Christmas Food Photos

Is anyone taking pics of what they're making for Christmas? Would love to see what everyone's up to - pls post photos here!

I'm wrapping up lots of mini Christmas cakes - I've made two sorts this year - our standard cake (top) and a fruit and nut gluten-free version...

Those are awesome Celia! I will take a nut/gluten-free one...hehe!

We did a Gluten-free/egg-free/dairy-free Gingerbread Train. It was more than I bargained for, but I think it came out really well (and 3 feet long, 100% edible...uggghh, we have A LOT of gingerbread). Here's a final pic:

Maria, that looks amazing! I remember you did a big gingerbread house last year, is that right?

If you want the fruit and nut cake recipe, I've posted it here - I think it might work with an egg substitute?

I've also been making speculaas (Dutch gingerbread cookies):

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And I've just braided some new season garlic into a plait for my mum for Christmas!

Oh those gingerbreads look divine...Celia...I need you to come over and do some baking for us! You are amazing...thanks for the recipe link too! Those garlics look pretty cool...any significance? I have never seen that done for the holiday. Is it an Australian thing?

Nice job to both of you! I don't really bake so I have nothing to show. I'll certainly do my share of eating though.

By the way, *C*, who won the welder's mitts?

[Jenise]

You're such an artist, Celia. I would kill for a slice of your traditional fruitcake--it looks like my idea of fruitcake perfection. And I love fruitcake!

Maria, no significance at all in the garlic - I just bought some from a new season crop, and thought they'd be a pretty gift. I'm odd like that...

Dave, thank you, a couple of people in NSW and a lady in Maryland USA won the gloves!

Jenise, if I could, I'd send you one. For some reason I didn't think fruitcake was a big tradition in the US - am I wrong?

[Jenise]

Jenise, if I could, I'd send you one. For some reason I didn't think fruitcake was a big tradition in the US - am I wrong?

It's well known, but less common among my generation than among my parents' and grandparents. Fortunately for me, I grew up with a grandmother who was enamored of fruitcake and bought one every Christmas. We'd share slices of it with tea she'd pour in teacups from her teacup collection, the only time I was ever allowed to drink from those.

Jenise, if I could, I'd send you one. For some reason I didn't think fruitcake was a big tradition in the US - am I wrong?

It's well known, but less common among my generation than among my parents' and grandparents. Fortunately for me, I grew up with a grandmother who was enamored of fruitcake and bought one every Christmas. We'd share slices of it with tea she'd pour in teacups from her teacup collection, the only time I was ever allowed to drink from those.

I had a fruitcake I tried to give away for years. If people saw me coming before Christmas they'd lock their doors.

I had a fruitcake I tried to give away for years. If people saw me coming before Christmas they'd lock their doors.

Just because you heard them exclaim, "Oh no! Here comes the fruitcake!"..you assumed....

Julia B - you are funny

[Jenise]

Celia, I'd love your spekulaas cookie recipe. Plain, shortbready cookies are exactly the kind of sweet I do like, and spekulaas are divine. I've never had them homemade.

Jenise, I've just posted it here. It's actually my friend Maureen's recipe - clever lady made it up herself. It has cloves, cinnamon, ground anise seed, nutmeg and ginger. I made them in two ways - both thin and slightly thicker - but the more common way is apparently to roll them thin and bake them until crisp. My thicker ones came out a bit softer and more gingerbready.

Cheers, Celia