<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n Let me start with blowing my own trumpet, it’s my blog so I’m allowed! I\u2019m pleased\u00a0to have tracked down a copy of Delicious Magazine while in Budapest because in it they have elected my book Pride and Pudding as one of the best books of 2016<\/a><\/strong>! After the hard work creating this book I am of course flattered and beyond happy to get this kind of news! So thank you again Delicious Magazine UK<\/strong>!!<\/p>\n Now on to the news of the day!<\/p>\n This weekend will mark the last Sunday before advent which is traditionally Stir-up Sunday.\u00a0According to (rather recent) tradition, plum pudding or Christmas pudding should be made on this day. It is a custom that\u00a0is believed to date back to the 1549 Book of Common Prayer (though it is actually not); where a reading states \u2018stir up,\u00a0we beseech thee\u2019. The words would be read in church on the last Sunday before Advent and so\u00a0the good people knew it was time to start on their favourite Christmas treat.<\/p>\n It was\u00a0a family affair: everyone would gather to stir the pudding mixture from east to west,\u00a0in honour of the Three Kings who came from the east. Sometimes coins or trinkets would be\u00a0hidden in the dough; finding them on Christmas Day would bring luck and good fortune.<\/p>\n There are a lot of legends and claims made about the origins of the plum pudding.\u00a0Some say it was King George I who requested plum pudding as a part of the first Christmas feast\u00a0of his reign, in 1714. George I was christened \u2018the Pudding King\u2019 because of this myth but there\u00a0are no written records prior to the twentieth century to tell us that this king deserved this title.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The first written record of a recipe for plum pudding as we know it today can be found in John\u00a0Nott\u2019s The Cooks and Confectioners Dictionary<\/i> from 1723.\u00a0There is, however, no suggestion that the pudding is associated with George I, the practice\u00a0of Stir-up Sunday, or the Christmas feast.<\/p>\n In this era, plum puddings were a common companion to beef on festive days; they were eaten\u00a0before or along with the meat, not after the meal topped with plenty of cream as we know it\u00a0today. A plum pudding would often be sliced up and arranged under the dripping of a roasting\u00a0joint of meat in front of the fire.<\/p>\n The \u2018Hack\u2019 or \u2018Hackin\u2019 pudding (recipe also in my book Pride and Pudding), a relative of the haggis and plum pudding from the north of\u00a0England, was eaten in the same fashion. It is possible that the tradition of eating a plum pudding with roast beef on festive occasions evolved\u00a0to it becoming the highlight of the Christmas feast, inspired by customs in the north of England.<\/p>\n By the Victorian era the Christmas pudding was well and truly the symbol of Christmas,\u00a0although the Christmas tree would soon take its place. Printing methods improved and it\u00a0became possible to print in various colours so Christmas cards became popular. Many of these\u00a0depicted puddings as centrepieces on the festive table and cards featured puddings dressed up\u00a0like little men.<\/p>\n The whole history of plum pudding is too long for a single posting \u2013 but you can read more about how it became the food to show your patriotism to Britain\u00a0in the pages of my book<\/a>. One thing seems for sure to me, Stir-up Sunday is a fairly recent tradition. But even though it\u2019s not as old as the 16th century reading in the Book of Common Prayer, it has been around since Victorian times which makes it part of traditions today.<\/p>\n This recipe is based on early Plum pudding recipes but it evolved in my kitchen over the years. It really is no trouble at all making it so maybe this year you\u2019ll give that M&S Christmas pud a miss and try your hand at your very own. In my book you\u2019ll also find a war-time Christmas pudding, maybe I\u2019ll share that recipe with you another year – or… get the Christmas issue of Vintage Life Magazine where you’ll find it!