Christmas recipes

Three recipes which I grew up with my Mum making in the 1970s. The only place I saw them written down was her handwritten recipe book, and so I cannot give credit to whoever originally created the recipes.

Chocolate Mousse

Beat 3 egg whites until stiff (and set aside)

Whip 250 ml cream (and set aside)

Mix together:

• 3 egg yolks
• 40 g granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons hot water

Until this mixture is thick and creamy.

Melt 100 g dark chocolate and add this to the mixture

Add the whipped cream to the mixture

Carefully fold in the beaten egg whites

Refrigerate

Boiled Fruit Cake (simple, nut free alternative to Christmas Cake)

Boil together these ingredients over a low heat, for 20 minutes :

• 500 g mixed fruit
• 300 g granulated sugar
• 180 g Stork margarine
• 1tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 250 ml boiling water

Cool this overnight.

Preheat the oven to 150°C (fan)

Add 125 ml brandy and quarter to half a tub of glace cherries (as desired)

Beat 3 eggs and mix well into the fruit mixture

Add 500 ml plain flour

1 tsp mixed spice

2 heaped tsp Baking Powder

1 tsp vanilla extract

Mix well and bake for 1–1.5 hours depending on your oven (should be a lovely rich golden, and a cake tester should come out clean).

Simple Shortbread

Preheat oven to 180°C

Sift together:

• 250 g flour
• 75 g caster sugar
• 75 g cornflour

Melt 225 g butter and mix it into the dry ingredients with a knife

Knead and press the mixture into a greased pan

Prick well

Bake for approximately 30 minutes

Allow to cool before cutting into squares