On Thu 03 Apr 2008 09:15:05p, PeterLucas told us...

> Wayne Boatwright > wrote in
> 3.184:
>
>> On Thu 03 Apr 2008 07:07:40p, Puester told us...
>>
>>> 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
>>>
>>
>> There are varying combinations depending on the brand of "mixed spice"
>> you buy in the UK. A British friend sent me this "recipe" several
>> years ago and I use it in fruitcake, mincemeat, and even in my pumpkin
>> pies.
>>
>> 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
>> 1 teaspoon Nutmeg
>> 1 teaspoon Mace
>> 1 teaspoon Allspice
>> 1 teaspoon Cloves
>> 1 teaspoon Ginger
>> 1 teaspoon Coriander Seeds
>>
>> It's even nicer if you can use whole spices and grind them all
>> together. The taste is much brighter and fresher.
>>
>
>
> Thanks for that Wayne. I might even give it a whirl instead of buying
> the pre-packaged stuff.
>
>
>

My pleasure, Peter... Enjoy!

--
Wayne Boatwright
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Thursday, 04(IV)/03(III)/08(MMVIII)
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Countdown till Memorial Day
7wks 3dys 2hrs 30mins
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I try to make everyone's day a little
more surreal. -Calvin.
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