Ta-Dah!

Here it is, as promised....

Don't worry- I did wash the holly first LOL.

The Smell Of Christmas*

Some readers may recall last year I had a go at baking a Christmas cake based on the Delia Smith kit sold in a well known supermarket. If you need to, you can refresh your memory here and here LOL.

Now if ever there was an example of how imitation is one of the best forms of flattery, may I present exhibit "A" below?

All that's missing from this image is 170g of unsalted butter.















At £10 (the same price Delia's was offered for last year) you can understand that I couldn't refuse the chance to give it go. And in fact it requires fewer additional ingredients; how can I go wrong? It's in the oven now and should be finished after 3 and a half hours at a relatively low heat, so a couple more to go. There's whole almonds in the mix so I'm thinking this year perhaps I might leave it totally plain and adorn it with some holly from the garden...

Either way I might post an image later as it cools. Do check back soon to see how it went.


18 Oct Reading 2 - 2 Derby
22 Oct Reading 1 - 1 Southampton

* Don't you just love the smell of spices and mixed fruit that has been soaked in a generous portion of Brandy? I know I do LOL.

Cake Challenge

Dad has (finally) finished baking his Delia Smith cake and (even more finally) got round to emailing me an image. Let the bake off begin!

Dad's cake, with added Walnut-ness!

My effort, in case you need reminding.















I think on balance his looks better although I do suspect he had some help. Sour grapes, me? Never LOL!

Next up: in a couple of weeks, the taste challenge...

Pros And Cons

One of the pleasant things about foreign travel is that you get to try new foods. Sometimes the experience is not so good but often you find the new delicacy is just too yummy for words.

One of the disadvantages of travel is getting home and finding those new (and addictive) food items available in your very own local supermarket. Never kind on the waistline LOL.

Does anyone know where I can locate Lamingtons?











At least I can console myself I've made a modest contribution to British and Commonwealth veteran's charities. The diet will start when the packet is finished. Maybe LOL.

Bake Off

I seem to have got a little carried away this weekend and challenged Dad to a Christmas Cake bake-off.

Let me explain. Some readers may recognise British TV chef Delia Smith. She's very popular and has been around a good while; she has pretty much been responsible for teaching this nation that good quality cooking can be simple and fairly straightforward. Such is her influence that when Delia recommends an exotic sounding ingredient or some new kitchen gadget on her show or in one of her books, you can bet the shops will sell out.

This year in conjunction with a well known supermarket she has launched a version of her popular traditional festive cake- all the main ingredients weighed out and ready, all in one handy take home bag. At only £10 (about 15 USD) it's a bit too tempting. The currants, sultanas and other fruit are even pre-soaked in Brandy! All you then have to do is add some fresh items, follow the instruction sheet to mix and put in the oven for 4-ish hours on a low heat.



















So there I was yesterday afternoon part way through following the recipe when Dad called for a chat. One thing led to another and the next thing I knew I had challenged him to give it a go too.


My effort came out of the oven at around 8pm last night and can be seen in the image below. I'm not a hugh fan of icing and marzipan; I decorated with almonds instead, sort of like a Dundee cake I guess. I emailed a picture to Dad so if he dares to try himself and sends me the proof, I will post an image for comparison. Maybe we'll even get a sample each come Christmas. Only six weeks to go til the big day, dontchaknow.

The fruit hasn't all risen to the top, it's a trick of the light.















10 Nov
Reading 1 - 1 Cardiff

13 Nov
Reading 3 - 3 Norwich

Sir Terry

Today Terry Pratchett was knighted by the Queen for his services to literature. Sir Terry has also been leading a campaign for awareness of Alzheimer's disease, having been recently diagnosed himself. Well done Terry, you deserve it!


Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II honours Terry, in a rare image of the author without his trademark hat LOL.







Oh and well done me, 300 Blog Posts today. Cake anyone LOL?

