I'm not sure how things came together, but in between the chaos of the phones ringing constantly for three days and an endless procession of people in and out and through our house, I managed to decorate the cake and make (with a little help from my Mum) some mince pies.My Italian Renaissance fruity extravaganza just seemed to happen unplanned! Using things that I found in the kitchen cupboard and some marzipan fruit I bought from a local sweet shop all stuck together and glazed with home-made crab apple jelly. It needed something else – Bay leaves trimmed off the branches we'd cut for decorations and ready to use in the kitchen; Mum had the idea of dipping the leaves in egg-white left over from the pastry making and then in crushed preserving sugar and drying them in a low oven. I found a scrunched up piece of ribbon, after ironing it was just right for the finishing touch!
The big lesson I've learnt this week is that Christmas happens whether you've stressed over comparing Delia's recipe with Nigella's or not. The goose is cooking and I've delegated vegetable preparation to others – so, cheers everyone! Here's to a peaceful and happy Christmas Day.
Hope the cake tastes as good as it looks :-)
beautiful cake! & a merry & bright day for you & yours!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day, Margaret
ReplyDeleteHappy Christmas and best wishes for a fabulous 2009.
ReplyDeleteReally looking forward to the pickled walnut challenge!
Ooh, looks like a yummy delicacy... and complicated to make. Peace and joy!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, the cake looks fantastic, enjoy your festivities.
ReplyDeleteCelia, the cake looks amazing! Happy Christmas to you and yours (furred and feathered and feather/furr-less alike).Christmas just wouldn't be the same without mince pies - I must try making them one year - yours look delicious.
ReplyDeleteWow, that cake looks fantastic. Merry Christmas Celia.
ReplyDeleteAnd it does look wonderful - better than either Delia's or Nigella's!
ReplyDeleteHope you had a wondrous day.
Wow, your cake looks too beautiful to eat! Hope you are all having a good Christmas.
ReplyDeleteBelated Christmas greeting from me too. Having a small pause between guests. I love your cake - I don't like icing so that's just the job!
ReplyDeleteThat is a wonderful cake!
ReplyDeleteThat looks beautiful - it really does look like a cake Fra Angelico might paint. Glad things calmed down a little - sorry I've been out of touch - flu and fevers at this end throughout the Christmas period - not out of the woods yet. See you soon I hope, Emma x
ReplyDeleteThat is a stunning cake!
ReplyDeleteHope you had a great Christmas, and here's to a fabulous 2009!
Happy Christmas = did your cake taste as beautiful as it looked?
ReplyDeleteCHarlotte
Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas Celia. You are so right... it comes and it goes whether everything is done and no matter how stressed we are so might as well relax and enjoy! That was my attitude when the oven exploded! Very best wishes to you for a happy and healthy 2009.
ReplyDeleteThat cake is beautiful. I hope you had a good Christmas and I wish you a very Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteYes, it tastes as good as it looks! A few slices left :-)
ReplyDeleteCelia
x