Round Table Revisited

[just_me_karen]

And so Lord of the String said unto the peoples, "Go forth anew. Seek a land you can call your own."

The people saw it was good.

So, on the last day the people said their solemn goodbyes and began the long journey to the promised new land.

And so began the new land and its people were joyous!

Welcome, to the Return of the Round Table known as...

"Round Table Revisited" (RTR)

[nicnacs_4u]

Spot on Icebuddy most of the figurines are LLadro including the clowns I also like the dog figurines although I haven`t bought any for a long time.The plate is Aynsley and my late mum bought me the set of 3 years ago...I have many "nice" pieces of glass and porcelin displayed around my loungeroom and I am lucky that all 3 grandies have enough toys for them to play with when they are with me so they aren`t tempted to touch the good stuff!!

[tasfleur]

I have a fantastic sounding recipe for a Christmas cake and I'm determined to try it out one day.  It's got the works with spices, fruit, almonds and dark rum.  I've had the recipe for about 35 years and it hasn't happened yet.

My new Christmas cake tradition is just my mums old bread pudding which is more like a moist cake than a pudding and everyone loves it.  I try to do two now, one for home and one to take to Christmas lunch/dinner.

J*oono, any chance of the recipes please, oh please, please?   I love trying out recipes I have never seen before, especially from earlier times, I'd be so grateful xxx

Good morning to all (beautiful flowers there nicnacs).

Just on my way out into the frosty but beautiful winter morning.  The way the fog has settled onto the mountains makes them look magnificent and a little bit "Jurassic", am heading up that way through the forest.

Have a splendid day all xxx

[debra9275]

Morning everyone  

I love your flowers Nic, those pink lillies are my favourites too, sometmes I go for the white ones, but  the pink are my number one

you have a great day too Tas

[debra9275]

such sad news to wake up to this morning about the Adelaide FCC coach 

[j*oono]

That's terrible news Deb.  How awful.  I wonder what the hell happened.

Tas, I'd be happy to type up the recipes.  Please check back and I'll put them here.  Keep in mind though I have never actually made this Christmas cake but it sure sounds good.

[debra9275]

Morning Joono,

Not many details so far, but the son has been charged.

[flashie*]

Deb...........I heard that on the news too.

Nics...........my son bought me some of those lillies for Mothers Day.........every few days I trimmed the stems and fresh water and they lasted for ages and ages...........smelt beautiful.

Joono..........I might have a go at your Christmas cake............I have never made one...........it is time to start...........unless it looks too complicated.............

Well the fight between the two boys was a bit of a storm in a teacup...............by the time I got back from my meeting they were both sitting in the lounge watching football..........and on their laptops..........so I can only presume the eldest son decided revenge was not worth it................(it seldom is.........but I guess he is still learning that)

Hubby has "Man Flu".....................(that is all I have to say about that............)

Waves to Tas............

[debra9275]

Hi Flashie-  I just love those lillies

[j*oono]

OK, here we go.

This is for the Christmas cake.  It says that it can be kept for 3 months in an airtight container in the fridge. 

1-1/2 (250gm) cups sultanas

1-3/4 cups (250gm) currants

1-1/2 cups (250gm) raisins

1/2 cup (125gm) mixed peel

1/2 cup (125gm) red glace cherries

1/2 cup (125gm) green glace cherries

     (in my mind you might as well just use about a kilo of mixed fruit with peel and glace cherries)

1 cup Underproof dark rum

1-1/2 cups (250gm) blanched almonds

250gm butter, softened

1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

4 eggs

3/4 cup plain flour

3/4 cup self raising flour

2 tsps ground cinnamon

1 tsp mixed spice

1 tsp ground nutmeg

Combine the sultanas, currants, raisins, mixed peel and glace cherries with the rum in a large bowl, cover and stand for 2 days.

Grease a deep 23cm square cake pan (or deep 25cm round cake pan). Line base and sides with 3 thicknesses of greaseproof paper, bringing paper about 5cm above edge of pan.

Stir almonds into fruit mixture.

Cream butter and sugar in a small bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy.  Add eggs one at a time.  Beat only until combined.

Stir creamed mixture into the fruit and rum mixture.  Stir in sifted flours, ground cinnamon, mixed spice and ground nutmeg.

Spread mixture into prepared pan, bake in moderately slow over for about 2 hours or until cake is cooked when tested.  Wrap in a clean tea towel and let the cake cool in the pan.

That's it, and you know what?  Now I feel liking having a go at it.  Maybe this year.  What would moderately slow be though you bakers? 150c or less?

[j*oono]

Here is the bread pudding recipe.

This isn't my mothers recipe, she would just make it without even thinking about it.  I think this might have been from the old Womens Weekly recipe cards from years ago.

I'm typing the recipe as it's written but with my tweaking as well because I don't like things that sweet.

1 large loaf of stale white bread (I use two loaves)

1 litre of water

375gm mixed fruit with glace cherries

1 cup sugar (I use maybe 1/2 cup brown sugar because the fruit is already sweet)

125gm butter (melted)

1 Tblsp mixed spice (or a bit more if you want it)

1 egg

Remove crusts from bread.  Break bread roughly into a large basin.  Add water, cover and stand for 30 minutes.

Place bread in large strainer and press out as much liquid as possible, or squeeze bread with hands to remove excess liquid.  Discard liquid.

Place bread in large basin with fruit, sugar, melted butter, spice and lightly beaten egg.  Mix well with wooden spoon.  Spread evenly into a greased baking dish (like a small baking dish that you would cook a roast in).

Bake in a moderate oven for 1-1/2 hours.  More if it is still too wet but you don't want it fully dry like a cake.  Hard to explain really but that's it.