Doesn't time fly

1st September already.

It certainly does - and one of those shopping channels had a special Xmas sale last week, oh yes - singing Santas, musical light up trees and all that tat. Haven't seen any Easter eggs yet so it's not New Year.

We bought some really nice Christmas Cake decorations from a cake making/decorating shop in Oxford's covered market today. Should make for a jolly cake.

Now when should I start baking?

Isn't it 'the earlier the better'?

As much as I love England, Marmite, A Good Cuppa, Bubbles and Squeak and Spotted Dick, not to mention the Royal Oak's Trifle, I have never been able to appreciate the Christmas Cake: a hard, rocky brick drenched in Rum....if I were English, I'd hop over to France for puds (or The Royal Oak...)

Aw ...Maurits. Christmas cake, with thick marzipan and then heavy white icing, ..mmmmmmmmmm.

Sorry Jackie - I'm with Maurits on this one. The Royal Oak's Trifle wins this one hands donwn!

Are we talking Christmas CAKE or Christmas PUDDING? The latter is also a culinary triumph IMHO, squishy and sweet and sticks to the roof of your mouth, not to be confused with cake which is like delicious lead in the stomach.

Oh, I meant the Pudding, I suppose. What exactly is the cake? Anyway, not knowing the difference is probably very telling about my General Christmas Knowledge: below par.

Cake


Pud

Xmas cake and xmas pud were both invented in 1958 as instruments of torture for misbehaving children during Xmas.

The brats would be forced to consume a slice/bowl full after lunch, just before the Queen came on - the food had to be consumed before the start of the James Bond film else they got thrashed too. Bloody right.

Isn't Christmas Pudding soaked in Brandy / Sherry / Port / ...?
Very clever way of making sure your kids are relaxed and fast asleep so you can enjoy the rest of Christmas day.....