Never mind where blancmange has gone, this is SERIOUS!!!!
Usually make my own Xmas cake to an old family recipe (lots of booze at several stages from steeping dried fruit to infusing finished cake, and a glug or two in the mix!!!! - don't EAT and drive! ), and weeks before Xmas, but this year Xmas has overun me and no time left!
Went looking for one in Asda earlier in week when I did my Xmas veg shopping, and NOT A TRACE of one, no cakes, no empty shelves (Asda are VERY good at empty shelves where things should be! ), no idea from staff I asked (that's rare, they are usually very good at knowing where to send you), nada!!!!!
Took a detour on way home to nearest Lidl, did at least find a half decent cake, but it's TINY, only 6" diameter (although they do claim it serves 16! - not in this house it won't! - more like 8 with my love of Xmas cake!), and they didn't have many on the shelf, in fact I struggled to spot them at all!
Usually make a 10" cake, so this sorry offering is a poor excuse, but grateful for finding one at all. Memo to self 'make next year's cake early!'
Only upside, I've now got a couple of packs or marzipan (that were bought weeks ago, before the rush!) that I can nibble away at as a sweet treat, as it isn't needed for my homemade cake any more .... could keep it for the Simnel cake at Easter I suppose, but think I need compensating for my mini-Xmas cake, so nibbled it will be!
Don't like it, I am sorry to say, but this reminds me of the year in school.when we made Christmas cake. Mum was pleased that she didn't have to make one. Came the time for the cutting, and it was more like pudding in the middle. Mum of course went mad, but then said "well, they must all be the same" asked my best friend who said hers was fine. I think she may have turned my oven down...
I don't like it either, or anything else with sweet spice and fruit.
Mum was the fruit cake expert in the family, she made all the Christmas, wedding, special birthday cakes etc. Nearly 20 years since she died, no one else has taken on that task. Mum used to make quite a number of cakes through the year then hide them away, so you might go round in August and she would produce one made in Jan, or even last year. And she used to bribe family members 'there's a Christmas cake here for you if you'd like to come over'.
There were Christmas cakes in our Lidl on Thursday, the 6 inch ones and some tiny 3 bite ones, very cute. OH buys the stollen there.
OH is from Yorkshire, no icing on his mum’s cake & they always always! have a slice of crumbly white cheese with it. It does offset the richness & sweetness.
We have cake at home because it’s got a very long shelf life, so it was bought last year soon after Christmas & is still wrapped & in date.
Mine's in the kitchen thanks to mum who I saw earlier in the week. It will be there until Easter as always.
This morning I made the mistake of wanting 'normal' food, but overnight Aldi seems to have changed into 'Christmas food only' store, so what I wanted is currently not available!
This year I made a Christmas cake and gave half to a friend; that way I won't go totally overboard with the thing. Just marzipan on top, no icing, the way I like it. It's calling to me from the cake tin now, but I refuse to touch it until Christmas Day; to be honest it'll probably have to wait until Boxing Day when I'm on my own, because I'm going to my daughter's for Christmas day. I did see some in Sainsburys yesterday, also plenty of mince pies; have steered clear of the supermarkets today.
------------- Always edited for sloppy typing - when I spot it!
Not too keen on mince pies either, unless it is warmed up and mashed with lots of brandy butter!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
My Christmas cake is made. But I did read an article this week saying that stores were no longer carrying much stock of them as they don’t sell well. Younger generations don’t go much for fruit cake, wedding cakes now are very different to when we got married!
Quote: Originally posted by dk168 on 23/12/2023
Don't care for Christmas cake, sorry!
Not keen on fruit cakes in general.
Not too keen on mince pies either, unless it is warmed up and mashed with lots of brandy butter!
DK
Not sure I can forgive you for not liking fruit cakes, BUT I make homemade brandy butter that'll blow your socks off! .... guess the mince pies may be up for seconds!
Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 23/12/2023
Not sure I can forgive you for not liking fruit cakes, BUT I make homemade brandy butter that'll blow your socks off! .... guess the mince pies may be up for seconds!
I would make my own brandy butter too!
Not bothered anymore to make sufficient just for a couple of mince pices.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Based on recent observations, the answer to the question “where have all the Christmas cakes gone?” is into my husbands stomach! I have never met a family like my husbands for eating Christmas cake. A few weeks ago my husband, his brother and his sister polished off an entire 8 inch Christmas cake in one sitting (minus a tiny sliver my husband saved for me).
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Where have all the Xmas cakes gone!
), and weeks before Xmas, but this year Xmas has overun me and no time left! 
), no idea from staff I asked (that's rare, they are usually very good at knowing where to send you), nada!!!!!
via mobile 23/12/2023 at 12:31pm
