A very vintage Christmas......

Re-creating a vintage styled Christmas is the ultimate goal of every vintage loving momma like me! I want my children to delight in the romance, magic and sheer beauty that Christmas can be - just as I remember it was when I was a child. The house decorated fantasticly in merriment (often home made decorations too - even better !!), Jim Reeves crooning carols on the stereo, a trip to church to celebrate the reason for the season, extended family around - happy, laughing and dressed in their 'Sunday' best, and the dinner table weighted down with decadent delights for everyone. And, of course, what should be the 'piece de resistance' - the Christmas cake topping off a fine time.....and yet, my memories of the cake are a bit disapointing I must say - it was too super rich, crumbly and dry. I don't know who made it in my family but it is time that aspect of my reminiscent vintage Christmas was updated - to something all vintage loving domestic divas would nod in approval over ! Even if you don't particularly like Christmas or fruit cake (like me), you simply MUST try this one! To have a true heritage, vintage Christmas, you must have Christmas cake, so why not have one that everyone at your Christmas party will drool over....and while you are nibbling away, enjoy my little tribute to the vintage beauty of Christmas - the movies, the images, the advertising (!), the food, the elegance, the parties, the fun - HAPPY VINTAGE CHRISTMAS EVERYONE !

'Aunty' Hannahs DIVINE Christmas Cake

1 medium tin crushed pineapple with fruit juice
500gms of dried fruit of choice (apricots, sultanas, apple etc) – diced.
½ cup Sherry
1 cup juice of choice
125gms butter
1 cup raw sugar

Place all together in large saucepan and boil for 5 mins. Let cool for ½ hour or so.

Add 1 ½ – 2 cups of SR Flour
2 Large eggs whisked
1 Teaspoon nutmeg and cinnamon

Mix all together. Place in a lined and greased large spring tin. Bake at 160 degrees Celsius for 1-1 ½ hours. Allow to cool in tin. Ice and decorate as creativity desires !!!

(Dear Candice, Please accept my recipe and little Christmas song as my entre into your wonderful Christmas Competition - the rest of my post is over 200 words! The link to your competition I posted here at Alice Jeans a couple of posts back - Thankyou for a wonderful competition, and a merry Christmas to you, Darling Vintage Vixen ! XX)