RITUAL

I love the ritual of making Christmas cake. The decadent fruit, nuts and spices, the satisfying stir with a big wooden spoon and making a wish.The reliability of a good recipe knowing that if you weigh, mix and cook certain ingredients as written on paper, they alchemise into something delicious.The thought of nestling by the fire with a cup of tea and a slice of cake made with lots of love.Whenever I make Christmas cake, I think of women before me who have stood and stirred their own mixture. Their aprons, their hands, their stories. I think of all the variations of this cake too - some women lucky enough to use 'exotic' spices like cinnamon and nutmeg or to wrap their cakes in velvety marzipan.I wonder how the Christmas cake will change in the future...I'm sure my Grandma would be horrified to know I put Pimms and figs in mine 🤣