Christmas Pudding Archives

Making The Christmas Pudding Part 2

The day finally came to steam my Christmas Pudding, and the truth would be revealed whether I am facing a culinary disaster never experienced before.

I didn’t follow the method of the pudding recipe exactly as there are various ingredients I just don’t like, and the same for the steaming process too. I know, I am taking a risk as I’m not in any way shape or form a chef.

So, I put butter and flour in some plastic basins I had hanging around. Placed the pudding, that had been sitting in the fridge for a week, into the basins, about 3/4 full. I then put a circle of parchment paper on top, then covered with foil and secured with an elastic band. We have a large steamer we got from the Chinese store so I used that, it fit 3 small basins. I still have more pudding mix remaining so I will have to find more basins from somewhere and repeat this exercise another day.

The recipe says steam for 4 hours, but I slightly reduced that as I spread the pudding mix over 3 small basins.

I was completely gobsmacked when I tried the pudding, it actually tasted very good. I was stunned. I guess my previous experience with Christmas Pudding, being as hard as a brick, frightened me off making any more. Well, now I have tons of Christmas Pudding that will last me months, and I can make it anytime I want. I am very happy.

Steven2019-12-07T16:45:45+00:007 December 2019|Christmas Pudding, Food|

Making My Christmas Pudding Part 1

It’s not really in my field of expertise to make my own Christmas Pudding, I have only done it once and that turned out to be rock hard. I am quite happy others making it for me as they can do a better job. However, this year I thought I would be brave and do my own.

I chose a recipe that didn’t include the incredients I dislike the most:

Dates
Peel
Large nuts
Beer

Actually the recipe I did choose did contain some of those but I put extra dried fruit or alcohol to compensate.

So Stir Up Sunday, this year on 24th November, was the traditional day to make your pudding. This pudding is in two chunks, stir the incredients, leave for a week, then steam the pudding/s.

Unless I made an error the stirring part was actually incredibly easy. Mix the dry incredients, add the fruit, stir in the wet stuff. I felt drunk just smelling it, did I put in too much alcohol or is there such a thing as too much?

So, I wait until next Sunday to do the steaming. Below are pictures of my first session.

Steven2019-11-26T05:52:57+00:0026 November 2019|Christmas Pudding, Food|

Christmas Pudding News 2 Nov 2019

Part 2 of my special celebrating the Christmas Pudding.

Christmas In Australia
It seems that Christmas Pudding is just as popular in Australia as it is in the UK. The Australia Day Council of South Australia promotes the Christmas Puddings available from Kytons Bakery in Edwardstown, the ingredients of which are sourced mainly from local resources.

Gloria Estefan
This is the unlikely story of a Gloria Estefan fan who explains when he gave her a gift of a Christmas Pudding.[link to article]

67 Year Old Steamer
Which device do you steam your Christmas Pudding in? Well, many people just buy one and then cook it in a microwave for as little as 50 seconds. However, someone makes their pudding in a 67-year-old steamer passed down to him by his Mother.[link to article]

Christmas Pudding Bake Sale
This is not the first, and probably not the last, Christmas Pudding bake sale I’ve heard of. This time in Kitchener, Canada where the Pudding Factory is now in its 71st year as it makes Christmas Puddings to raise money for their Church and local charities.[link to article]

Christmas Advertising Season Has Begun
Yes, it’s the beginning of November which means companies advertise early to attract customers to buy from them, they are reliant on this time of year for the majority of their sales. Allegedly, a Christmas Pudding features in this advert by very.co.uk, you have to be sharp-eyed to see it.[link to article]

More Christmas Pudding articles coming soon!

Steven2023-01-31T23:38:04+00:0011 November 2019|Christmas Pudding|

Christmas Pudding News 1 Nov 2019

As many people might be aware I used to author a very popular Christmas Pudding website/blog. Moving away from the UK saw the demise of that blog since it became pretty impossible to access my favourite dessert.

From henceforth, I will write some news when I hear it and later in the year will review the ones I have managed to get hold of. I am tempted to make my own, although I am not a good cook. For now, let’s kick off with some latest news I have heard.

Best Christmas Puddings for 2019
There is always much debate about what the best Christmas Pudding for sale in stores is in a certain year. Many have the favourite they buy each year; some buy ones with new or alternative recipes; some buy those with more, less or different alcohol content; and some buy the whole lot. Price doesn’t always mean better quality, it depends on your taste. The Daily Mirror lists their favourite.[link to article]

Mulled Wine Christmas Pudding from Tesco
I always remember Tesco producing basic Christmas Pudding’s but seems they have now branched out. According to Entertainment Daily, and note this could be an advertising feature, the Mulled Wine Christmas Pudding from Tesco is going to be a hit. Actually, it sounds pretty interesting.[link to article]

Chiltern Brewery Christmas Puddings
The Chiltern Brewery is the oldest independent brewery in the Chiltern Hills and Buckinghamshire area, they offer tours should you ever be in their area, last one for 2019 is on 2 November. They have produced their own Christmas Pudding, called “Lord-Lieutenant’s Christmas Pudding” made from their own Lord Lieutenant’s Cream Porter. A Porter is a dark style of beer from well-hopped beers made from brown malt, it is original from 19th Century London. The pudding is available from their online shop.[link to The Bucks Herald article]

Christmas Pudding for a good cause
Quota International is a worldwide charity that empowers those with speech difficulties in local communities around the world. Quota International Gloucester, in New South Wales, Australia, is running it’s annual fundraising event by making Christmas Puddings. Orders are only taken at the Gloucester Health Foods shop in NSW. What an amazing cause.[link to Gloucester Advocate article]

More news coming soon!

Steven2020-05-12T14:47:29+00:001 November 2019|Christmas Pudding|