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From: "Joan Reichardt" <>
Subject: Re: [WarBrides] Real English Dark Xmas Cake Recipe
Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2005 11:48:35 -0800
References: <20051227.071902.716.26045@webmail10.lax.untd.com>


I know what you mean when you mention that dark, moist cake with the thick
almond paste the hard white (royal) icing and the red frill around the edge.
I could just see it, over all the years, complete with hard little silver
balls that nearly broke your teeth. Having had a huge Christmas dinner at
around 2pm - after the King's speech - all the adults relocated to a
comfortable chair, as close to the fire as possible, and slept, while I, the
only kid, lay on the black rug in front of the fire and saw imaginary
castles and fairy dells in the flames. I was not allowed to read my new
books on Christmas day as we always had guests, but they all snored their
heads off and would not have known anyway!! At about 5.30pm they would come
back to life and tea, mince pies and THE CAKE appeared, and it was not some
dainty little sliver, but a honking great wedge that we were served.
At about 10pm we would have supper, cold ham, cheese and pickled walnuts and
pickled red cabbage and pickled onions. How anyone ever slept after that
lot I do not know. They must have had cast iron constitutions, because our
visitors always included numerous great aunts and uncles who were not young.
I remember, between tea and supper, we played cards, had drinks and
chocolates, crystallized fruits and gambled!! Does anyone remember Chase
the Ace? I remember we started out with tuppence ha'penny and bet a
ha'penny on each hand but that's all I know. Eventually, they all got
bedded down - or went home somehow and I got up next morning to my favourite
day - Boxing Day - when I was allowed to read my new books!!
I also remember, during the war, cutting up prunes (with scissors) into
different sized pieces to represent raisins and currants for the cake and
the pudding, and there was an imitation almond paste made with mashed
potatoes, crushed saccharine tablets and almond extract that was positively
revolting. When I arrived in Canada, I think I assumed I would see a return
to our pre - war Christmas, and I was in for a grave disappointment. My
mother in law was not a good cook to begin with, and they, having come from
Holland, had none of my traditions. So it was overcooked, unstuffed, dry
turkey, overcooked, oversalted, watery boiled potatoes, and carrots and
tinned peas, served with pale gray, greasy gravy! And, horror of horrors,
red 'jam' (cranberries) loaded over everything! Dessert was cornstarch
pudding, with a drizzle of corn syrup on it! No sprouts, no swedes, no
parsnips, and NO pudding and custard, and of course, no mince pies, no cake.
I survived, I was happy that we were together again and that was all that
really mattered, but I made a silent vow that Christmas would be done
'properly' in the future - and it was! Happy New Year to all of you,
Cheers, Joan





1
----- Original Message -----
From: <>
To: <>
Sent: Tuesday, December 27, 2005 7:18 AM
Subject: Re: [WarBrides] Real English Dark Xmas Cake Recipe


> Thankyou Beth,
> Would love to have that recipe, have been using one
>
> that is pretty good and uses honey and grape juice, found it
>
> in a Canadian cookbook. However it is really not as I recall
>
> the real English Fruit Cake, for one thing, it gets too dry.
>
> Don't know if you are in the USA or Canada, but I have a great
>
> recipe for Canadian Butter Tarts if you would like it.
>
> Again Thankyou, Regards, Pam.
>
>
>
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