Party

One party entertainer, lots of cake and 18 children. 'Nuff said LOL.

Five

Forget the so-called most powerful man in the world, the most important boy in the world (at least to me) celebrated his fifth birthday today. He's all grown up now LOL. Chocolate cake all round!

Four C's Sunday

Cake- Carrot and Walnut, mmm.

Coffee- Monsooned Malabar medium dark roast.

Chat- Witty, lively and intelligent.

Cinema- Angelina Jolie in Changeling, gripping stuff.










Points will be awarded for correctly identifying the frost-covered sticks above LOL.

Pie Time!

You know I like food. There's no getting away from it or denying the matter and one of the best things about Christmas time (apart from the roast Turkey, Christmas Cake, Christmas Pudding etc) is this:














Mince Pies. What sums up Winter and Christmas in particular better than a warm Mince Pie? Well perhaps two warm ones. I love 'em and can't get enough so it's just as well the shops are now stacked high with the things. Excellent! For any out-of-towners I'd better explain these are a sweet pie usually stuffed full to the sugar dusted crust with Sultanas, Apple, Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Orange. Or so the packet tells me.

The only downside being that if I keep on eating them I may well get large enough to don the red coat and give the Fat Man himself a run for his money during the festive period.

On another note, I forgot to mention last week I bumped into S the younger sister of A, the family friend you may recall recently discovered she has quite advanced Breast Cancer. Well she's doing OK, keeping her spirits up and trying to remain positive. She's now had two chemo treatments, with more to follow. S told me that obviously at the back of her mind is the fact my mum didn't make it in the end. I'm afraid I had to agree but pointed out mum had 13 good, Cancer free years and that we all have to be grateful for every day God has given us on this planet.

Where Did Christmas Go?

Our local Asda (Walmart for any out-of-towners) is now selling Hot Cross Buns.

OK so Dad couldn't resist and I ended up "helping him out" but these are an Easter food. Did we just skip Christmas and go straight to Spring? Where's my present-filled stocking? What happen to kissing under the Mistletoe (I should be so lucky), Christmas Cake and relatives you only see once a year? This is just so wrong. Still they did taste very good LOL.

Now That's What I Call A Cup Cake!

So much for telling everyone I was trying to be good and cut back.

Don't worry- I had no problems polishing off this chocolate and mint work of art, while watching re-runs of Home Improvement. LOL

Too Many Pies

I'm told there's something we can learn from every experience, whether it is good or bad.

One thing I did learn from Mum's funeral was that trying on my suit for the big day, I've clearly been eating too many pies. I'm not too over weight by any stretch, just carrying some spare that made doing up the jacket more like Mission Impossible.

So let's be honest about this: I enjoy my food and on top of that I eat the wrong things when I'm sad. The same is also true when I'm happy. A few years back it wouldn't have made a jot of difference, I could stuff my face with no consequence plus I was playing quite a bit of sport and walking a lot.

So I've come to the conclusion I need to change my habits, nothing Earth shattering you understand. I don't believe extreme changes in diet or fitness regime are necessarily healthy or likely to succeed in the long run. For me it has to be a subtle, modest change that I can actually achieve.

So today I took myself round the university lake for a bracing walk- it looks kind of good doesn't it? When I got back to celebrate I rewarded myself with a few beers, so not such a good start after all. Perhaps I should say today has been one of the few decent weather days we've had in a good while and that'll excuse the beers.

Anyway here's the plan, if you can call it one. Shed a few pounds by doing more exercise and trying to eat better meals, less junk.

Oh and before I finish: yes I have checked my weight on the scales but it's on a need to know basis. I could tell you but I'd have to kill you.

Wedding

Yesterday I had the privilege of attending T & S's wedding in historic Arundel. A great time was had by all including, I trust, the Bride and Groom.
The poor quality image is down to me and I'm afraid doesn't really do justice to the event or the Bride and Groom.
T, S: All the best for your future life as husband and wife.