Happy Christmas 2009

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Merry Christmas from all at Drumms and Happy New Year for 2010.  2009 is coming to an end, and I guess most of us will be breathing a deep sigh of relief!  It’s been a tough year for all in business.  But a new year is on the way, 2010 has a good ring to it, and, well, things can only get better. Here at Drumms we would like to wish you a very Happy Christmas and dare I say it, a prosperous New Year. 

Personally, I find that baking is at the heart of ignoring a good recession.  And I have been baking a lot!  From the Christmas cake to the mince pie mix, Christmas biscuits and the Plum Pudding.  The Christmas cakes were baked at the end of November and I've been using a tried and tested recipe for years now.  You can find this in my recipes section.  It's important to bake the Christmas Cake a few weeks before Christmas, so that you have time to lace it with booze in the run up to the event.  This will give a wonderful rich flavour to the cake and add depth and moisture to it.  Keep the icing procedure simple, and using a roll out fondant icing is a good way to go, and will give a wonderful finish.  Using some food colourings (opt for the natural dyes) and christmas biscuit cutters, like trees, stars or angels, and you can be as creative as you like, will make your cake look unique.  There are lots of sprinkles and sparkles available too, let the kids join in, this can be great fun (or a nightmare, depends on your outlook!) However, my favourite pastime this season is baking Christmas biscuits.   Ok, so every one is now calling them cookies, but I’ve a bit of an aversion to the cookie/cupcake take over, I’m stubborn and a traditionalist, and insist on Queen cakes, Fairy Cakes and Biscuits.  Rant over, promise. 

So back to the biscuits.....Recently on a trip to VIKING in France, I picked up a wonderful set of, ok, cookie cutters.  Every shape you ever need for Christmas is there.  I’m particularly fond of the fat angels.  I use a simple shortbread recipe and you’ll find everything you need to know in the recipe in the Cookery School .  If you manage not to eat all of these as you cook, you should have some left for decorating, and again, get the kids involved.  They can be hung on your tree and also make great Christmas gifts.  Guess what my family are getting this year?

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