IT’S NOT a secret any more, French Connection is back in Nicosia and right slap, bang in the middle of town…
After an absence of two years FCUK menswear and ladieswear is now available at a new flagship store called Purple. The company that is forever in the news for its controversial play on words has a collection of winter woolies, leather jackets and beautiful skirts and dresses for the party season to just die for.
Small but cute, the shop caters not only for the avid French Connection fan but also dares all those who have never bought anything from this (32-year-old) British company (if there are such people around …) to come and see its Christmas collection and not want to treat themselves to at least one gorgeous item.
Trust me — I know myself, and it will be hard to stay away.
Purple: 11 Arnaldas Street, Nicosia 1060. Tel: 22-769955
Frosted Fruity Christmas Cake
The stirring of the Christmas cake and pudding are still family ’occasions’ in some households, with wishes being made and little fingers trying to get just one taste before Christmas day. But for a great many others the pudding will be bought and even the cake will be a last-minute dash. Something I’m really good at is last-minute everything, but then people who are organised and prepared must be boring, right?
Suitable for vegetarians but not for people on a slimming diet
(Serves 24 )
Ingredients
350g mixed dried fruit
100g chopped mixed nuts
350g glacé fruits (cherries, pineapple, ginger) chopped
225g dried apricots, roughly chopped
2 tbsp sherry or brandy
1-2 tbsp orange juice
250g packet margarine
250g castor sugar
4 size 1 eggs, beaten
350g plain flour, sieved
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp salt
1tbsp golden syrup
To decorate: 3tbsp warmed clear honey
100g pecan nuts, halved
75g glacé cherries, halved
75g cleaned hazelnuts
75g dried apricots, halved
50g glacé pineapple, cut in wedges
1 egg white
Extra castor sugar
Method
Prepare a 23cm round or 20cm square cake tin, and line with two layers of grease-proof paper in the base and a deep band around the inside. Add a deep band of brown paper outside, coming above the tin. Then grease lightly.
Prepare all the fruit and mix them in a large bowl with the sherry and orange juice.
Cover and leave in a cold place overnight or for several hours.
When ready to cook, pre-heat the oven to 160C, 325F, Mark 3. Cream the margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs alternately with the flour, baking powder and salt until quite smooth. Then add the prepared fruits and juice and the syrup.
Spoon into the tin, flatten the top and bake for one hour.
Reduce the heat to 150C, 300F Mark 2, for a further 1 1/2 to two hours. To test, push a skewer into the centre of the cake (it should come out clean, not sticky) or listen to hear if the cake is still crackling. If necessary return the cake to the oven for a further 15-20 minutes or until cooked.
Allow the cake to cool in the tin. Then remove from the tin and wrap tightly in greaseproof paper and foil until required. This cake does not need to mature, but will always improve if you can store it for a few weeks, and pour over the occasional spoonful (or in my case glassful) of brandy if you wish. Easy as pie.
Polo, anyone?
There’s nothing more sexy on a man than a polo neck jumper, and it gets even better when it’s a cashmere one. So to get your man into the phwoar stakes, put a Brora cashmere jumper (in a choice of six colours) on your Christmas shopping list for him. If you order now you may even get a thank you in the form of a quick grope under the mistletoe!
Click onto www.brora.co.uk Polo neck knitwear from £175 sterling.
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