Make a Start on your Christmas Pud!

paulamathers

Ok, so it might only be the middle of June, but now is the perfect time to make a start on those Christmas Puddings. For those who don't know, Christmas Puds are a very British thing. They are a dark, heavy on the fruit, heavy on the alcohol steamed pudding that are traditionally served on Christmas day after Christmas dinner. It is traditionally served with Brandy Butter or whipped cream and is very rich. Traditionally, a silver coin is placed in the mixture during the mixing stage, and cooked into the pudding. The person who is served up the slice with the coin inside traditionally has good luck for the coming year. Since we Brits stopped making our coins from real silver though, this is no longer done. The metals in the new coins give off toxins into the pudding as it is heated. What i tend to do is cheat and buy a ready made pud! I heat it up, then put a silver(ish) coin into someone's slice, then add the Brandy Butter or Cream.

The reason Christmas Puddings should be started in June, is the level of alcohol involved. Once the pudding has been steamed, you keep it in the dish and cover it with a cheese cloth. Once every 3 or 4 weeks you add a couple of shots of alcohol (traditionally Brandy), and leave it to soak through the pudding. You continue this until about 3 weeks before Christmas. The level of alcohol preserves the pudding, making it safe to eat for up to a year after it has been originally steamed - providing it has been kept in a cool place and totally covered. I think i already have a Christmas Pudding recipe submitted, but i'll have a look around and see if i can get hold of any more.

Christmas Puddings are a must have at any British Christmas table, and don't really cost that much to buy from the supermarket. My favourite is actually Tesco own brand (not Value) Christmas Pudding, which is around £1.99 for a 1 pound pudding. The only trouble is making sure you have enough room left in you to have a decent sized helping!!!

Kate · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 6:00 am Post subject:

Now that I have the suet for the pudding, thanks to you Paula, I may just start one. I want one of those really neat pudding moulds, but will most likely end up using a bowl haha.
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A closed mouth gathers no feet.

paulamathers · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 8:44 pm Post subject:

Everyone i know uses a bowl to make it, so you won't be the odd one out by not using a pudding mould. i'll also send you over another christmas pud when they start selling them in the shops over here - generally from around october i think!!!

Kate · Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 5:17 am Post subject:

Great, I remember usually seeing them in a half round shape. And thanks, that last pudding was delicious!
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A closed mouth gathers no feet.

paulamathers · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 7:05 am Post subject:

I'm glad you liked it Smile