help with xmas baking

mardatha

I want to bake a load for the family at xmas. Shortbread, rock buns, fairy cakes, fifteens, maybe mince pies, etc. For each of my 3 kids to share round their kids, made up nicely in baskets with tissue paper and doilies. I don't know how early I can make them...how long will they keep ?
Plus if I do them too early we will eat them all ...:D

nannaC

Hi, you could bake both mince pies & fairy cakes as they can both be frozen. All my recepies for shortbread say store in airtight tin so these will probably last for about a week [or 2 days in nannaC's house], sorry cant find my recipie for rock cakes but as I seem to remember they are quite high flour-fat mixture so probably best made fresh. Have you thought of making turkish delight, it is quite simple [will try to find my recipie] but very spectacular, as are truffles, fudge again not very hard but very moorish [I know to my cost as years ago when my three were all at senior school I used to make these for the Christmas fair. I made them in advance then stored them in tins hidden away, except for the year that when I went to the tins, they were empty inside were notes saying thanks MUM:eek: . Apparently my sweets were so popular my darlings!!!!!!!!!!!! had already done a roaring trade selling them at school I later found that it was to their teachers, this gem was passed on to me sometime later at a training day [I too used to teach].

luckys_mum

Hi Mardatha, How about making the pastry and shortbread dough now. Cut out all the shapes you will need and then freeze them. This could help spread the preparation time. Just defrost them for an hour or so before you want to bake them.

mardatha

Do you know ...I am SO dozy I didnt even THINK of freezing ! Thanks ! xxx And isnt that weird, I was just thinking that I wished I could make turkish delight....then thought "oh you cant make that", and decided to go to I[URL="file://\\celand"]celand[/URL] and buy some !! A recipe would be great, ta x

Rikki

Turkish Delight recipe

nannaC

here are another two
http://www.waitrose.com/recipe/BTC%E2%80%99s_Turkish_Delight.aspx
http://www.mydish.co.uk/recipe/942/turkish_delight_by_helgs

appologies nannaC's showing off as I have found the link button;)

Also just unearthed my foolproof truffle recipe here goes
2oz plain chocolate
2 tablespoons fresh double cream
1teaspoon vanilla essence or rum, or sherry
8oz sifted icing sugar
Choc vermicelli/cocoa powder

break up choc into basin standing over a pan of hot water[ make sure basin bottom does not touch water].
Leave to melt stirring once or twice
Add cream and essence /rumsherry. Gradually stir in icing sugar
Mix well. transfer mixture to plate. Leave to cool until firm enough to handle [about 1 1/2 hours]
Roll equal amounts of mixture into balls [approx 18]
Toss half in vermicelli half in cocoa powder.
Transfer to little paper cases [optional]

I
use thevalue plain choc as surprisingly it is higher in cocoa solids than more expensive store/branded choc.

mardatha

Ohmigod. I Am Soooo Going To Regret Clicking On These Links !!
But Am Doin It Anyway !

nannaC

mardatha wrote: »

Ohmigod. I Am Soooo Going To Regret Clicking On These Links !!
But Am Doin It Anyway !

Hi Sis in Law
Me too after unearthing my old truffle recipe I had to make some didnt I, found some left over sherry, am now feeling a bit green :rotfl: but they were soooooooooooooooooooo good.

Misty_Blue

I just decided I am going to do some Christmas baking as well!

NannaC - Is it cooking chocolate or just ordinary chocolate for those truffles? Going to give them a go.

nannaC

Misty_Blue wrote: »

I just decided I am going to do some Christmas baking as well!

NannaC - Is it cooking chocolate or just ordinary chocolate for those truffles? Going to give them a go.

Hi Misty Blue, ordinary Choc is fine, use the supermarkets value plain choc because as well as being cheaper it is also higher in cocoa solids.

Misty_Blue

Fantastic, thank you. I'll pick up the stuff tomorrow.