'I'm always looking for the Hows and the Whys and the Whats,' said Muskrat, 'That is why I speak as I do. You've heard of Muskrat's Much-in-Little, of course?'
'No,' said the child. 'What is it?'
- The Mouse and his Child. Russell Hoban.

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Friday 21 December 2012

Slaving over a Hot Stove.



I got all my Christmas baking out the way yesterday.

I made a big Christmas cake, the fruit for which has been marinating in brandy on the bench for a week.  There was too much mixture so I made three mini-cakes too.  Do you think walnuts will be ok?  I forgot to buy the almonds...



I coated some dried strawberries (very nice, if you haven't tried them) in dark chocolate, and dipped the ends of some apricots too.  



And I made some gingerbread men.  Unfortunately the icing came out more pink than red and they look more like a girlie girl's pajama party than Christmas. Never mind.  I put beards on some and a big pair of tramping boots on another, to compensate.




And later I noticed through the french doors a dear little female chaffinch hopping along the verandah bench and eating some insects off the wisteria.  
It's very hot today.  Perhaps it's because we have Tropical Storm Evan on the way, downgraded from the cyclone it was when it hit Samoa and Fiji recently.  



8 comments:

  1. i am impressed! way to go busy gal

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  2. It looks a perfect cake. Walnuts will be fine. Fruit cake and cheese is one of my favourite snacks.

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  3. Thanks John!
    Hmmm... that sounds nice Adrian. I like sweet things like grapes or apple with cheese. It's only one small step to a piece of cake. I'll report back after Christmas when it's opened.

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  4. Katherine - Is there no end to your creative talents? The Xmas cake looks magnificent. And the picture of the apricots dipped in chocolate looked like the decapitated heads of little orange men - all with brown hair. Do you think your sons will be prepared to eat girlie-pink gingerbread men? You should make a new rough tough batch with the appearance of tiny soldiers.... or tree surgeons.

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  5. ...By the way, I loved the final photo of the little bird on the ledge.

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  6. Where do you find the energy, let alone the time?

    You have outdone yourself with your baking and your photographs of said baking and especially your photograph of our little avian friend amongst the wisteria on your verandah bench.

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  7. Ginger Bread Men!! I haven't had one of those for years. I love ginger. Your own chocolate goodies too. I love chocolate. In fact it all looks scrumptious.

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  8. Thank you YP, RWP and Geeb.
    YP: Yes, and yes. Tree surgeon gingerbread men? A novel idea. With little sugary flakes of 'chainsaw dust' in their hair, perhaps?

    RWP: I seem to have quite a bit of energy at the moment, although not in the middle of the day! Mad dogs and all that. Time, conversely, is in very short supply! Still no C'mas cards sent.

    Geeb: I will undertake to make more GB-men for Aftermas, I promise. Ginger is one of my favourite flavours, too. N is making a ginger cake for Christmas...Perhaps she will be open to entreaty for Aftermas.

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