So This Is Christmas

Merry Christmas is such an infectious feeling I like to feel that way all year around.

So if you are visiting just before Christmas, just after Christmas or even here on Christmas day I am sure you will find something of interest for you and in the spirit of Christmas.

It may be said that Christmas is no longer a celebration but this must be spoken by people that have never had trouble closing their eyes on Christmas Eve in an expectation of what maybe left for them on the carpet under the tree.

I continue to look forward to the surprise on my Grandchild's faces to this day at Christmas events.

Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Have You Ever Tried Original Welsh Cakes

By Eugenia Dickerson


If you would like to try something new, try simple and delicious Welsh cakes. It is very easy to make them, and they can become your new favorite breakfast snacks. Although they are traditional Welsh desserts, you will find different variations in all parts of the UK. They are called bake stones or pics as well.

They taste great served cold or served hot. Usually simply dusted with a little bit of iced sugar, they taste very nice spread with butter or jam, or both. Basic ingredients are self raising flour, sugar, eggs, butter, raisins, currants and spices, mostly nutmeg and cinnamon. The point is to bake them on a frying pan, not in the oven.

There are several variations, and all are quite popular in this part of the world. The variation with an interesting name of Apple Dragon has similar ingredients, but with the addition of grated apples, and this makes it especially moist. Jam Split variation is very popular in southern areas of Wales. The cake is usually served with a bowl of a home-made jam.

Traditional Welsh cakes are made using 400 grams of self-raising flour, 120 grams of butter and the same amount of lard, 100 grams of currants, one egg and some milk. You have to add 150 to 200 grams of sugar, and some of your favorite spices. They usually add cinnamon and nutmeg, but you can also add coriander and ginger if you like.

The preparation is very similar to making a pie. You should mix flour and spices with lard and butter, until your mixture forms small crumbs. Add sugar and other ingredients, and you can add some milk too, until you get a mixture a little bit moister than the one used for a pie.

When you roll out the mixture, it can be one half to one inch thick. You should cut it into rounds. Originally, these rounds were maybe three inches wide, but you can make them smaller if you like. You will need one thick frying pan and just a little bit of fat to grease it. Bake your cake on both sides until golden brown and dust them with sugar.

Some use self raising flour instead. Some recipes contain more spices, and in some you will find currants and raisins, and even some fresh fruits. If you add more baking powder, the cakes will raise and become fluffier. Although you can use any pan, for this special purpose the best one is heavy cast iron one. You could also use more eggs, and you won't have to add milk in the mixture.

One traditional recipe called Piceary moen uses more baking powder mixed with regular flour, more salt and less sugar. Most variations contain nutmeg, but you will find more cinnamon in some, or even coriander, ginger, vanilla or some other spices. Dried and fresh fruits are also quite popular, and all kinds of berries can be used as well.

Welsh cakes are easy to prepare and very tasty. They can be served hot or cold, and if you add some fresh fruits in the mixture, they will be even tastier. Although this cake is usually served dusted with sugar, with jam and butter, you won't make a mistake if you serve it with your favorite cream instead.




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