Christmas Cake!

Hi cake lovers

I really can't believe it's been 6 months since I logged into my blogpage!

I have been very busy with my grandchildren and have just recently renewed my passion for baking again, mainly inspired, I must say, by The Great British Bake Off TV series.  It set me thinking how I would love to be able to cook perfect pastry, something I've never quite mastered!  I would also love to bake a tiered wedding cake but it's quite a responsibility.  My youngest son's girlfriend always maintains she will get me to bake their wedding cake and I am secretly hoping I will one day get the opportunity to do so.

Last weekend I decided to try my hand at baking bread and rolls which seemed to come out quite well.  It's years since I baked bread but I had a crack at cinnamon rolls, sweet bread and a plain white loaf.  On reflection I think I made far too much but it didn't go to waste as I made a couple of lovely bread and butter puds with the remainder once going slightly stale (which is traditionally called for!).  The bread and butter puds were lovely (I'm not usually a fan) and I think this was due to the nice consistency of the home made breads.  It didn't hang around for long!

I have in the meantime turned my hand to baking this year's Christmas cake; another thing I haven't done in many years.  I did bake the mini Christmas cakes last year for a fete but this is a nice big 9" round dense rich fruit cake with quite a lot of grand marnier, not one for the children!  It smells delicious at this 'feeding' stage and I am really looking forward to adding the marzipan and icing.  I'm still deciding on my final icing: royal or fondant.  Fondant looks very neat and tidy but I love creating a snow scene with the peaks of royal icing.

All for now cake lovers

Watch out for Christmas cake pictures as it develops :)