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!

Fete de la Pomme in Trévières.

The Calvados region of Normandy is famous for it's culinary heritage based on fine local products such as butter, crème fraîche, world famous cheeses and of course apples!

A visitor to our region cannot help but notice the multitude of small farms, each with an apple orchard or two, as they drive along the country lanes.

You can often call in and buy home made cider from the owners, sometimes you might also find Normandy's famous apple based brandy, Calvados, or the apple based apéritif, Pommeau, for sale.

Last Sunday we visited the small town of Trévières for the Fete de la Pomme where we wandered around the exhibition of apples staged by "la corporation Saint Fiacre de Bayeux" (gardening club of Bayeux).
We stood for a while and watched the ancient apple press being put through it's paces, over 1 ton of apples were crushed during the day.

Trévières is twinned with Stokeinteignhead, Devon, U.K. and delicious baked apple goods, home made by the ladies of the Association, tempted us.

We bought two small apple crumbles and a bowl of Teurgoule, which is very similar to an English rice pudding, for our dessert that evening.

Joining The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday # 73

 with this glimpse of life in rural Normandy.

Alphabe-Thursday. A is for Apple

Once again Miz Jenny Matlock is hosting Alphabe-Thursdays at Off On My Tangent
I didn't fully participate last time having completed the entire alphabet in the previous round, however, AT is a favourite meme of mine and so, here we go again.................................

These apples are being shoveled into a large wooden box to be pulped
before being turned into cider or calvados.

A is for Apple, well what else could it be for in Normandy.

I took this photograph at the Fete de la Pomme in Trévières last Sunday, and will have more to share for the Tablescapers Seasonal Sundays gathering at the weekend.
If you would like to see my A post from the first AT that I particpated in, then click here, and here for the A post from the next.
This my second post today if you're looking for this week's Reality Shot then please scroll on down.

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!

Halloween in Normandy 2011

Here in France Halloween isn't celebrated as exuberantly as it is in say the USA, or Canada.

However, when I find this little slip of paper in my letterbox

I know that I have to get ready for Trick or Treat Night.

The night when wizards, monsters and witches chauffeured and chaperoned by their parents

 invade the lanes of our village.

In order that they don't haunt us for too long we are advised to have "bonbons" ready

 and an outdoor lamp shining.

If we don't want to play be disturbed we just leave all the lights off.

Monstres & Sorcieres 2011

To get us in the mood inside the house
a few Halloween touches here and there.

On the library mantlepiece - witches, ghosts and pumpkins.

HB Henriot Quimper plates
 on either side of the fireplace .

HB Henriot Quimper Witch Plate 2010

HB Henriot Quimper Witch Plate 2010

Joining The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday.

Click on the link or sidebar button to visit other participants,

I'm sure there'll be lots more ghouls and ghosties there.

Pink Saturday

Last week the Senior Partner and I celebrated 32 years of wedded bliss, aahh!

We marked the occasion with a little retail therapy

followed by lunch at a favourite restaurant in Bayeux.

We also purchased mouthwatering deli treats

 (tuna stuffed sweet peppers, artichoke hearts and onions; three cheese ravioli; buffalo mozzarella and sun dried cherry tomatoes filled with delicate ricotta cheese) 

from

 "l'oliverade" -  Epicerie Méditerranéenne

for a special "couch picnic" in front of the TV that evening.

Mr B - chef, gourmand, bon viveur and
 the love of my life

Joining Beverly @ How Sweet The Sound for Pink Saturday.

Click on the link or sidebar button to be in the pink, too.

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?