Mary Berry's Victorian Christmas Cake

Did you know that there are only 46 days to Christmas?
Yikes!
Have you made your Christmas cake yet?
Now, I know that lots of people hate fruit cake but the Senior Partner and I cannot be counted amongst them.
We do both loathe, despise and abominate marzipane the traditional layer between the fruit cake and the Royal icing topping.
We're not mad about Royal icing and all the fiddly little Christmas decorations either.
I usually bake Delia's Christmas cake, a tried and tested recipe which never fails, however in the November issue of Good Food magazine I came across Mary Berry's Classic Victorian Christmas cake and decided to bake it this year instead.
Click here for the link to the recipe on the BBC Good Food website.
I tweaked the recipe only slightly by replacing sherry with whisky, and it's whisky I'll "feed" the cake with every two weeks until decorating the top with jeweled coloured glace fruits and seasonal nuts, and I might well decide to enhance it further with a beautiful shimmering ribbon.
I'll probably post a photo or two of the finished cake, all glossy and pouting in it's rich deliciousness, a little nearer Christmas, for now though all I can show you is the cake before it went into the oven and all the messy detritus left for me to clear away whilst it bakes for 5 hours and 10 minutes!

Sharing this post with Claudia @ Mocking Bird Hill Cottage

for Reality Shot Thursday #7

a fun gathering where we reveal how we really live

away from the bright lights and cameras!
I've had a request from Bunny Jean asking
 that I link this recipe to her Wednesday Bunny Hop.
No sooner said than done!

Reality Shot Thursday

After a visit recently to the garden centre for new rose bushes (Peace) and top soil to plant them in

 I snapped this quick shot of my very basic (definitely not glamourous) potting table.

The table acts as a catch all space for things going in and out of the house

 from the laundry/wine cellar/storeroom,

 which you can just glimpse through the window,

 behind it.

Now, that's a place you really wouldn't want to see.

Keeping things real with Claudia

 for Reality Shot Thursday #6

 over at Mockingbird Hill Cottage.

It doesn't get more real that this!

Reality Shot Thursday - That Cupboard!

Do you have one of these?

A cupboard where you shove store all your Tupperware and other storage containers.

Every time I need a container I can never find the corresponding lid and so have to take most of it out, or else it falls on the floor of its own accord, whilst I rummage search through them all.

And why is the one I want always at the back?

Just thought I’d ask, I can’t be the only one?

Joining Claudia for Reality Shot Thursday #5 @ Mockingbird Hill Cottage.

It's an easy group to join no fluffing or primping required!

You just have to be brave enough to take the shot

and then share it with the world!

Sharing this post also with Bunny Jean for her Wednesday Bunny Hop

Why not hop on over and meet some new bloggers?

Reality Shot Thursday.

Autumn is a wonderful season, full of mellow fruitfullness.

Early mornings are crisp and clear, the sun sits low in the sky

 and the trees cast beautiful shadows across the grass.

We love to be outdoors in the garden at this time of the year but

 clearing leaves, acorns and horse chestnuts off the lawns is not a job we enjoy!

Hidden away in three of the four corners of the back garden are our compost heaps,

 out of sight but sadly not out of mind.

This is the reality of being the present caretakers of

 venerable silver birch, ancient oak,

 massive horse chestnut and stately sycamore trees.

Joining Claudia for Reality Shot Thursday #4.

a new but fun weekly gathering

 where those of us brave or silly enough

share the less than glamorous side of daily life.

Click on the link or sidebar button to participate.

Go on I dare you!

Also linking to The Tablescaper's Seasonal Sundays gathering this weekend.

Reality Shot Thursday - Parisien Tablescape

I couldn't resist sharing these photographs of the table

after our lunch on Tuesday at La Boheme in Monmartre.

John and I both chose an omelette with a side dish of French fries

 and Susan had her favourite salad

buffalo mozzarella, tomato and basil.

Not the most elegant of tablescapes I know but the people watching was fantastic!

Linking to Claudia's Reality Shot Thursday #3

 @ Mockingbird Hill Cottage

and to Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps On The Porch.

Reality Shot Thursdays

Have you ever looked at a favourite blog and found a new party going on that you think you like the look of?

Well, this morning whilst perusing Mary's delightful blog "A Breath of Fresh Air" I discovered Reality Shot Thursdays a new blog party being hosted by Claudia @ Mockingbird Hill Cottage.
Claudia describes it like this -
it's about letting everyone in on a glimpse of real life in our homes every Thursday, a Reality Shot  is what's just to the left or right of a staged, pretty photograph?

If I can drag myself away

 from my computer and camera today

 this is my next task...........ironing!

Go on take a deep breath and show us what's lurking at the corner of your eye.