PeterLucas wrote:
> My recently widowed BIL is coming up to stay for awhile at the end of
> the month, and his SO was the Christmas Cake maker in the family.
> Somewhat of a tradition, it was. Even when living in England, she used
> to make a huge cake and send it to the family here in Oz in time for the
> family Christmas get-together.
>
> I made a cake for us last Chritmas (the first one without a K1 cake),
> and my SO (who doesn't like fruit cake, but loved this one!!) has passed
> on the Family Christmas Cake Maker honour from her older sister, to me.
> She told me that K1 would have been proud of my cake.
>
>
> So............... this year I'm going to make them well in advance, and
> let them 'mature' in the cupboard till Christmas time. I'll give the BIL
> one to take back home to share with his kids and friends down south.
>
>
> Peters Christmas Cake.


That sounds like something my husband would like. (He's one
of the
few Yanks I know who likes fruitcake.)

Question: What is mixed spice? Mixed spice in the U.S. is
pickling spices,
like bayleaf, various aromatic seeds (mustard, celery),
dried peppers, etc.
not something I'd expect to find in fruitcake. I thought
maybe cinnamon and
nutmeg, but I see those listed separately.

Any ideas?

It's very thoughtful of you to take on your SIL's tradition.

gloria p