Sam's Santa Surprise

Location:

Derry

You have 500 characters to tell us why you should win Cheffactor:

I've made fairy cakes since the age of 10 and although being brought up in a home where everyone cooks, I had never really ventured outside fairy cakes until I was given a Rachel Allen book last Christmas. Since then I have discovered a real passion for cooking and have tried lots of things from pastry to breads to chutneys and marmalades. When I'm in the kitchen I'm a very much a 'throw it together and it'll be fine' cook so would love a little help getting a more 'disciplined' approach.

You have 500 characters to tell us about your dish:

What's better than ordinary fruit cake - well iced fruit cake of course! This Rachel Allen recipe makes the perfect Christmas cake but you can really have it all year round for any celebration or even just as something to have in the cupboard. It's bursting with fruit including apricots, dates, raisins and sultanas, all of which are soaked in brandy. The 'surprise' part of the cake is the chimney, as this is a mini Victoria Sponge just in case Santa or one of his reindeers prefers sponge cakes!