<\/p>\n Also listen to the Delicious Mag<\/strong> podcast here ><\/a> to hear @deliciouseditor Karen Barnes talk about her mother\u2019s recipe for Christmas pudding!<\/p>\n Or take a look at Jamie Oliver<\/strong>\u2019s nan\u2019s recipe here ><\/a>\u00a0with Vin Santo.<\/p>\n Hate Christmas Pudding (what’s wrong with you!!) then maybe this ‘Chocolate pudding for Christmas pudding haters’<\/a> by Nigella Lawson<\/strong> is your thing! It has hot chocolate sauce. One persons food hell is another person’t delight!<\/p>\n Not sure what to cook for Christmas dinner? I’ll share with you a traditional meal very soon! Here<\/strong><\/a> you’ll find some vegetable preparations that could come in handy.<\/p>\n Please note: This text is mostly taken from my book Pride and Pudding \u2013 The History of British Puddings savoury and Sweet (Murdoch Books 2016 \u2013 Davidsfonds 2015), as is the recipe below.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n What\u00a0 you need<\/b><\/p>\n Makes 2 puddings using\u00a016 cm (61\/4 inch\/No. 36)\u00a0basins (moulds), or 6\u20137 mini\u00a0(150 ml\/5 fl oz) puddings.<\/p>\n Prepare the pudding basins for steaming\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n <\/a>Generously grease the pudding basin (mould)\u00a0with butter and cut a circle of baking paper the\u00a0same size as the base of the pudding basin. Place\u00a0the paper circle in the basin; it will stick perfectly\u00a0to the butter. This will make it easier to get the\u00a0pudding out of the basin.<\/p>\n Spoon the batter into the pudding basin, then\u00a0cut another two circles of baking paper with a\u00a0diameter about 8\u201310 cm (3\u20134 inches) larger\u00a0than the top of the basin. Make a narrow fold\u00a0across the middle to leave room for the paper\u00a0cover to expand slightly. I like to use two layers\u00a0of paper. Tie securely around the top of the\u00a0basin with kitchen string, then cover with foil\u00a0and tie kitchen string to create a handle so it\u00a0will be easier to lift the basin out of the pan\u00a0after steaming.<\/p>\n Now get yourself a pan large enough to hold your\u00a0pudding basin(s) or, if you are steaming little\u00a0ones all in one go, a large baking dish. I prefer to\u00a0use the oven for this as I do not like to have a pot\u00a0of boiling hot water on the stovetop for 2 hours\u00a0or more, depending on the recipe.<\/p>\n Preheat the oven to 160C (315F) or the\u00a0temperature suggested in the recipe.<\/p>\n Stand the pudding basin on an inverted\u00a0heatproof saucer, a jam jar lid or trivet in the\u00a0base of a deep ovenproof saucepan or pot.<\/p>\n Pour in boiling water to come halfway up the\u00a0side of the basin. Cover the pan, either with its\u00a0own lid or with foil, in order to trap the steam.<\/p>\n Place in the preheated oven and leave for as\u00a0long as your recipe states. This can be between\u00a030 minutes and 7 hours depending on the size\u00a0of your pudding. See the recipe below.<\/p>\n When you are steaming little puddings, it is\u00a0sufficient to place the puddings in a deep baking\u00a0dish and fill the dish with boiling water once you\u00a0have put them in the oven. Cover the dish with\u00a0foil and steam for as long as your recipe states.<\/p>\n The pudding<\/b><\/p>\n Mix together all the dry ingredients in a large bowl, then add\u00a0the eggs, brandy and stout and mix well by gently stirring with\u00a0a wooden spoon. You can stir from east to west if you fancy it.\u00a0If you have the time, leave the mixture to rest overnight.<\/p>\n Preheat the oven to 160C (315F). Spoon the batter into\u00a0the prepared pudding basins. Steam for 3\u20134 hours for small puddings and\u00a05\u20137 hours for large ones.<\/p>\n After the puddings are steamed you can either serve them\u00a0straight away or, if Christmas is still a while off, cool the\u00a0puddings in their basins, change the baking paper covers for\u00a0clean ones and tie up. Store the pudding in a cool cupboard\u00a0and, if you like a boozy pudding, feed it with a couple of\u00a0teaspoons of brandy or rum once a week. This will also help\u00a0preserve the puddings.<\/p>\n To serve on the day, steam for 1 hour and serve with custard\u00a0sauce , clotted cream (see recipe in my book Pride and Pudding) or brandy\u00a0butter and enjoy.<\/p>\n\n