Merry Christmas! Magic, Carols, Snowflakes, Mince Pies and Fairy Cakes
Merry Christmas!
Magic, Carols, Snowflakes, Mince Pies and Fairy Cakes
Magical Christmas Fairy Cakes
Loreena McKennitt – In The Bleak Midwinter
Merry Christmas and a VERY Happy New Year to all my readers!
I have added a link to one of my favourite carols, “In The Bleak Midwinter”, sung by Loreena McKennitt as a small gift to you all! I hope you enjoy it……..
Loreena McKennitt – In The Bleak Midwinter: YouTube
Well, the presents have all been bought or made and wrapped, the tree is up and dressed, the fridge is groaning with food and the vegetables are stored outside in the greenhouse as there’s no room in the kitchen. The cake is decorated, the mince pies are made, there’s more cakes stored in vintage tins in the pantry; the cheese is all stored in the boot of the car, again, no room in the fridge and it’s a perfect temperature for cheese as it happens…….there are bowls of clementines and nuts, plus the ubiquitous boxes of figs and dates, all ready for post-lunch snacking. Pickles, chutney and relishes are made and ready for piquant accompaniments to cold cuts, charcuterie and cheese. There may be no snow and the rain seems to beat relentlessly at the window, but it’s cosy and warm and I’m with my family for Christmas. The air is heavy with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and mixed spice………the Christmas tree really does have that “Christmas Tree smell” and old familiar ornaments hang on boughs as they have done for decades. It really is Magic, Carols, Snowflakes, Mince Pies and Fairy Cakes this year, and I am just as excited as I was when I was a little girl. It’s been a roller-coaster of a year……there’s been ups and downs and highs and lows……..but, I feel hopeful that all will be well with the world, and despite Mayan predictions it has not ended yet!
Christmas Carols
Christmas Eve is still very magical for me – I love it more than Christmas Day; the anticipation, the clear, cold starry nights along with Christmas carols and candles……church services at Midnight and the traditional rituals of sherry and a mince pie for Santa, it’s all part of this loveliest of eves. It’s an evening of sharing – tables full of home baking with pressed glass bowls of pickled onions, pickled red cabbage and a magnificent York ham. Mince pies the size of saucers, pork pies with eggs, crisp green salad leaves waiting to be anointed with lemony dressing…..crusty bread, soft bread rolls and wedges of mature Cheddar, scented sage marbled cheese and soft curd cheese. Oatcakes, crackers, crisp-breads and blini……smoked salmon, fresh salmon and prawns in lettuce cups……and clouds of cream on mum’s raspberry trifle.
“Whim Wham” ~ A Scottish Regency Trifle
I have shared a couple of recipes below that we shall be making over Christmas and New Year………and so it’s with a big flourish of tinsel, cream, sherry, cranberries and fruit cake that I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a VERY Happy and Healthy New Year! I will see you after Christmas, have a wonderful time……..Karen
Magical Christmas Fairy Cakes
Whim Wham – A Scottish Regency Trifle
Print recipe
| Serves | 6 |
| Prep time | 30 minutes |
| Cook time | 5 minutes |
| Total time | 35 minutes |
| Allergy | Milk, Tree Nuts |
| Dietary | Vegetarian |
| Meal type | Dessert |
| Misc | Pre-preparable, Serve Cold |
| Occasion | Birthday Party, Casual Party, Christmas, Easter, Formal Party, Thanksgiving, Valentines day |
| Region | British |
| By author | Karen S Burns-Booth |
Ingredients
- 75g to 100g sponge cake (or trifle sponge fingers)
- 4 tablespoons raspberry jam
- 150ml sweet sherry (or sweet dessert wine)
- 60ml Scotch whisky
- 1 orange, juice and zest
- 225g fresh raspberries
- 500ml double cream
- 6 tablespoons icing sugar
- 50g blanched almonds (lightly toasted)
Note
A simple and delicious trifle that originates from Scotland and the Regency period. The expression Whim Wham originates from the word "whimsy" and means something that is quaint or fanciful, or even frivolous!
Directions
| Step 1 | Half an hour before you plan to serve the Whim Wham, spread the raspberry jam over the sponge cake or sponge fingers and then cut the sponge cake/fingers into small cubes; arrange them in the base of an attractive trifle bowl or large glass serving bowl. |
| Step 2 | Mix the sherry, whisky and orange juice together and pour it over the sponge cake pieces; allow to soak for 30 minutes before scattering the raspberries over the top, leaving some for decoration. |
| Step 3 | Pour the cream into a bowl and add the icing sugar, whip then cream until it holds soft peaks and then spoon the cream over the raspberries, making sure they are all covered. |
| Step 4 | Scatter the remaining raspberries over the cream, as well as the orange zest and then the toasted almonds. Serve immediately, although this can be kept in the fridge after serving for up to 1 day. |
Christmas Deli Salad with Pomegranate, Parma Ham and Gorgonzola
Wee Whisky Doused Hogmanay Dundee Cakes
Mini Snow Flake Christmas Cakes
Spiced Mincemeat Meringue Pies
Christmas Table
What a collection of Christmas goodness…it all looks amazing! I hope you have a very happy Christmas! 🙂
Thanks Laura! MERRY CHRISTMAS to you too. Karen
Merry Chtistmas darling xx
MERRY CHRISTMAS to you too Dom!
