I’ve been REALLY good whittling down my lists and inboxes the past few weeks trying to get to the end of year deadline so I can have some time off and try to embrace “Holiday Beth” who the family loves! As I mentioned in my podcast this week with Neighbour, everyone in my family loves Holiday Beth…she reads instead of spending time online, she doesn’t clean or wash as much, she is much more chilled out and on occasion is even known to put out!
So, anyway, the lists. The work ones are getting smaller, the big master list of home and family stuff seems to be pending till 2016 but there is one that is getting added to daily: THE CHRISTMAS LIST. This list is actually making me woozy, there’s the whole present buying stuff, the what are we going to eat on Christmas day (must order ham et all at the butcher), what the tablescape will be (important stuff) and this week…my #onething…make the bloody Christmas cake already Beth!
For those of you not playing along, #onething is where I do just ONE THING from my to-do list, but not your every day to-do list. Oh no, this is the list of non essential items that sort of kind of need to get done but it’s no biggie if they don’t get done until next week, or next month, or um, next year. Those things. Just one. Every week.
I had been soaking the fruit for this for a few weeks and laziness and busyness got in the way (much to the benefit of the cake I see) and that cake remained uncooked, unmade, mocking me every time I looked at the kitchen bench.
So this week? I went and made it! I did. You can too – here is the recipe. It’s not too late, don’t get yourself worked up that you should have been soaking your fruit since 2011 or made it 6 weeks ago, there’s time. It’s still good. Do it.
The only problem with it, is that I’ll be making another one at this rate because it’s just about gone.
What was your one thing this week?
Started on the fruit mince tart/Christmas cake slippery slope like me?
Ordered your ham?
Go choose something, right now, just have a look around and there will be something waiting…
So good you posted this today as I am actually doing this today!
Excellent work!
thanks for the recipe beth! ,,, betty would love it! … (my mum)
she always did all of the xmas baking!
that cake will be lovely and moist after soaking for that time! yum!
one job achieved this week hun!
painted my bedside cupboards and and another chest of drawers!
i’m chuffed with myself! … soo much fresher! YES!
like you say loving myself sick! … funny!
lol m:)X
Oh your Mum is Betty? That’s what my family call me!
Gosh your posts make me laugh Beth…even though I don’t always comment. Your cake looks delicious. I need to order ham, one batch of fruit mince pies down but I need to make more. Even been known to put out…I certainly need to put this on my chilled-out-holiday to do list!? Happy Sunday to you x
Ha! Thanks Jane. It can be at the very bottom of your chilled out holiday list, that said, it could make you even more chilled out?!
My Nan makes our Christmas cakes. She cooks one each for all the female members of our family {and that sure is a lot of cakes}. She only just passed on the recipe to my Mum last Christmas – and even though Mum followed the recipe to the letter, it wasn’t as good as Nan’s {we think it might have been because Nan has a gas oven and Mum’s is electric}.
I bet you’ll never get it as good! Wonderful Shari!
I’m pretty sure, if you soaked the fruit overnight in brandy, you’d still get a great result – just add an extra slosh! I made my pudding yesterday and its a ripper!
Agree – just soak it in as much booze as you can and it will still be tasty!
Your Christmas cake looks amazing. My cake baking skills are below par. But my Turkey baking skills are pretty awesome :). I started on a one thing over the weekend – sorting through my kids art work for the year pile. I haven’t finished yet.
I can do ONE good turkey recipe…made it a few years ago and it’s the best thing I’ve ever cooked I reckon. Might get a run again this year!
Hi Beth
Can we get you turkey recipie
Will see if I cam find it…and will blog it x
Just whipped up this cake today using your recipe but my bake is burnt. Any ideas why? Maybe too high up in the oven. It smells delish just a little on the toasty side.
Sorry my cake is burnt
You know when I made this last week I took it out at 2.5 hours and it was well and truly done…a little on the dry side. I poured a whole heap of extra sherry over it which made a little difference. I think my oven was a little hot (I had it on fan forced) so while I don’t want to mess with Glad’s recipe I reckon it’s more like 2-2.5 hours rather than 3. Sorry about that!
I love Christmas cake,but the problem is nobody else does so I eat it All x
Me too Lisa!