Wondering what it was I managed to pull it out from the other odds and ends, and to my amazement I saw it was the beginning of an Amarilyis. I haven’t watered it all winter in fact I forgot it was even there. It’s grown bigger and bigger by the day and I’m sure by next week it will be a beautiful flower.
Moist Christmas cake
As promised I have a great traditional Christmas cake recipe for you. Now’s the time to get it baked so you can give it a weekly dose of brandy! The recipe is taken from an old cookery book, The Snowflake Book of Baking.
Ingredients
750g fruit cake mix
125g pitted dates, finely chopped
200g halved glacé cherries
50g chopped pecan nuts or walnuts
125ml brandy
250g butter
200g brown sugar
5 eggs
15ml smooth apricot jam
280g cake flour
1ml salt
3ml nutmeg
3ml ground cinnamon
5ml mixed spice
5ml ginger
3ml bicarb soda
Method
- Mix cake mix, dates, cherries, nuts and brandy together and leave overnight. I cover the bowl with a clean tea towel.
- Cream butter and sugar together and add eggs; beat well after each addition until light and fluffy. Add jam and fruit mixture, mixing well.
- Add sifted dry ingredients and mix well.
- Line a 20cm square cake tin with two layers brown paper or greaseproof paper. Grease well, turn mixture into tin and level the top of cake with a spatula. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 150c for two and quarter hours.
- Test centre of cake with a skewer. If baked, skewer will come out clean.
- Allow to cool completely in tin, brushing the cake with brandy which will soften the surface of the cake. Turn out and remove lining. Sprinkle with brandy; seal with plastic warp.
- Store in a cool place. Sprinkle brandy over once a month.
To be honest I think I would sprinkle brandy over every two weeks as Christmas isn’t that far off and I love a very moist cake. If you run out of brandy or do not wish to use it, substitute pure apricot juice. It preserves just as well.
I’ll give you the marzipan and icing recipes closer to Christmas.
Focus on Local
Rona’s Coffee Place is owned by Rona and Julius Schmidt and you’ll find this great eating place in Rifle Range Garden Centre in Haddon. It’s been open for eight years and is loved by all its regulars.
You can enjoy tasty breakfasts, toasted sandwiches, open sandwiches, lite bites, salads, hamburgers as well as delicious cakes and tarts, coffees and teas.
Every Sunday Rona has a Sunday Roast for R65 per person. Booking is definitely recommended for this. You’ll also find daily specials.
Book a birthday party, baby shower or anniversary celebration. Rona is very accommodating and will go out of her way to make sure your special occasion is very special!
The atmosphere is very homely and some of the décor has been given by Rona’s clients from their travels, making it an interesting coffee shop too.
Bookings are recommended at weekends if you would like a table for six or more. Open seven days a week from 08:00 to 16:00. Phone 011 683 4660
Bouquet of the Week
Sheila Milton, Ormonde sent this bouquet. “On Tuesday September 30 I was trying to avoid a Quantum taxi and had to swerve right to avoid him bumping my car, but unfortunately my right front tyre connected the kerb of the island in Booysens Road at the corner of Wepener and bang, I suffered a blow out. I had to try and limp to the left hand side of busy Booysens Road with an extremely noisy rim gradually being disintegrated. A very kind gentleman told me to get to the McDuling’s Motors forecourt, to which he followed me and immediately got out of his car (a red Suzuki), told me his name is Bafana and asked me if he could change the tyre for me!
I am so sorry I didn’t ask him for more than his name so that I could subsequently communicate with him but through your column, I would like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to Bafana. You were a God-send.”
Christmas goodies
Yes, every week from now you’ll be seeing more and more coming into the shops. Try and stock up on non-perishable goods, this will save time later when you are running around at the last minute.
Always check the sell by dates though, even when purchasing tinned foods. Take a spare cupboard or section of a cupboard and turn it into your ‘Christmas treat space’. It’s fun watching it fill up too!
E-mail your shopping news, juliem@caxton.co.za or give me a call 011 724 7000.
Shop till you drop.
Julie
