The fairies at Meadow Sweet Grove just love fruitcake ... If you research fruit cake recipes, you will find literally dozens and dozens of versions. Here's one that I used for the single-layer cake featured here, inspired by a recipe in "The Victorian Kitchen Book of Cakes and Cookies", but altered to suit our taste.
Absolutely essential extras: Brandy, cheesecloth, tinfoil and a sealed container. Instructions: Pour brandy into a small mixing bowl. Soak cheesecloth until saturated. Lift cheesecloth and gently wrap around cake, stretching to fit and turning to cover well. When completely covered, wrap in tin foil and seal in container. Repeat process, once a week, for up to 6 weeks. We are fortunate enough to have a holly tree living with us in the Grove and he kindly provided a sprig for the Christmas Fruit Cake. The sprig of holly is non-essential but incredibly traditional and gives a wonderfully earthy feel; so nice if you can get your hands on a piece to top your cake! Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017/edited 2019 & 2020
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A Calendar of Yuletide Doings Here are some suggestions from the Meadow Sweet Grove fairy folk for "daily doings" leading up to Christmas Day (pick your own order!), to celebrate this magical time of the year: Dec 1 - Take a child out for a cup of fancy hot chocolate Dec 2 - Donate clothes, bottles & household items to a local charity Dec 3 - Send pretty Christmas cards to friends Dec 4 - Buy Christmas Crackers Dec 5 - Build a snowman ... if you have snow! Or make a bowl of clove studded oranges. Dec 6 - Watch old movies: A Christmas Carol, It's a Wonderful Life Dec 7 - Attend a local Christmas event Dec 8 - Trim your cedar or holly tree and leave out the free trimmings for your neighbours Dec 9 - Decorate your front doorway with cedar boughs, holly & pine cones Dec 10 - Put up and decorate your Christmas Tree Dec 11 - Make a wreath for the front door from stray branches cut from your Christmas tree Dec 12 - Listen to all your favourite Christmas songs Dec 13 - Wrap gifts (cut up old Christmas cards to use for tags) Dec 14 - Gather lots of nummy food and treats together for the big day Dec 15 - Bake cookies and share with neighbours and friends Dec 16 - Clean your little abode, ready to receive guests Dec 17 - Watch movies: A Christmas Story, Merry Christmas Mr. Bean Dec 18 - Enjoy a Christmas Concert in a lovely old venue such as a local church or hall Dec 19 - Put together a Christmas puzzle with a child or friend Dec 20 - Walk around the neighbourhood and look at all the Christmas lights Dec 21 - Create a Winter Solstice Tree for the woodland creatures that visit your yard or balcony (see last year's blog post for instructions: winter-solstice-december-21st-merry-yule.html) Dec 22 - Watch movies: A Charlie Brown Christmas, White Christmas Dec 23 - Spend a quiet evening, gazing at the twinkling lights & enchanting ornaments on your Christmas tree Dec 24 - Hang up your stocking, sit quietly by a window at midnight, and feel the approach of Santa's sleigh Dec 25 - Yule / Christmas - Have a Merry Christmas! Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2016/2017/edited 2019 |
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