and a bake off against my brother (not that we are at all competitive)

I am following Delia's recipe and have just weighed out the fruit and mixed peel and added brandy for it to soak over night, before baking it tomorrow. (recipe asked for 3 tablespoons of Brandy to be added now, and then extra for "feeding". I have put a touch more than the 3 tbs recomended.

More to follow just in case anyone is bored enough to want to know the progress of my cookery

When you bake it, have some water steaming in the oven

Just to be clear: Are you a virgin or have you just not made a christmas cake before?

Missing "both" option - school-boy error

I think the answer to Groomy's question is clear with the fact that there is not an "s" after the Virgin bit

Why?

Delia doesn't say to do it

I meant being a virgin and not having made a Christmas Cake before

Trust me the crust will be thinner......

I know what you meant re the virgin bit

(so I just put a mug of water or something in the oven on a different shelf to the cake tin)???

I use an ovenproof frying pan, with boiling water in, and top it up.

Man up guys - Sted will be along in a minute and he wont be happy

(thats a really good tip though)

Especially if you make bread\rolls\buns

and the Banana flat bread that I made a few weeks ag?

It's just gone into the oven! Supposed to be ready at 7pm ish.

Not bad for my first ever attempt? Almost even shape, atleast the marzipan and icing will hide that!

Are we mice or men here?
Men should NEVER EVER enter the boundry of the kitchen!!!!!!!

WON'T BE HAPPY! THAT'S FKN UNDERESTIMATING THINGS!

By putting water in the oven, you actually encourage crusting. Ask any baker!


And RichT...YA BIG PUFF!

That cake looks like a load of flys have kamikasied into one of my turds.

Get the wife to get down to Marks and Sparks to pick one up and step away from the kitchen!

how modern of you

What's Ainsley Harriets excuse, or was it just a ruse to get him to advertise Fairy Liquid

You lay massive logs then.....

tbh it was my aim to capture a load of flies, I think they will give it that extra bit of crunch, similar to adding water to the oven!

Mrs S cake-business has already started on this year's Christmas cakes. The real trick is to make sure the fruit is well-soaked before you start & cook it slowly.

Anyway, here's some piccies of last year's to try and compare with. http://www.bakedbeauties.co.uk/seasonal-cakes

Nice looking cakes from Mrs S there. Impressive.

Not sure what I am going to decorate the top with yet.

Cheers for the tip on soaking the fruit, I soaked the fruit in Brandy for 14 hours before making the cake.

Some nice designs there.

I would suggest at least 5 days if using sherry or brandy, giving it a good stir each evening. They make a nice vanilla fruit cake with vodka which you can soak for 1 night, but the longer you can soak, the better.


Thank you (although I always seem to get kicked out of the kitchen when the baking is going on)

... and here are the first batch for the local school Christmas fair. I wanted one to give to a colleague who kindly fixed my computer, and was made to buy one !!

Cakes look tasty and well presented. Are you going to make a FISO Christmas one?

I've asked Mrs S about this, and she said "No way", or words to that effect. Something about the FISO logo not being very Christmassy.

When it's my birthday in a few month's time, I'll ask again, although I'll probably have to buy it.

What about a cake instead?

it can be made Christmassy. Put some snow on top of the letters and some decorations. Make the little man hold up presents in his hands or make him into Santa.

Festive In Santa Outfit?

TBH, I stand more chance of a cake than anything else.