Its beginning to look a lot like cake!

Out of the tin and paper after cooling overnight it looks the right shape. The recipe says to left it mature a bit before doing any decorating- and to feed it with brandy, cold tea and orange juice every few days.  So this is as far as the cake goes for now... but next time I try to cover it in marzipan.

It's out of the oven, and.....

so far, so good!

Its in the oven.......

The dried and candied fruit has been soaking in the brandy syrup since the last installment.  Stiring every other day- and it is now plump, sticky and spiced.

After getting the last few bits for the cake yesterday I devoted this evening to getting project cake into the oven.  Hot water on for the washing up, oven on a low heat and a brandied coffee on the side.

Unfortunately it is going to take 3.75 hours in the oven so several tantalising hours of smelling the essence of Christmas filling the flat, and fingers crossed for the outcome....

Another update when its been in a bit longer.  

I'm back again, new and improved....

returned to our irregularly programmed schedule.

(with apologies to the Disposable Heros of Hip-hoprisy)

I know its been a little while but life has been, on the whole, kind and I've been busy with work.  However now that the festivities of Halloween are over I have a little time to think about the next celebration.  Many thanks to those who were brave enough to join me for an evening of dressing up as characters from a grown-up cartoon, Archer! Top night all round.

Basically I have nominated myself to do an eightyth birthday cake in time for Boxing Day.  Writing about it here may spoil the surprise of a few of you, but I am confident that the Birthday boy himself won't be tuning in any time soon so.... if you see him, keep it hush-hush.

Over the last few weeks I have been amassing ingredients for the cake and the decoration.  Taken a slow and steady approach to try and get some usual and unusual bits and pieces that I think will go down well.

I started mixing the fruit tonight- to soak in a solution of orange juice, sugar syrup, cinnamon and brandy.  Its got to infuse over a couple of weeks- which should (at least in theory) give me enough time for the cake to mature in good time to decorate.  It smells amaaaaa zing.

I have a theme in mind for the decoration that I think suits - vegetables.  Am planning on crafting little carrots, cauliflowers, cabbages and the like.  When the cake is underway properly  I might post some progress pictures. I know flowers and the like are more usual for cakes- but I think it might look pretty.

In other news-

• have started writing a play for my drama group. Finding a play already written is proving to be hard- so have started jotting ideas down.  Will let you know if this comes to fruition.
• Got Drs again tomorrow.  I can hardly believe it but its been two months again already.  I suspect that carrying on treatment is going to be the best thing for the time being.