The torch was passed this Christmas....

Hi Ladies, I hope you're having a lovely weekend and enjoying yourself? We've enjoyed a happy, relaxing Sunday today. John has been getting some odd jobs done around the house for me in preparation for the double surprise party we'll be hosting here in 2 weeks time for my mum's 70th and our daughter's Sweet 16! We've got 80 guests coming, so things are getting a little hectic here with that right on top of Christmas!

Anyway, today I spent the day making Christmas cakes. This is actually the first time in my life that I have made a Christmas cake because it's always been tradition in my family that my mum makes the Christmas cakes. Each year she'd make one for herself, one for my family, one for my sister's family, and one for my brother's family. This year though mum has had a lot of health issues and just hasn't felt up to things like she would normally, so the torch was passed on to me......


I decided not to use the recipe that my mum always uses because I was afraid that my cakes wouldn't turn out as good as hers, so I found a recipe on line that looked pretty good.......


and after gathering all the ingredients together.......


I got down to work.............


here it is all ready to go into the oven. Good luck little cake, please turn out!


while I was baking it started raining which was most certainly a welcome relief since it hasn't rained here for months. Let's just hope and pray that it doesn't rain the night of our big surprise party! How in the world would I squeeze 80 people into our little Jacaranda Cottage?? Oh well, we'd manage and it would be one party no one would forget, that's for sure! lol


the gentle sounds of rain and Christmas music playing softly in the background were enough to lull LuLu into a deep sleep while I was baking..........


isn't she just the sweetest lil' thing?! My baby girl.........


and here's the cake straight out of the oven......looking good so far. Fingers crossed!


after the cakes had cooled they were dressed in their Christmas finest.....


lets hope that they taste as good as they look...........


a touch of holly and some Christmas cheer..........


I guess the delicious smell woke LuLu up because she came to investigate....


and I think she agrees that they're pretty good!


now I just have to get my family's nod of approval, then we'll know whether my first attempt at making a Christmas cake was a success...........


and if it is I will be making this recipe again next Christmas too!



How about you all, are you madly baking up a storm for Christmas too? Do you have any favourite recipes or special family traditions that you do each year? I'd love to hear them if you do!

Until next time, have a wonderful day!

Love Amanda xxx