Christmas Cake

[Rhubarb]

Is a bit shit and no-one really likes it, they only say they do because it's traditional, but really they feed it to the dog or stuff it down your sofa when you're not looking.

I rather like it actually.

(actually I'm only posting here because I've just seen your 'boring thread' thread - guffaw!)

Very popular in our house - DD who will eat virtually nothing loves it!

i like it.

it's like eating a shot of brandy rather than drinking it.

Oh I loved the one I made last year. Very very nice .

Oh g-d- my friend's West Indian mum made he most amazing christmas cake ever- it was really moist and had stuff like dried soaked peaches and stuff. She adapted another recipe and I can honestly say it was gorgeous.
The secret being to soak the fruit in loads of alchohol- eg rum/brandy...yum...

northern, post recipe post recipe pleeeeeeeeeeease!!

Ours all gets eaten too. But only by the people who are not driving. Mucho rum to soak fruit before baking and then weekly top ups until Christmas! First top up was yesterday actually!

so that is why my sofa grows green fur each xmas.

HOW could I have been so dim.

ta rhuby, you have given me reprieve to never slave over xmas cake again.

Actually I make a very good Xmas cake. It's an Italian recipe, made primarily from ground almonds and walnuts - v little flour - soaked in amaretto and slathered in rich, dark chocolate. It is amazing, and I take no credit - the River Cafe girls published their recipe in the Guardian some years ago. Three cheers to River Cafe!

Heinz- there is no recipe- she was very evasive and said it was adapted and changed from several in her family.
I made a Nigella one I think- but added soaked fruit- peaches, figs, dates as well as the usual ones from the recipe- which I'd soaked for about a month in brandy, and I added extra ground almonds ( for moistness) and dark muscavado sugar.
It was really good- but my friend's mum's was the best and I can't replicate it.

What is it about people being so evasive about sharing good recipes? It's the Bree van der Kamp syndrome - I don't get it. What are they so blardy afraid of? Starting a culinary WW3? Why not just share the love, man?

I think she sort of made it up- an instinctual recipe. I have those- don't you- where you throw it in and it works, but it's never written. Half a cup and a tinsy bit more thing.
It was a kind of passed down famous family one this cake.
I'm really sorry tho' because it was fantasic... my mouth is watering just thinking about it...

i agree - xmas cake is trez shit - and i don't know of anyone personally that actually buyes, makes or eats xmas cake

Totally shit in my view. Gives you chronic indigestion as well as dealing with the tooth cracking icing!

We like a nicely decorated sponge cake and because DH rather likes fruit cake, I make a Dundee cake for him for New Year.

soapbox is eminantly sensible.