What a fabulously festive feast!! Merry, merry Christmas Karen and to all your family too! Xx
Thanks Kate, you have a lovely time too! Karen
Oh, my! These are heavenly bliss!
Have a wonderful Christmas!
Thanks so much Helen! Karen
Dear Karen,
I wish you and your family a merry Christmas 🙂 Kirsten
Thanks so much Kirsten, I hope you had a wonderful time and a very Happy New Year! Karen xxx
It all looks fabulous, very wet here too. Have a fun time.
MERRY CHRISTMAS to you too Janice!
A lovely Christmas post. Have great time and try to have some put your feet up time soon (you deserve it)! Merry Christmas:-)
MERRY CHRISTMAS to you too Camilla! Just finished cooking dinner for us all and now I can put my feet up! Karen
Lovely post Karen. Merry Christmas to you!
Merry Christmas to you too Jayne…..have a lovely time.
Merry Christmas Karen! I have always loved Christmas Eve too and what better way to celebrate it than with delicious food?
Christmas Eve was magical thanks Kathryn and we have all eaten too much! Karen
Merry Christmas Karen!! Christmas is one of my favourite holidays and all of these treats look delicious. Have a lovely Christmas and a brilliant new year xx
Merry Christmas Ros – bet it is hot where you are! Have a wonderful time. Karen
Lots of fabulous Christmas treats. Hope you and your family have a lovely time together 🙂
Thanks Jen, here’s to New Year now! Karen 🙂
It all sounds scrumptious and your Christmas table is beautiful. My daughter was wondering what Brits leave for Santa. Now I can tell her. We will be having pork tamales for a traditional Texas Christmas Eve.
Thanks Julie and I LOVE the sound of your menu too……very spicy and tasty! I know that Americans leave out cookies and a glass of milk for Santa – we are a little risqué over here, it’s sherry and a mince pie! Merry Christmas and a VERY Happy New Year! Karen
Beautiful cake!
Thanks so much!
MERRY CHRISTMAS Karen, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas day with lots of fun and laughter with all of your family and friends.
Although I haven’t commented much lately I’ve been visiting you frequently. You’ve provided such an amazing amount of advice, inspiration, expertise, fun and interest over the last year that I wish you nothing but the best for 2013!
Let’s hope it will be the best one yet!
It’s been lovely getting to know you through your blog. Good Luck for the New Year! X
THANKS so much Nessie, and I was so touched by your lovely comments I sent you an email, I hope you got it! Have a VERY Happy New Year! Karen 🙂
I love this cake and the snowfrakes on top are amazing.
Thanks Carol, I love my snowflakes on festive cakes and baking!
You have outdone yourself on the snowflake decorations, such a beautiful winter cake idea!
Hope you had a great Christmas! x
Many thanks Carolin, a Happy New Year to you! Karen
Perfect! Hope you and your family had a fantastic Christmas and a happy new year 🙂
I did thanks Clare! I hope you did too!
i have the snowflake cutter but i was unsure how to decorate cakes with it. You’ve given me lots of inspiration 😀 thank you!
Glad to help Laura! Karen
WOW what a delicious selection of recipes! I must admit I love to bake but having a two year old around my feet I tend to just use more simple recipes at the moment so he can join in. I can’t wait until he’s a little older and can help me with more complicated recipes, I think delicious offerings like this would certainly encourage him to give a hand in the kitchen! 🙂
I loved the idea of the mini Christmas cakes and actually used it this year, but also included some sponge cakes too for those of my family who don;t like fruit. I actually found that not only was it easier to do than one large cake, but also looked much more impressive as a display than I had expected.
the Dundee cake looks delicious!
Absolutely gorgeous Christmas cake, I hope to be as talented in my own cake designs one day! And the matching cupcakes are so cute too!!
Thanks very much Dil!
The trifle recipe looks nice – might try that one. Doesn’t have to be at Christmas time, does it?!
How beautiful, I love the way you have kept it simple and elegant with the decoration. Sometimes when people make a cake they go way over the top which takes the taste away from the cake but this is lovely. It is one that i will be trying at Christmas to WOW all of my family and friends. Thank you.
I don’t like xmas cakes but them fairy cupcakes look perfect!
I love the sound and look of the dundee cakes
Great christmas ideas defo trying next year!!
Those snowflakes are so cute did you use a cutter ??
Shared G+
shared on FB as Tracy K Nixon
I have tweeted this post as @jessups
Tweeted the post as @maisietoo
the cupcakes are so cute! we’re having christmas at the in-laws this year. they would be perfect to take round!
this looks totally amaz balls! getting me into the xmas spirt.
Gorgeous looking cake, your very clever 🙂
Baked my cake this week am hoping to emulate your decoration – wish me luck
Bookmarked for Christmas!
how good does this cake look!
I really thing the icing and decoration on the fairy cakes make them look so magical. Shared on G+.
Lovely piece, so inspirational too! I’d love to have a go at the Trifle and the Mini Snow Flake Christmas Cakes – which both look absolutely amazing. I’m starting to feel that Xmas tingly feeling. Happy Xmas and have a fab new year…looking forward to more brilliant posts on your blog. 🙂
The trifle looks gorgeous. I have shared on Twitter, @maisietoo.
I am a new blogger for my family cook book on face book . I loved your blog it was amazing. thank you
Thank you so much Debbie, Happy New Year!