In our family, Christmas cake brought joy long before it was unwrapped at Christmas time to become the symbol of good tidings and cheer to all men. This grand annual production called for planning months ahead and everybody was expected to pitch in and do their bit for family honour. As young as eight years old, I remember sitting on upturned dalda tins in the dingy bakery and feeling mighty important as I wrote out our family name on strips of paper to be carefully placed atop the wobbling batter so that our cakes would not get mixed up in the oven.
At the beginning of November, families would lean across the pews in church and whisper the question: ‘How many kilos of cake this Christmas?’ Those expecting large contingents of guests would hazard five kilos, which, wait a moment, meant five kilos each of flour, fruit, unsalted butter and ghee and then at least two-and a-half to three kilos of dry fruits and nuts—resulting in a gargantuan number of cakes for family and friends.
In keeping with the spirit of the season, the recipe for a Christmas cake is most forgiving. The Indian version is actually a close cousin of British plum pudding also served at Christmas time. Indian Christians add a generous dose of hot spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and shahi zeera (royal cumin seeds); roasted dry and then ground and added, also referred to as ‘cake masala’.
Esta historia es de la edición December 2022 de Reader's Digest India.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición December 2022 de Reader's Digest India.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Why Water Workouts Work
Swimming and other aquatic exercises have special benefits
Surf's Up... Again
A Hawaiian helps victims of a devastating fire in the most Hawaiian way possible
HUMOUR in UNIFORM
I got sloppy with my shaving one morning and nicked my skin.
NEXT STOP: WHO KNOWS?
We wanted to do a once-in-a-lifetime trek in northern Laos. Just getting there became the adventure
Leave the WILD Things Be
Wild animals have been made to serve a variety of human needs, including recreational ones. It’s up to everyday folk to decry the use of animals for entertainment
GOTCHA!
We asked for it: What’s the best prank you ever pulled?
Doing Dad's Bucket List
Laura Carney's father died suddenly, with unfinished business. So she started checking off the items for him
Buried beneath a Mountain
The amazing 17-day-long, multi-agency effort to rescue 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel
IS EVERYONE ON OZEMPIC?
Everything you need to know about the new diabetes drugs shaping the weight-loss revolution
DO MORE WITH YOUR TECH
You're undoubtedly missing out on cool features that can help make life easier, safer and even more fun