I Should Have Listened To Delia!

In 2008 I bought some Nativity Figures from Lakeland, to decorate my cake. Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and Three Wise Men. At the time, I said they were 'rather expensive' and would therefore have to come out every year. This is their 14th Christmas! I have varied the arrangements - and usually been happy with the results...

Culpitt did introduce a nine piece set a while back - my six, plus shepherd, sheep and angel - but there was no point in buying that when it would be full of duplicates.

I usually make the royal icing with my Kenwood Chef.In 2018 I brought the cake un-iced  up to Norfolk, and found it impossible to beat the icing by hand till it was stiff enough. My attempt at making the stable went completely wrong, and the use of half a Chinese takeaway box led the family to liken it to Macclesfield Bus Garage

Last year I used fondant - but we were just two in Dorset on Christmas Day. It wasn't quite the same. Then in March, my dear friend Pauline came round to say goodbye before we moved. We sat [socially distanced] drinking tea in the garden [in our coats] - and she pushed a small box across the table to me. A leaving present.

She gave me her angel to add to my existing set of six figures. I was so touched. I decided this year's cake would have the holy family, one wise man and the new angel. And proper Royal Icing.

I used Delia's recipe here, put the cake stand on my lazy Susan, and spun it round, using my serrated scraper to make patterns. 

Friends, I broke the rules! 
I did not listen to Delia. Her final instruction is "leave the cake out overnight, for the icing to dry out - then put it in a container until needed" - but I just stood the characters on top straightaway, pinned on a red ribbon and took the photo. 

I came back to the kitchen a few hours later, to find Mary and Joseph looking very laid-back, and the Wise Man sunk up to his knees in the icing. The angel was decidedly fallen! The baby was OK. 

I have removed the figures and I am leaving the icing to dry out properly. Then I will work out a way to fix them so they are not languishing deep in the icing-quicksand.

Family conversation this week 

"So, Grandma, why do we have Santa at Christmas? He didn't visit baby Jesus in the stable did he?" 
"I think you should ask Grandad Bob about that"
"Grandad, why do we have Santa Claus?" 
"Well, Rosie, perhaps Grandma Angela will explain all about a man called Nicholas" 

After some thought, Rosie concluded that most presents come from Mum and Dad, or friends and family. But if we don't know who they are from, those must be the gifts from Santa...