Page 70 of Christmas at Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

‘Okay, so we are getting on well, we were having a good time. But I don’t need to be justifying my actions to you. You’re sounding like a stroppy teenager, Rachel.’

They were both getting fired up now.

‘Well, thanks. Can’t you see this is hard for me too? Seeing you with someone else. And what about Dad?’

‘Rachel, love, your dad’s gone and I’m betraying no one. You’re making a big deal about nothing.’

‘So, Dad dying is nothing now?’ It was all spilling out. Rachel’s hands were on her hips.

‘Don’t be so damned silly. You’re putting words into my mouth and making the whole thing into something that it isn’t.’

With that, Maisy appeared around the sitting room door, yawning and looking anxious. ‘Mummy, why are you and Grandma shouting?’

Shit, they’d woken her up.

‘Oh, sorry petal, it’s all right. We were just chatting about something. Everything’s fine,’ Rachel reassured.

It was all far from fine. It was a mess.

‘Sorry, love. It’s nothing to be worried about,’ added Jill.

‘Come on, I’ll take you back up to bed.’ Rachel got up and took her little girl’s hand, glad to get out of the room and its echoes of blame and accusations. She couldn’t bear to look at her mum’s face as she went.

Rachel hated arguing with Jill, and it hardly ever happened because they were so close. But this went deep. Was there really nothing to be worried about, or was this a rift that wasn’t going to heal?

The Tenth Bake of Christmas

Rachel’s Irish Cream Cheesecake

This is one of Rachel’s all-time favourite cheesecakes – it’s very easy to make and involves no baking as such!

Recipe:

175g digestive biscuits

70g unsalted butter

275g full fat cream cheese

150ml double cream

200g condensed milk

4 x 15ml spoons (tbsp) Irish Cream liqueur

8-10 large chocolate chips/chocolate curls or chocolate coffee beans to decorate

Crush the biscuits with a rolling pin, or whizz in a food processor until evenly crushed.

Melt the butter in a pan, add biscuits and stir through to mix well. Spoon into a deep 20cm/8inch flan dish (one with a push-up base or clip side release would be ideal). Press into place with the back of a dessert spoon around the base and sides of the dish. Chill in the fridge whilst you do the next step.

Place cream cheese in a bowl, add the cream and condensed milk and beat until thick with an electric hand whisk. Slowly add the Irish Cream and beat again lightly to mix through.

Chill in fridge for at least 2 hours.

Decorate with your chocolate garnish at equal spaces around the outer circle area, ideally one garnish per slice.

Serve with friends!