Christmas cake

My mother-in-law, Jean, introduced me to fruitcake. I had tried it before but could never quite understand what the fuss was about. The fruit cakes I had eaten up to that point were shop bought and mass produced. Pretty ordinary, I thought. And they were. When Jean began sending us fruit cakes several times a year, I began to appreciate a good fruit cake made with brandy, soaked fruits and nuts. She liked to experiment with various recipes, and I loved them all.

One day, Jean announced that she would no longer bake cakes. She was getting old and found the process increasingly difficult. I decided to step into the breach and began sending her the cakes she had taught me to make. In time, I perfected a fruit cake with chopped almonds that is just perfect. And so I carry on the family tradition of making and giving home-made cakes.

This year, I decided to bake fruit cakes for many of my friends. Over a period of about a month, I made 11 large cakes and more than 20 small, muffin-sized ones. The only restriction I placed on myself was that I wouldn’t post any. The cost of postage has become prohibitive over the years.

Making one cake after another took on a rhythm of soaking fruit, zesting oranges and lemons and watching the mixture froth when I added bicarb. I stirred in the flour and poured the mixture into baking tins which I then surrounded with brown paper and tied with twine. This helps to cook the cake evenly and stops the top from burning. Finally, it would go into the oven for a couple of hours during which I had time to start the next cake.

What I enjoyed most about this process was that I always had the person in mind for whom I was baking. I thought about each individual, their special qualities and the joy they brought to my life. It felt like a version of a Buddhist loving kindness meditation practice. I dedicated time to think about each person, added a little more of this, a bit less of that to suit their taste and wished them well for the coming year. I found it a lovely practice to think about each person, rather than bake all the cakes and allocate them randomly. This way, I could add a couple of magic ingredients to the mix – gratitude and love for recipients of each cake.

12 thoughts on “Christmas cake”

  1. oh Viki..so special !! and the cake is lovely as I’ve sampled it already…and I love that you are continuing Jean’s tradition…the real aussie chrissie cake..a cake full of good thoughts..thank you xx

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  2. oh Viki…such a generous gift and so thoughtful..a thinking cake !! it is lovely as I’ve already sampled it and shared it..and so lovely that you are continuing Jean’s tradition and you discovered the “real” taste in her’s..I am a fan of christmas cake from my mother’s but as an adult almost never make one..so thanks to you I can enjoy and savour it again…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  4. Hi Viki, I have written 2 comments on the cake but neither went through !! last try…your cake was lovely ( not finished it yet) and thanks for your special essence of thoughts in its baking ..it is a fine cake tailored to me .. wow.. Thanks and thanks to Jean for inspiring you with such a tradition..I LOVE chrissie cake from childhood and my mother’s baking but have rarely tried to bake one as an adult…luckily I am a friend of yours.. xx

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment