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Original poster

Christmas cake recipe recommendations anyone?

39 replies

laa · 06/10/2005 14:11

I'm going to be really grown up this year and make my own. We're having our 1st family Christmas without relatives - and looking forward to it. I'm trying to find a great cake recipe. Has anyone made Nigella's or her Black Cake.

OP posts:
crunchie · 06/10/2005 14:24

YES!! The black cake is AMAZING!!! Well worth doing. Get the fruit marinating NOW My only complaint with this recipe was that you chop up and marinate a pile of fruit, then the recipe says - take half the fruit?? WTF

So the rest of mine continued to sit in it's alcohol bayh for another year It wqas even tastier then.

It is not as heavy as Christmas cake IMHO and really really moreish.

I also love her chocolate fruit cake, that is brilliant (from Feast I think, the others are DomGod)

A couple of years ago I worked my way through DomGod's christmas section, making everything from Cranberry curd, mincemeat to Black cake and her iced rum sauce It was all brilliant, this year I am going to do the chocolate christmas cake I think, the iced rum sauce (BETTER THAN BRANDY BUTTER IMHO) and maybe the mincemeat. We are not having christmas at home so no need.

Ooh and her Brined Turkey is great too, chuck it in a plastic bucket for a few days Again FEAST is teh book for that one.

Original poster
laa · 06/10/2005 14:27

Thanks Crunchie!! Tell me, are you being paid by Nigella!! Joking aside I do share your enthusiasm for her recipes and am glad the black cake is tasty cos I fancied making that one and her mincemeat. Witht the Black Cake it says to use mixed peel but not the usual - does she mean to use fruit peel off lemons and oranges or is this some mysterious chi-chi ingredient that I have to buy?? Also, would my kids like it or does it taste v.v. alcoholic?

OP posts:
LadySherlockofLGJ · 06/10/2005 14:31

Which book is the black cake in please ??

crunchie · 06/10/2005 14:39

I just used mixed peel I think, what does it ask for? You can buy mixed peel in sainsbury's near the raisins

BTW it is in the Domestic Goddess book (DomGod)

I am not in her employ but I love her recipes they have NEVER failed me and I read them like Gastro porn You have reminded me to check if MIL wants a cake at Christmas, or if I can try some other stuff. I did pretty much every Christmas recipe including pudding (which refused to go out as there was too much alcohol in it!!) The only things I didn't do were the marzipan things The Christmas morning muffins are also tradition now (well 3 years so far) and I love them with scrambled eggs and bucks fizz.

crunchie · 06/10/2005 14:40

Actually we should have a thread on brilliant christmas recipes

Original poster
laa · 06/10/2005 19:34

Crunchie, your house sounds fantastic at Christmas. Is the Dom God's mincemeat good? Have to agree that none of her recipes has ever failed me. Like the look of the mince pies too. I'm just really looking forward to establishing some of our own traditions. We had lots as a kid but DH didn't. It's only October but I'm sooo excited!

OP posts:
crunchie · 06/10/2005 20:16

OK I have now HAD to get my books out and they are so sticky The Black Cake I used normal mixed peel,the Christmas pudding was good, I kept topping it up with brandy prior to Christmas. The mincemeat was nice and fresh, not a gooey mess (reminds me I should make some with our apples soon). I made the Christmas decoration biscuits, they are yummy too

Monstersmum · 06/10/2005 20:24

Haven't got any Nigella books - which would you recommend particularly??

I have entire family (parents, 3 sisters with assorted husbands, fiances and children) coming TO STAY!!! I must be mad.

But getting excited and want to make some nice things.

SherlockLGJ - they are all coming from Coolock - except one sis who now lives in Trim!! Bringing Tayto crisps and Brennans sliced pan and Superquinn sausages too!

Never established which years you were in Virgo!!

LadySherlockofLGJ · 06/10/2005 22:42

Dahling I was a Holy Faith girl.

MrsSpoon · 06/10/2005 22:45

Fatening.

Caligula · 06/10/2005 22:52

The Delia Smith classic christmas cake is very good. And it lasts up to a year (I had a piece today - realised that as it's October, it's time to eat up last year's!)

TwinSetAndPearls · 07/10/2005 01:24

ooh I might have a go at the Nigella Cake, was going to start this weekend.

Caligula have you tried Dellia's boozy hot punch sauce that goes with her light Christmas pudding? Sheer heaven. I get tiddly on it every year and that is before it is out of the pan!

Monstersmum · 07/10/2005 06:49

Ah - sorry Sherlock - I think you did mention you were Holy Faith! Getting on a bit and the brain cells are dying off (wine helps kill them I
find!).

What years?? I'm sure we know some people in common although TBH I haven't kept up with anyone from school. Found out through Friends Reunited that someone is planning a reunion next year as we will be 25 YEARS out of school - scary! I still feel about 25 (instead of the 41 I am in RL!).

The Delia Xmas cake IS good - I made it a few years ago.

donnie · 07/10/2005 07:54

could any lovely mumsnetter give the recipe for Nigella's black cake here? sounds like I ought to give it a whirl.....thanks in advance xxxxx

MrsGordonRamsay · 07/10/2005 08:04

oh thanks Donnie I didnt like to ask.

MrsGordonRamsay · 07/10/2005 08:06

O'Donohoe A M

That is it really, went to school with a girl called Patricia Byrne who left HF at 12 and went to Virgo.

MrsGordonRamsay · 07/10/2005 08:14

Turnbull K

Louise Finnegan some one or other very dark hair.(That is going to bug me)

The twinnies Tonlagee Road only knew them briefly.

Went out very briefly with Steins P.

And even more briefly with Keenan B, I was doing my leaving so my mother knocked that one on the head.

crunchie · 07/10/2005 09:13

I'll post the black cake late tonight, at work now with no recipe

Monstersmum Nigellas books are great, my fave is Domestic Goddess - which is purely baking, jam making and 'treat' type cooking, not proper meals. How to Eat is fab for menus/meal planning and basics. Forever Summer is just that, salads, pasta and BBQ. FEAST is for special occassion cooking, full of celebrations. There is a good deal on Feat at teh Book People (£9.99 I think). I have favourite recipes in each book.

crunchie · 07/10/2005 09:14

Oh and for all those who don't want a hugely boozy Christmas cake, Nigella does an amazing Chocolate Fruit cake which is wonderful, kids like it too. So I'll dig that out too.

MrsGordonRamsay · 07/10/2005 09:40

Crunchie, are you still doing the rooms for the Christmas do ???

crunchie · 07/10/2005 09:52

YES. I was going to call the hotel and provisionally book for 12 people - 2 twins and 2 quads. I'll post back the costs etc and we can go from there.

MrsGordonRamsay · 07/10/2005 09:54

Goodo

Monstersmum · 07/10/2005 10:25

MrsGordonRamsay!!! I am confused - are you also SherlockLGJ?? Help?

Was in same class as Louise Finnegan all through primary and secondary. Lived around corner from Tonlegee - which twins - Cullens or Fitzpatricks??

Paul Stynes???? Lived 5 doors away from him - I hate a total HATE relationship with his younger brother - I still have the scars! His younger sis and my sis were good friends!

Monstersmum · 07/10/2005 10:27

Crunchie - thanks for the details - off to Amazon now! I live overseas so find they are the most reliable re delivery.

MrsGordonRamsay · 07/10/2005 12:46

Monster Mum

I think we need to take this on MSN

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