2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[sage]

Thinking of taking a day off work to do a day of baking Xmas treats.

What to you all bake for christmas?

 

Sage

[chickencam]

I always make Delia's classic Christmas cake, last year I made a panatonne not Delia (the Hairy Bikers have a recipe for it in their new Twelve Days of Christmas book) and I will do that again just before Christmas to eat for breakfast on Christmas morning. I found a recipe on the internet last year.

 

I also make a batch of Delia's mincemeat which is so much more tasty than anything that you can buy, it is really citrusy. We make the mincemeat into mince pies (obviously) a lovely apple and mincemeat strudel also Delia. I am beginning to look like a Delia freak, but her recipes are so reliable Steamed puddings with mincemeat.

 

We also usually do sausage rolls and Christmas pudding also Delia but we have a Harrod's Christmas pud left over from a hamper that my uncle gave to us last year which we will eat this year.

[bluekarin]

I have some Delia mincemeat made a couple of Christmases ago, which I discovered in the cupboard yesterday when I was having a large tidy and chuck out. Looks and smells fine, so I shall be making some mince pies, and freezing them once cooked. They keep longer as you can't just take one out of the tin, as I am known to do (then miking it and putting a dollop of brandy cream on top )

 

I am thinking of making a Stollen with a marzipan sausage through the middle.

 

After checking when it was I am pleased I haven't missed stir up Sunday, which is this week (I think - please let me know if I am wrong) so I shall be making a pud as well.

 

Have fun baking (That's what I have been doing to day as it is so horrible out (some large cookies and a Honey spice cake made today) )

[Cinnamon]

I have done my cake,but had forgotten the Delia Mincemeat,which has been a staple in our house for about 6 years now

 

I will be baking some Christmas Biscotti for my families hampers,plus making up 'bake it yourself' Kilner of ingredients to make cookies, as gifts too

 

Never bother making the Christmas pudding. Quite fancy the Heston one in Waitrose this year,with the candied orange in the middle

[Christian]

Christmas Pudding and cakes done

Mincemeat done

Will make mincepies nearer the time.

Want to make shortbread soon too.

 

Cannot find the recipe that I think Cinnamon or Lesley posted for little german biscuits = the recipe made about 70, but cannot remember the name!

[bluekarin]

Is it Lebkuchen, Christian, the German biscuits?

[Daphne]

Cake, pud, mincemeat (thank you Christian!) all done. OH will make panforte because he loves it, I'll be making marzipan-stuffed dates for my Mum (no baking involved!), plus something indulgent for me which I haven't thought of yet. Then I'm going to have to twist my neighbours arm for a recipe for chocolatey gingery truffles which she is kind enough to give us as pressies...trouble is I like them so much there's never enough

[Christian]

Is it Lebkuchen, Christian, the German biscuits?

 

yes, Thank you Bluekarin You would think having German parents I would remember the name

 

Glad you like the mincemeat Daphne

[Christian]

found the recipe - Lebkuchen

[bluekarin]

My mum is Polish, so I know most traditional Germanic Christmas treats.

 

I have found this recipe, not sure if it's the same as the previously posted. I'm going to give this one a go as I couldn't get the other recipe to do the biscuits how I wanted them to be. I shall check though before making, as it may be the same one

 

Lebkuchen

250g plain flour

85g ground almonds

2 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp bicarbonate of soda

pinch each ground cloves , grated nutmeg and black pepper

200ml clear honey

85g butter

1 lemon , finely grated zest

 

For the icing

100g icing sugar

1 egg white , beaten

 

Tip the dry ingredients into a large bowl.

Heat the honey and butter in a pan over a low heat until the butter melts, then pour into the flour mixture along with the lemon zest. Mix well until the dough is combined and fairly solid.

Cover and leave to cool.

 

Heat oven to 180C/fan160C/gas 4.

Using your hands, roll dough into about 30 balls, each 3cm wide, then flatten each one slightly into a disk.

Divide the biscuits between two baking trays lined with baking parchment, leaving room for them to expand. Bake for 15 mins, then cool on a wire rack.

 

To ice the biscuits, mix together the icing sugar, egg white and 1-2 tbsp water to form a smooth, runny icing.

Dip the top of each biscuit in the icing and spread with the back of a knife. Leave to dry out in a warm place.

 

Good Food Magazine testers tips

recommend making thin ones if you want something like the ones from the shop.

 

If using fan assisted ovens only bake for 12 minutes

 

Add a squeeze of lemon-juice into the icing and dip the biscuits 3 times for an extra nice topping.

 

Leaving the mixture a bit longer, even after it's cool makes the texture a bit more authentic - in traditional german recipes the mix can be left up to a week

 

Covered in dark chocolate is good too.

 

Try them with orange zest in place of the lemon for something different.

[Christian]

Thanks for posting this Karin

 

I have bumped the other recipe.

[bluekarin]

It appears the recipe I have just posted is the same as the previous one, but I don't remember making it like it says to. Ooops, shall try again, and read through Before making

[green]

I've made Gingerbread Biscuits, still need to make some Northern Stars (sweet puff pastry pasties with plum jam in the middle) and I suppose I need to get my act together and give mincepies a go...

[bluekarin]

I have a batch resting. Did another Doh! and used SR flour instead of plain. I put in a bit of baking powder, just in case so we shall see. At least (after reading my post in the Lebkuchen post) they have a chance of rising unlike my Malteaser biscuits I ended up with then