Miscellany and detritus, from the writer of Is This Mutton?com

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Sunday, November 21, 2010

No stirring

Today is Stir Up Sunday, the day for making your own Christmas puddings. Stir Up Sunday is also the informal term for the last Sunday before Advent. Tradition has it that every member of the family should have a stir and make a wish. And the length of time before now and Christmas means the pudding has plenty of time to mellow and mature.

There won't be any stirring in my household, I'm afraid. Nobody seems to like Christmas pudding. I don't mind it because I am an absolute stickler for tradition, but this year I've bought an individual pudding from Lakeland. It isn't the round shape shown in the picture - does anyone ever make them this shape nowadays?

My mum used to occasionally make her own Christmas puddings and Christmas cake. But it was a thankless task because my elder brother didn't like nuts or peel, and the younger brother wasn't keen on marzipan.

I doubt if very many people at all will be stirring up the tradition today. A survey said this week that most of us  have no confidence about cooking, and millions of pounds' worth of home-made meals end up in the bin before they're eaten, including Christmas puddings (which cost an average of £10 to make.)

Will you be making your own pud and how do you like it served? Clotted cream was always the gold stansdard in my Devonian childhood, although I let the side down by wanting "Nestle's cream". I can't stand brandy butter and custard seems to make it a very average delight. I discovered last year you could still get a type of Nestle's cream, so I'm afraid I will be having that with my Lakeland "Billy No Mates" pudding.
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3 comments

Louisa Cowan said...

I'm not a fan of Christmas pudding, Christmas cake or mince pies (it's a fruit peel thing) and seeing as I am the cook this Christmas my family are getting chocolate all the way!

Anonymous said...

I second Louisa's comment. You probably know this but we have what we call "fruit cakes" here and they are horrid. Most people use them for door stops. But I did enjoy this post Gail and linked to it from the Smitten by Britain Facebook page.

Anonymous said...

Hi Gail - my traditional side always wins out against sense and experience - I DO make my pwn pudding and cake, and mince pies, but the cake and pudding are often still hanging around at easter - the mince pies always go down OK though! If you do have any Christmas pudding going spare, it's lovely mixed in with softened vanilla ice cream and a dribble of Baileys over the top. I love Nestle's cream too!!! Lucy

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