Old Style Christmas Preparations for Christmas 2013

alfsmum

For some reason I was thinking about Christmas cake at six o'clock this morning:rotfl: we walk our dogs pretty early and my mind tends to wander as we walk round so I was planning what I needed to do today, make a fruit cake, wash jars ready for jam making and so on, and it occurred to me that I'd better start looking out for offers on dried fruit etc for the Christmas cake. Tosco do a three for two on baking every now and then, so that might be worth keeping an eye on.

Also got two x two pound coins in my change today, first ones in a while to add to the stash :j

quidsy

I soak my fruit in 500mls of rum for 3 weeks in July then bake the cake early August, then bleed it with the remaining 500ml rum until 2 weeks before Christmas. It is recommended not to drive after a piece. lol

nitnurse-not2

Maddywaddy- I have a spreadsheet on net book and a notebook!:D I really need to be organised. :j:j:jAs well as gifts I list my ingredients needed for special meals – (Printed out on an Excel spreadsheet!!!! ):beer::beer::beer: It has been said I am a tad anal!!!:o:o:o:o

Hi all,


Quidsy- I once did popcorn and dried orange slices with my children. We threaded them on twine and sprayed them gold.:j:j:j:j They were so cool and I strung them on the Christmas tree. :):):)The next morning I arose to lengths of twine minus the popcorn.:mad::mad::mad::mad: Our dog had stripped it from the tree and ate the popcorn:eek::eek::eek::eek:. She produced golden flecked poo for three days….:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:Lke the goose that laid the golden egg!!!!:beer:
PS My Christmas cake is also lethal!!!


OMO…. A nice timely reminder of links.:D:D:D:D Thanks

Mojoworking

Hi could you do a running commentary on here please quidsy of what you need to buy for an xmas cake and each time you add the rum so I can mimic it please. I've always wanted to do one but not had the confidence.

I got at owl salt and pepper set from b and m for £2 this will be for DD's brown owl who is also a friend!

quidsy

nitnurse-not2 - lol, gold flecked poo. We have a cat but he would probably not lower himself to eat anything on a tree being a stuck up spoiled prince. My actual son on the other hand probably would eat it, gold spray n' all. haha.

mojoworking: I will start a Christmas cake post just for you once I have the stuff. It really is simple but one thing you do need, before you start is a large deep cake tin, I bought mine from tesco, a square one, it was about £8 last year but I'm sure if you wanted to , you could find cheaper elsewhere.

CountingPennies

quidsy wrote: »

mojoworking: I will start a Christmas cake post just for you once I have the stuff. It really is simple but one thing you do need, before you start is a large deep cake tin, I bought mine from tesco, a square one, it was about £8 last year but I'm sure if you wanted to , you could find cheaper elsewhere.

Ohh can i pinch it too??

MrsChristmas

Thank you andthethreebears for that idea. By swapping our regular, everyday bathroom linen for Christmas colours during the festive season, I'll save money in the long run because I'll just pack them away until the following year & years after that.... ...

I HAVE ordered a Christmas shower curtain from China! It was about £11, free p&p (cheaper than the uk!) & was paid for using the pennies I'd built up selling clutter so it hasn't cost me anything, although I've never ordered something from China before, hope it arrives Ok. Still have a few weeks to wait before I'll know.
The curtain has holly, berries & wreaths over it so I've decided to accessorize the rest of the bathroom in red. Red towels, soaps, shampoos & a small red gingham lined basket filled with a festive pot pourri (idea from the american youtube video).Obviously this will mean an initial spend but I'm hoping to reuse it all for many years to come, I think even the pot pourri can be bagged back up & reused.

carlamarie I love the advent calender fillings ideas. My DDs are going to love it

Valli

*subscribes*

clare64

Thanks Cannyquine I never thought of that!!.
If I make these wheat bags for us ( for microwave use only!) is it cracked wheat that you use or can your use rice?
Many thanks
Clare

mum2one

This is the recipie I use for Xmas cake - start buying the dried fruit from June, as most people start Sept, (I use value dried fruit and never had a problem).

Ingredients

500g mixed fruit
500g sultanas
500g currants
250g glace cherries
200ml rum,brandy or sherry
290g plain flour
2 tsp ground mixed spice
225g butter
225g soft brown sugar
5 large eggs
zest of 1 med orange
zest of 1 lemon
150g ground almonds.

Utensils etc
Large mixing bowl
string
baking paper
deep 23 cm cake tin / square or round depending on shape.

Method.

1. Put all the dried fruit (bar cherries), in a large mixing bowl, add liquor, (you can use orange juice instead).

2. Cover with clingfilm, leave for 24 hrs stirring ocassionally.

3. Line the tin with 3 layers of baking paper, wrap outsides with double layer, of brown paper. Preheat over to Gas 2, 150C or 130C if fan oven.

4. Rinse the cherries in warm water, pat dry with kitchen paper. Cut each one in half,

5. Sift the flour and mixed spice together, (use seperate bowl),

6. Cream butter and sugar together, beat in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition and adding a tablespoon of flour mix with each one.

7. Finely grate the zest of the orange + lemon, stir into the creamed mixture.

8. Stir in the rest of the flour mix, ground almonds, cherries and the dried fruit + alcohol mix. Mix well.

9. Put mixture into desired tin, pat top with damp fingertips.

10. Bake for 1 hour, reduce oven temperature to 140C / 120C (fan oven), gas 1 and bake for a further 3 hours or until a skewer in centre comes out clean.

Can cover tops with foil if browning too quickly.

11. Remove cake from cake tins, and cool completely on a rack, (leave baking paper on)

12. wrap in foil and store in a tin,

( to feed the cake I used a thin knitting needle and poked some holes in it, and then pour the whisky/rum/brandy over it and then reseal)

I even used the recipie for my parents golden wedding party and everyone loved the cake. xx