Christmas Baking Part One

December has been so busy work wise I haven’t had much brain capacity for blogging. I have a few ideas I hope to execute before the new year, but in the mean time here is something delicious to look at.

The batter certainly tasted yummy, but frankly I made this cake just because I thought it was picturesque and it reminded me of something Mrs. Bridges might have made or something the Schlegels may have had when Leonard Bast showed up to tea unexpectedly. Or just about any other cosy tea in English fiction you can think of.

And for something even more seasonal, you can head over to Lucy’s Forever Home, and see the house dressed for Christmas (and Lucy).

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Using the 9″ parchment round to decide whether I am going to do a random pattern or something more formal. I went for random.

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Planning my next step.
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I don’t drink coffee, but my photographer does.

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Dried currants, sultanas, dried cranberries, chopped dried apricots, orange zest, whole blanched almonds, slivered blanched almonds, eggs.
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Recipe called for Cognac, I had to settle for Armagnac
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Warming up the Armagnac.
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Dried fruit gets added.
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Steeps in the warm Armagnac for 30 minutes.

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I had the hardest time finding blanched whole almonds. I ended up having to blanch and peel them myself. It was not only easy, but it was fun.

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4 thoughts on “Christmas Baking Part One

  1. biggardenblog December 24, 2016 / 3:07 pm

    [Jonathan & Denise] Mmmm! Save a slice for each of us – we’ll be round shortly with a bottle of Laophraig. ;~) Nollaig Cridheil, agus Bliadhnah Ur Mhath!

    Like

  2. sharkell December 24, 2016 / 3:09 pm

    Merry Christmas Thomas

    Like

  3. travellinpenguin December 25, 2016 / 12:03 am

    This post is so good you could send it to a magazine. Looks very good.

    Like

  4. Brona December 25, 2016 / 5:38 am

    You are a legend! That looks delicious – merry Christmas to you and yours 🎄

    Like

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