Hat's Off to "Baby Sis"

The Traditional British Wedding Cake

The British are known as strict followers of tradition.  A traditional English wedding cake is much like what we American's would call a fruitcake. In modern Britain a "Traditional Wedding Cake" is usually a very dense fruitcake decorated with icing applied over a layer of marzipan... it is the centerpiece at the wedding reception which in Great Britain is a ceremony that is still very much held to tradition and folklore. Needless to say, this time around Baby Sis pulled out all the stops, she didn't hold back, to the contrary she put on a spread, that is to say a "Do" that soon will not be forgotten! 

Over two billion celebrated the Royal Wedding around the world!

Just after Christmas 2010 news of the upcoming Royal Wedding in April seemed to be a daily thing.  We travel each year back home to be with family and friends and to indulge in traditions you find nowhere else.  I wanted to be in the UK with family for this event... we both did... I cannot explain my reasons other then just about the entire nation celebrates a Royal Wedding with block parties or family gatherings such as the one we attended.  It took a bit of doing... shopping on line for the round trip tickets as the event was to be held Easter time, but we were able to procure great tickets, the flights were uneventful this time around, and we arrived to weather I will describe as remaining perfect for us during the entire visit.

Champagne before 11:00

Wanting to go... it all came about you see... when word arrived Baby Sis was going big time formal with this thing.  She was having a party at her place in celebration of the Marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.  There would be formal dress required for the men, the ladies would be in beautiful dress's and their hats.  Those hats... the whole thing about the tradition of the hats for women in the UK is unparalleled elsewhere, they look gorgeous in them and for the life of me... living over here in "Latest Fad" fashion land... it remains a mystery highly fashionable hats for women haven't caught on.  It's an industry waiting to be reborn in America.  My next posting will be dedicated to the tradition of British women and their hats. 

A feast to be remembered

I have a new word now for my vocabulary... it came to me during the weeks building up to the Royal Wedding... that word is "Canapes."  We Americans more commonly (no pun intended) refer to that arena of the culinary arts as "hors d'oeuvre."  The less refined of us call it "Finger Food," and the even lesser refined will say "Munchies... " For this posting I indulge with the word "Canapes" (pronounced Can ah pay).  Baby Sis went all out with the Canapes.

The Danish and Bread rolls

As family arrived we did a private photo session, then coffee and sweet rolls were served and some of us who shall remain nameless got right down to popping corks... more about that later, I will say for now the popping seemed at the time to be endless.  Since the BBC was covering the entire event with no commercial interruptions because that's the way television ought to be... and someone has to set the standard... naturally two wide screens were positioned for maximum viewing pleasure for those attending as these sort of events require your undivided attention... it's much like watching the World Cup only there's not as much yelling and screaming involved, honestly it was a refined occasion and the "Canapes" tied the whole thing together and were simply delicious.

Traditional British Cucumber and Salmon Sandwiches

You wouldn't think as an American one would ever eat a cucumber sandwich.  For me it was years ago when I was offered one... first time around I was hooked, they are addictive.  I'm not big, or so I thought... for salmon in a sandwich but again... wow... try one.

Quiche surrounded by Sweet Potato Pikoras

Thirty years ago or more there was a tongue-in-cheek book published that satirized stereotypes of masculinity... somewhere in there the line "Real men don't eat Quiche" surfaced.  Which is not at all true in present day Great Britain for if your are hungry you will eat anything, we know this to be true... of which if you are not eating Quiche when served that's OK... good for you... there will be more for me.  Did I mention the "Champers" we were popping open before 11:00?

Filo with Hummus and sliced Cherry Tomato, Filo with sliced Salmon and Fennel on Fete Cheese

The house was full of activity the morning of the Royal Wedding.  I love family gatherings like these as it's always a flurry going on.... with this one and that one preparing and serving the food, pouring drinks, helping each other do what has to be done and then in passing in the hall there is the quick "Hello" don't you look lovely... and I must mention by law there was the mandatory silence for the TV viewing room... as every word from the announcer was history in the making and I was not to disturb...

What's a party without cut veggies?

