Grandma’s Christmas Cake Recipe
9″ loose bottom cake tin, 4″ deep
Baking paper to line. Foil for the top
Oven preheated at 140C
INGREDIENTS
1lb currants
6oz sultanas
6oz raisins
2oz glacé cherries, cut in half
2oz mixed peel
Soak all the above ingredient in 3tbsp brandy overnight.
8oz plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp mixed spice
2oz chopped or flaked almonds
2oz ground almonds
8oz soft brown sugar
1 tbsp black treacle ( run spoon under boiling water so treacle won’t stick)
8 oz unsalted butter or vegetable margarine (vegan)
4 eggs, or egg substitute (vegan) lightly beaten.
1 lemon rind
1 orange rind
METHOD
Sift flour, and all dry ingredients together.
Soften butter in microwave and mix with black treacle.
Mix all ingredients together using a wooden spoon.
Make a wish!
Spoon into the prepared cake tin and place a double layer of foil on top.
Cook for 3.5 – 4 hours and check with a skewer to see if it’s cooked. The skewer will come out clean if cooked. Cook for another 30 minutes if not ready. Leave in the tin to cool for several hours or overnight. Re-wrap with fresh foil and place in a tin in a cool dry place. You can ‘feed’ the cake with table spoons of Sherry or more brandy. Make holes with a skewer and drip the alcohol over.
This cake is best made in November, but will be fine make now and iced nearer to Christmas. Add ready rolled marzipan, icing and decorate.
Have a wonderful first Christmas in your own homes. Hopefully, you’ll remember all the happy times growing up here with simple pleasures. They are always the best.