Rituals - the cake

Warning! Warning! DO NOT EAT AND DRIVE! I know, it's different from the usual Do Not Drink and Drive but I tell you, this should be a warning attached to all Christmas black cakes. This is a deep, dark and dangerously intoxicating cake that can make you wobbly at the knees just by smelling it. To read more about this delicious must-have cake in many homes, click here.

Part of the ritual of black cake is the setting of the fruits. My fruits, blended, have been soaked in some good Caribbean dark rum for a little more than a year!

Look at it, see how dark and rich it is? The prunes are what give the fruits and cake the naturally dark colour. I know some people put browning in their black cake but I don't.

Don't worry about the cracks in the cake, they will close up as the cake cools down. Use this opportunity to pour some of the wine/brandy/rum as the first feeding. If you want the recipe, email me.

Since the beginning of December I have thoroughly enjoyed the work of some of my blogger friends who have been baking their traditional cakes and I thought that I'd remind you of some of them.

My friend, the Happy Cook used to make her cake from October and feed brandy all the way to Christmas - oh yeah! What's not to love about that.

Another friend, Shn, opens her post with a Charles Dickens quote that so aptly describes what my column is about this week and the joys of Christmas cake.

Happy, happy Christmas that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveller back to his own fireside and quiet home. - Charles Dickens.

You must go read her post.

My friend, Meeta takes us into the kitchen where she channels her mom and her dear Tante Stephanie, with a cake recipe that has now been passed on to her.

And you can visit a sweet lady, Glenna who's thanking the British for the cake tradition as she lovingly feeds her cake with some fine Southern Comfort.

Amidst all this, I want you to read this - it is vivid, lively, entertaining, nostalgic and a must read for anyone that's not home this Christmas. Kalyan will transport you back and though you may not be from the place that he writes about, each one of us can identify with something or recall similar memories. Please go read it.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish each and everyone of you, your family, friends and loved ones a very Happy Christmas. May this holiday season be filled with love, laughter, good cheer, health and prosperity. I pray that the warmth and love prevailing at this time of the year lasts throughout the year.

Have a great week everyone and don't forget to check out, Forgive me my nonsense... where this week, I'm asking for your help in defining and understanding the term "homemade".

MERRY CHRISTMAS