Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Stir up Monday

I didn't have time to make my Christmas puddings on Sunday, the traditional stir up day,  but I'm sure they will taste just as good. I make quite a large batch for family and friends. Not a lover of puddings myself, I am always surprised that they go on asking for them year after year and I have to keep my enthusiasm going by trying out different recipes. This year I based my mixture on a Tamsin Day-Lewis recipe but without the nuts and cider brandy; I never add nuts when I can't be sure of who will eat my products and I wasn't able to find cider brandy in the local shops. If you want the original recipe you can find it here

The first thing I do before making Christmas cakes, mincemeat and puddings is to throw away all my old spices and buy fresh. It really does make a difference! There are a lot of ingredients in the pudding mix and it is easy to miss one (or more!) so I prepare them first and line them up in order on the counter.  When the ingredients have been prepared it is simply a matter of putting them all into the largest mixing bowl you have and stirring! I cook mine overnight in the simmering oven of the Aga so my house is not filled with the lovely spicy smell of Christmas - the chimney takes all the cooking smells outside so I have to stand in the yard to enjoy them!

In goes all the beautiful fruit

Time for the great stir up

I got two large and three small puddings from the mixture

Puddings in the oven, now to put my feet up .... oh, I forgot about this!
If you didn't make your pudding on Stir-up Sunday, don't worry. I have been known to make them two weeks later and no-one has noticed the difference. And then there is always Waitrose, M&S, Sainsbury and Tesco!

9 comments:

  1. I knew there was something I hadn't done yet....
    At least now I can try the fresh spices idea ..that makes good sense :0)

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    1. Yes, Val, fresh spices do make a difference. Enjoy the pudding stir-up. I'm sure your girls will.

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  2. I can smell them from here :-)

    I love Christmas pudding but unfortunately both my son and husband don't which means there's none on our house. Maybe I'll try making a very small one just for myself one of these days.

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    1. What a shame, Paula. My son loves Christmas pudding while I don't. Perhaps we should swap families for Christmas Day?

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  3. The photos are making my mouth water. Very inspiring. I'm hoping to bake my annual fruitcakes this week. Happy holidays, Maureen.

    P.S. I wish they had Agas in the U.S.

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    1. It is good to see you back, Jodi. I see that you have much to look forward to at Christmas and that your cakes will be put to great use! My daughter will be spending Christmas here so I have the grandchildren to look forward to as well and my daughter is bringing the Christmas cake she made with them!
      Happy holidays.

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  4. You are so good buying al fresh spices. I tend to use some classics all year round - ginger, cinnamon, mixed spice so don't buy new ones unless they are getting a bit stale but do go out and get new cardomon which I love in my Christmas pud. We have so many asian grocers round here that spices are plentiful and good value. Have you ever tried a pinch of black pepper in your puds? Interesting....

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    1. Black pepper and cardomon are on the list for next year, Colleen. I love to try new things. I wish we had your asian grocers here, the supermarket is the only place for spices and all in pricey, schwartzy jars.

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