I gave up the marzipan hunt, and decided to buy another pack after my hospital volunteer session. The unit was looking very festive - the tree from the town festival is on display in the entrance, and there are seasonal decals on all the windows. There were quite a few empty beds, I think they're trying to get folk home for Christmas.
The patient I played chess with recently was in his wheelchair by the door, his bag beside him. He apologised that he didn't have time for another game. I had a long chat about knitting with another patient, who was wearing a beautiful jumper she made recently. She told me that as well as her fall, she'd had breathing problems "All my family suffer with their bronickles" I left and went to Lidl to buy milk, mushrooms, mouthwash and marzipan [I love it when my list is alliterative] The first three were easy to find. But not marzipan. I asked an assistant "we stopped stocking it at the end of November" he replied. What?!? I can't be the only person needing marzipan for their Christmas cake this week?
I went across to Tesco [it's on the same site] They had three options, pre rolled sheets, ready to roll "golden" marzipan and "nutty" marzipan. I'm not paying someone a quid to roll out my marzipan. So I must choose between golden and nutty. "Golden" promises to add a soft, nutty layer, and "nutty" will add a soft, sweet layer to the cake. Golden has more sugar, and added colouring. I chose nutty. But my question is this
If all marzipan is made of almonds, isn't ALL marzipan nutty?
[Being an Almond myself I have strong feelings about this]
The cake is now marzipanned, iced and decorated. It's smaller than last year's cake, so the figures are standing closer, and the Magi are just strolling round at a lower level!
Have you made/iced a cake this year?
I still make Xmas cakes as pressies but I gave up on decorating them years ago. I only made Almond Paste once: the consistency was too soft and a nightmare to get on the cake. Never again.
ReplyDeleteI made my own marzipan once, not a success!
DeleteMine will just have marzipan. Which I bought a few weeks ago.
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DeleteVery pretty cake. I dont make them as no one likes them, except me! A small M/S one is plenty.
ReplyDeleteThis one was made earlier in the year when I did my wedding anniversary cake to share at the Harvest Festival
DeleteYour cake looks great. I have made two Christmas cakes, one for us (not me just my husband and any visitors) and one for our youngest son who loves rich fruit cake. They are still wrapped in foil maturing and I am icing them in the coming week. I got some 'white' marzipan from Aldi it has no added colouring and a high proportion of almonds, I bought it in November. Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteI thought I bought a packet earlier - it will probably turn up later
DeleteStrolling Magi! You're a hoot, Ang! Great cake. What is the design around the circumference?Is it edible?
ReplyDeleteIt's ribbon. Why shouldn't they stroll? They've travelled a long way ..
DeleteHi Christmas cakes in our house. I don’t like it nowadays and of course Norrie really shouldn’t have it. I used to make the whole thing from scratch including the marzipan as our parents loved it and I was the only one daft enough to spend time making it! Happy weekend. Catriona
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DeleteYour cake looks great and I was about to ask about what was around it but saw the answer.
ReplyDeleteI love the little figurines, they are charming. JanF
I used to make several cakes but I never eat Christmas cake and OH got fed up with it, so the birds always had a portion. The others I gave as presents or raffle prizes. I'm quite happy with a mince pie these days. Talking of lost things, I've mislaid a new packet of tags, so the Christmas wrapping has come to a halt!Xx
ReplyDeleteMine is smaller this year, because if it is bigger, Bob and I will over indulge!
DeleteNo fruit cake this year so far, unless I buy some. Last year I did send away for some from a monastery and it was excellent - no icing though. I'm going to make a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting as our son loves carrot cake apparently, and I think we will all enjoy it. It will have to have gluten free flour as DDIL really can't tolerate much gluten, while DS seems to be able to cheat a bit.
ReplyDeleteFood intolerance can make catering difficult at times
DeleteGrowing up, we used to make marzipan with cashews as we didn't have almonds. I haven't made a Christmas cake since my mother passed away; my daughter doesn't like fruit cake and I shouldn't eat any!
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting substitution I've not heard of before!
DeleteI've made my Christmas cake and bought the icing and marzipan (and some figures to decorate it with, in the sales after Christmas last year!). It will get decorated at some point next weekend, as well as making some chocolate truffles.
ReplyDeleteI love chocolate truffles!!!
DeleteI've only ever used Marzipan to make coloured stars for a friend who loved Marzipan!
ReplyDeleteYour cake is great! I love the strolling wise men!
Kezzie x
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