As an American attending a national British event at the local level I sort of took a back seat during the ceremony and let things flow as they did without my interruption.  I did very much appreciate being there, as an example... the military pomp and ceremony are unparalleled and I am a big fan.  Everything seemed to fall in place naturally for the Royal Couple.  I personally appreciated the fact both she and he invited many of the everyday ordinary people from her village where she grew up to their wedding... from the Greengrocer to the Post Office clerks to their neighbors down the street.  Nice gal in my opinion.

Fresh berries can make a party

The week before was a total flurry of activity across the country in preparation for the big day.  We drove through many countryside villages where the locals were getting ready, as if it were their own big day... which it was.  Red White and Blue bunting (those small triangle flags you see above automobile sales lots) was hung along the roadside in celebration of this national event.  It was an occasion for the British Heart of most citizens... no matter what you read or hear in the media, most citizens of the UK love the Royal Family.  The Royal family is not political, rather they are of the British culture, "they are" the British culture.  Baby Sis put me to good use hanging up her bunting... I also spent considerable time with the kids blowing up balloons to make garlands to hang inside and out and about... in a small way I did my part for the Royal couple.

What we love

The ritual of the wedding cake in Britain can be traced back to medieval times.  The tradition followed today actually started during the time of the wedding of Queen Victoria.  There is a school of thought where it has been said that "Fruit cakes aren't popular nowadays as they used to be," I disagree.  Yes, it takes a bit of real effort and meticulous attention to detail to bring together from scratch the required ingredients and turn them into a work of art... that said, that's exactly what Baby Sis did.  She is pretty much a subject matter expert with baking a Traditional British Wedding cake... her cakes are perfection.  I know, I watched it disappear with fine Champagne...  Word got out through the family she was up to baking one for the gathering we attended in Cheltenham... and not a one of us was about to miss out on that.  It was a special occasion on a special day with her home decked out with Union Jack bunting, red white and blue balloons, mandatory dual wide screen tellys, "Canapes" set out on the dining room, Champagne on ice in the kitchen, and the center piece de resistance... the Traditional British Wedding Cake in the shape of a hat, which is another tradition I think would fly over here as really... how feminine...

Imagine the hard work and attention to detail, don't you just love the flowers?

Wedding cakes are frequently kept for weeks or months before serving and may be kept for years after the wedding.  Our Aunt Molly made ours in 1985 and we were still feeding it to dad every time he would visit up to 1991, it lasted that long without going to spoil... we used a magic ingredient to keep it moist... to top up the moisture content just add a fine brandy or cognac... The traditional British wedding cake is a "heavy fruit cake"... yes it’s heavy and very rich and over time will get very dark, it is one thing age will improve.  It was traditional, simple, elegant, feminine and covered in a thick layer of marzipan (up to one fourth inch thick) and then covered in royal icing.  Baby Sis spent a considerable time making those beautiful handmade sugar flowers.  The outer frosting can be "Royal Icing" (recipe below) which is applied over the Marzipan... it is a pure white icing that dries to a smooth, hard, matte finish, or "Fondant Icing" which can also be used to make the flowers.

In celebration of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Baby Sis brought the family together to celebrate the Royal Wedding, that was a big deal to me.  Though we are oceans apart... because of today's technology we are always together.  I cannot think of a more wonderful occasion where I had such a good time being with everyone attending.  Now about that Wedding Cake...

A slice for your review!

The technique I am told for a correctly done wedding cake is once it has been baked it must age.  Since I have been aging myself I can vouch for the goodness derived.  That said, I will repeat to keep it moist you do so by simply adding the right kind of moisture... a fine liqueur or brandy of your choice and your traditional British Wedding Cake will go on for years without spoiling, if you do let it dry out... no problem... add moisture... and speaking of moisture...

We are Professional !

A total of nine bottles of excellent French Champagne and two bottles of very fine Italian Prosecco made their way to the glass recycling bin due to the occasion of the Royal Wedding.  I believe in conservation programmes and am one who  recycles... and I hope you do too!


Next posting:  The Tradition of Hats for British Women and yes, "Ale..." we will talk about the Ale... and the churches and the farms and the countryside and the art... lots of art to come.


Bake your own British Wedding Cake: Click Here

How to make "Royal Icing": Click Here: 



How much for the cake off the shelf ? Click Here

How much for an "English Garden" cake: Click Here

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