A Very Rich Fruit Cake

Well, I decided that Mr Mozart deserves a very rich fruit cake for his birthday this year.  The fruit was left to soak overnight in good South Australian brandy and I have been up since 5 o'clock this morning...

...preparing the mixture in my largest ceramic bowl.

The effort to combine the ingredients with the assistance of an enormous wooden spoon has been well worth it.  The smell from the kitchen is divine, matching the rich fruits of Mr Mozart's music, which have been wafting around since daybreak.

Some of last year's simple fare

I have already prepared the marzipan musical decorations, classically glacé fruits, and royal icing roses.  Now it is time for a cup of tea.  The cake is baking very slowly in a merely warm oven, to ensure it cooks to perfection.

Later this morning, while the cake is cooling on a rack, I shall make my way to Mr Twitter's Coffee House to hear about other people's celebratory preparations.  Will you be joining me there?

This evening, of course, I shall be taking my cake to Lady Facebookian's grandest soirée of the year.  I do hope you will be bringing along a plate of something, too.