It started with finally deciding that we were never going to get our shit together and bring all the crap that was in the hall down to the car boot sale and sell it. So we boxed it all up and gave it to a local woman who will take it all to the car boot sale and sell it for charity. So, labour avoided and conscience salved all in one fell swoop.
We then had a big brunchy breakfast thing or 'full Irish' if you prefer and a short peruse of the papers before setting to to clean the dining room. This room was designated christmas tree room number one and had to be prepared. So we lifted and cleaned and hoovered and admired our new big hall and our tidyish dining room. Then me and the children walked up the village to the local shop to buy a tree. The second one we looked at was just fine (and only 15 yoyos to boot) so Anna and I carried it home with Paddy being a dragon and flapping his coat wings as he ran down the street.
Then I put it up (remarkably easily) and Anna and Patrick decorated it while Sally cooked dinner and I did more tidying up. We tried the christmas carol thing, but we didn't really have a suitable source and after one or two carols the tape changed to 'lite classical' which is fine, but not what we wanted. So I put on the Pogues and we had a little dance.
Then dinner and a bit of a wrestle with a reluctant son. He went to bed eventually and Anna wrapped her christmas presents and put them under the tree. There's one there for me! And I think I know what it is! But I don't know how she paid for it!
After that Sally and I surfed up and down the TV channels available to us until we gave in and admitted that there was nothing on. Sally then complained that she had the munchies and there was nothing in the house (true). But I hunted around a little and found a packet of Amaretti biscuits and she said 'Chocolate Amaretti cake' with a certain amount of enthusiasm. I'd made this before so I wasn't too daunted by the prospect and having determined that we had all the other ingredients required, put it together.
It's in the oven now and I hope it works out. Here, try it yourself.
Chocolate Amaretti cake
- 6 oz plain chocolate
- 5 1/2 oz almonds
- 3 oz crumbled Amaretti
- 4 oz butter (preferably unsalted)
- 5 oz sugar
- 4 eggs
Preheat the oven to 180 C Butter and line a 9 inch tin. Melt the chocolate over hot water. In a food processor process the almonds and biscuits until finely ground. Transfer to a bowl. Next process the butter and sugar until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, blending well. Add the nut mix and chocolate and blend again. Pour the batter into the cake tin and bake for 30/35 minutes or until the cake feels firm to touch. Cool the cake on a wire rack in the tin for 15 minutes then invert onto a plate. Eat.
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