MERRY CHRISTMAS!

“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” - Charles Dickens

Merry Christmas! Yes, it’s Christmas in July in Australia. It is a typically Australasian tradition and it is being celebrated increasingly “as a bit of fun”. The beginnings of the tradition are sometimes attributed to an Irish tourist group that enjoyed the winter snow in Sydney's Blue Mountains and decided to party. However, the precise beginnings of Christmas in July is not known, nor does it need to be, as it is a simple idea that has been enjoyed by many here who remember the northern hemisphere's snow blanketed Christmas.

Australians too love a traditional Christmas dinner, however, the typical midsummer heat here on Christmas Day, means that many families are forced to focus on a BBQ by the beach, salads and ice cream cake, because it is just too hot to get enthusiastic about a traditional big roast, ham, turkey and pudding. So over the years many Australian families and organisations have opted to have an addition Christmas dinner in July, in the middle of winter when it's nice and cool and great for tucking in to a sumptuous big feast. A Christmas in July dinner usually includes Christmas decorations Christmas candles, colourful streamers, bonbons, Christmas hats and whistles.

This Christmas in July tradition is so well entrenched in Australia now, that most restaurants, clubs and dining halls, have an official advertised annual catered menu for Christmas in July, and are often booked well in advance. It's always a great excuse for work teams to get together and party, and at a time when they don't have to battle to reserve a table and pay premium prices.

It is in the Australian snowfields that Christmas in July traditions are really celebrated. July is the peak season for the snowfields they all have special events connected with their Christmas in July celebrations. The main Australian snowfields resorts are at Thredbo, Perisher Blue, Mt. Buller, Charlotte Pass, Mt Selwyn, Falls Creek, Hotham, Baw Baw, Mt. Buffalo, Ben Lomond and Corin Forest. Of course all of the young revellers love to build a snowman when they are in the snowfields, Santa skiing on the slopes is a quite a treat and, since everyone that is there, is on holidays, the nights are full of dining and cheer and merriment, so it is a perfect scene for Christmas in July celebrations. Many families make the brief excursion to the Australian snowfields just for the Christmas in July celebrations.

So what better than a Christmas Cake recipe for this Christmas in July Food Friday?

CHRISTMAS BRANDY FRUITCAKE

Ingredients
500g Raisins
500g chopped Pitted Dates
125g Sultanas
125g Currants
200g Glace Cherries
1 Cup Brandy
250g Butter Cut Into Small Pieces
2 Cups Dark Brown Sugar
1 Tablespoon Vanilla Essence
4 X 60g Eggs
200g Dark Chocolate
1 Cup Plum Jam
2 Cups Plain Flour
1⁄2 Cup Self Raising Flour
1 Tablespoon Cinnamon

Method
Mix the dried fruit in a bowl and add the brandy, leaving it marinate for 1-2 hours. Line a 23 cm deep round cake tin (or 2 x 18cm tins) with a double layer of baking paper on sides and base. Wrap outside of tin with a double thickness of brown paper and tie with string or secure join with a paper clip. Heat oven to 160°C.

Beat the butter and sugar, until creamy. Add the vanilla and then the eggs one by one, beating well. Add to the fruit and mix well. Melt chocolate in a small saucepan over simmering water, or in the microwave for about 60 seconds, and then stir in the plum jam and pour over the fruit. Fold in the flour and cinnamon, and pour the cake mixture into the prepared tin. Smooth off the top and shake the pan to settle contents and remove air pockets.
Bake for 2 1⁄2 - 3 hours (2-2 1/4 hours for smaller cakes) until a skewer test comes out clean. Remove from the oven, leave in the tin, wrap in tea towels and rest overnight before serving.
Preparation Time: 30 minutes (plus marination) - Cooking Time: 2-3 hours