How often are you feeding your Xmas cakes?

[expatinscotland]

last year i fed it too much and it was almost too boozy.

this year, i'm trying every other week.

the fruit didn't soak as long, either, before cakes baked.

[expatinscotland]

i have three cakes and one loaf tin Xmas cake for slicing and putting in gift bags.

one cake will go back with my mother to the US.

one will go to the ILs.

one is for us.

i also have the mincemeat soaking with some of the fruit i had leftover from the cakes, although i bought hte micemeat ready-prepared. i like to whip up some shortcrust pastry in the food processor and then make mincemeat pies as gifts or just to nibble

[jangly]

I think if you feed it too often it can make it "pudding-y". I would think feed it 3 times in all.

[expatinscotland]

i've only fed them once, but they're due another feed if i stick to every other week.

they're in their tins and the mincemeat is a jar.

[expatinscotland]

thanks, jang.

think i'll hold off then.

[fairylights]

ooh i made mine last week and was only going to feed them twice before christmas! Thats what i did last year and they turned out really well.. but maybe i am being stingey and they would be better with more nourishment..

[BEAUTlFUL]

You've made it already? I was going to do that, but read in a maguerite Patten book that the ideal time to make them was 6 weeks before. Usually I do them in Sept, but this year I'm waiting till November 2nd.

After that, I'll give it 2 doses of booze. And 6 for the cook. hic

[TigerFeet]

How much do you put on each time?

Am christmas cake making novice

[Winebeforepearls]

expat, even Delia doesn't start til end October. Please stop me feeling inadequate

[expatinscotland]

yes but Delia isn't due a baby on Halloween, either.

[expatinscotland]

TF i poke them with a bamboo skewer and drizzle in a few tablespoons of brandy.

[Winebeforepearls]

ah, fair enough.

[lizziemun]

I feed them (4 large and 3 small) about once a month.

[shhhh]

I have never made a christmas cake.. come on..who wants to tell me how and what to do...

[SheSellsSeashellsByTheSeashore]

my mum makes mine they are very nice. i must learn how to make them myself, what is this feeding you speak of?

[stinkymonkey]

Feeding is poking in a skewer/cake tester and dribbling in some brandy.

I must be a real lush, ours gets fed at least once a fortnight from now till Xmas, sometimes more. Usually this is DH's job. One year I assumed he wasn't doing it as he was v busy, so I fed it as well. Turned out we were both doing it and the cake was positively lethal that year.

[jangly]

expatinscotland - I love the bamboo skewer! What happened to knitting needles? I thought knitting was making a comeback.

[jangly]

BEAUTlFUL - Marguerite Patten is actually the true, and one and only, Goddess of cooking.

[expatinscotland]

i actually got the bamboo skewer idea from here!

and the recipe for the cake.

as a foreigner, however, it's my goal to perfect the art of the Xmas cake.

not too boozy, not too dry.

fortunately, this house we are in just now has a utility room which was once an old coal shed. it's the perfect temp for storing the cakes and keeping them a bit damp maintaining their moisture.

[TigerFeet]

Hmm

should they be kept fairly cool then, during the feeding phase?

We have a shed that's dry and not as warm as the kitchen. Woudl that be OK d'you think?

[jangly]

Best kept cool -and- dry. Damp not good - encourages mouldiness. Under the bed in spare unheated bedroom if you have one is good, or in the bottom of the wardrobe in a cool bedroom.

[expatinscotland]

yeah, not too damp.

just right is the utility room.

i kept them in there last year and they were perfect.

[expatinscotland]

i keep mine in: a wrapping of greaseproof, a layer of foil over that, then in an old Roses tin.

[mymama]

I made mine last week. I feed it every 2 weeks with ONE tablespoon of brandy drizzled over. Usually turns out perfect.

[chelsce]

I made mine the other day but the colour doesnt look as brown as the ones Ive had from the shops? Im a complete novice at this so advice would be good. As Im feeding it it is getting more colourful? Kel