December is upon us and is here sooner than expected leaving me so little time to prepare for all the end-of-the-year activities. Though sorry to witness another year wrap up and go by so soon again, December holds a special place in my heart because of, none other than, Christmas! It remains the best celebration of the year for me.
The shops have, naturally, not allowed us to forget about Christmas. Commercially, Christmas is not a day set aside to remember and celebrate the birth date of our Lord, Jesus Christ, but is a whole long season “to be merry”, and for profits to be made. Economically, it is understandable commercial enterprises will utilize opportunities to capitalize on gains and improve their balance sheets and P & L accounts, particularly at the crucial end of their financial year. Being generous and gifting presents to loved ones is applaudable but it should not obscure the true real meaning of why we celebrate Christmas. The reason for the season is, sadly forgotten annually, and much focus directs itself to the glistening tinsel and colorful baubles hanging on heavily decorated Christmas trees at almost all large shopping malls. Don’t forget the cute reindeer amidst (fake) snow settings too, and if you are lucky enough, you may even come upon a real live Santa dispensing gifts to little children! Though I may even somewhat enjoy taking in the sights and am happy for those whose spirits are lifted traipsing through the decorations to the sounds of Christmas carols blasting out loud and clear, it is good to pause a little to reflect on the real meaning for Christmas and why it is commemorated.
At the heart of Christmas lies the real gift, the redemption and salvation of life by Christ Jesus who laid down his life in total sacrifice for the total atonement of humankind’s sins, an act of absolute grace bestowed on a people unable to earn their salvation. Jesus came to earth in the flesh, born to the Virgin Mary in humble settings. That precious birth more than 2000 years ago, visited by wise men bearing symbolic gifts of myrrh, frankincense, and gold, is whose birthday that is celebrated each commemorative December. Believers are exhorted to recall this and not be misled by the commercialization of Christmas. Celebrating with the body of Christ, and with family and friends in the spirit of love and with forgiveness for wrongdoing is a good approach in the right direction. Merriment is welcome as is inclusiveness and generosity though it is very much a religious cum spiritual celebration, and certainly nothing to do with Jingle Bells Rock!
Christmas this year, after the calamitous long divisive COVID-19 years, will be doubly appreciated, as it was last year as well after lockdowns were lifted when the threat of COVID-19 reduced. We still have much to be thankful for and happy to reconnect with loved ones. Year-ends for many are also a time for rest and enjoyment from one’s labor throughout the year. Schools are on their long breaks and families make much effort to spend time together either at home or on vacation. The past sufferings endured are made up for by vengeful celebrations fired up by the realization we survived the pandemic, which in itself is a great blessing. Many did not. Give thanks to God that we are still around. What hits home even more acutely is realizing how fragile and precious life is and has become. As we wind down yet another year, reflect on what it means to have reached this stage of our lives and set the direction for the future. Be grateful we live in peace when many others are in untold turmoil and in danger of losing their lives. These are blessings we should not take for granted. It is a time for gratefulness. Pray also for peace to come upon warring nations and for lives to be spared.
So as we prepare to meet up with family and friends and get busy in the kitchen readying for the celebration, I wish to share a cake recipe that I very much love, with you. May it add a sweet dimension to your celebration.
It’s Christmas, what better time than to put on your apron and start baking!
Almond cake is my preferred cake over sponge cakes for celebrations, this almond cake is rich in flavor and enormously satisfying. It can be enjoyed plain or sandwiched with a marzipan layer and decoratively iced with butter cream for a festive look. Just enjoy eating without too much guilt!
Ingredients:
250 g salted butter
230 g castor sugar
150 g all purpose flour
150 g almond flour or grounded almond
2 1/2 tsp baking powder (level)
1 tsp vanilla essence
5 large eggs
3 tbsp milk
1 10” square or round 2-3” tall baking pan, lined with GP paper
Marzipan
1/3 of the butter cream (see below)
150 g almond flour or ground almond
Butter cream
150 g unsalted butter
200-220 g icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
Decorations
dried rosebuds (optional)
gold-colored dragees
Method:
1. Cream butter with the sugar until well risen, about 15-20 mins.
2. Beat in the eggs one at a time until all are used up. Mix in the vanilla essence. Remove the beaters.
3. Sift the flour and baking power 3 times. Evenly mix in the ground almonds. With a metal spoon, fold in the flour-almond mixture, a third at a time, lastly add the milk and incorporate in.
4. Pour batter into the GP lined cake pan.
5. Bake in a pre-heated oven (middle rack) at 160 deg C for 1 hr and 10 mins. Check for doneness by piercing the cake with a skewer, which should come out clean or bake for another 5-10 mins. until cooked. Do not let the cake dry out from over baking.
6. Remove the cake from the oven and let the cake cool down before removing from the baking pan.
Marzipan
7. Knead the almond flour or ground almonds with the butter cream until combined. Roll out between 2 GP paper sheets the size of the baking pan. Remove the top sheet of GP paper.
Butter Cream
8 Beat everything together until risen and smooth, 10-15 mins.
Cake Assembly
Slice the cake horizontally into 2 pieces. Using the bottom sheet of the GP paper invert the marzipan over onto the bottom half of the cake and gently peel back the GP paper leaving the marzipan onto the cake. Replace the top half of the cake on the marzipan layer.
Frost the top or the whole cake with the butter cream. Pipe some designs with the remaining butter cream, and decorate with the dried rosebuds and/or dragees.
Notes:
“GP” refers to greaseproof.
Top view
Decoration tip:
Here, a simple design is chosen for the butter cream since the cake is displayed on a bright floral serving plate. If using a plain serving plate, feel free to decorate more elaborately.
