Only two more days until Stir-Up Sunday……..a special day in the cook’s calendar when cakes and puddings are concocted, baked, steamed. I have written about this day many times over the years on Lavender and Lovage,and,you can read all about thetraditions and customs here:
Stir Up Sunday, Traditions and my Traditional Victorian Christmas Pudding Recipe
Stir Up Sunday: Quick and Easy Microwave Mincemeat Christmas Pudding Recipe
As well as the two pudding recipes I’ve shared above, there are lots of cake recipes to share at this time of year too……but before I share my more traditional cakes, I’d like to offer you a fabulous and fruity alternative for this year, a cake made with naturally dried tropical fruits, and one that is gluten-free too. My recipe forGluten-free Tropical Christmas Cake was made with mango and pineapple from Urban Fruit, and is deliciously fruity with an amazing fruit and nut topping, instead of the usual marzipan and Royal icing. The recipe is posted over on the Great British Chef’s website, as part of theirStirring it up with Urban Fruit article, where they asked me and others to “create some exciting new Christmas Cake recipes with a difference”, which I was very happy to do.
The recipe for myGluten-free Tropical Christmas Cake can be found on the Great British Chefs website by following the link in the recipe title and, as well as my cake, why not check out all of the other Urban Fruit creations that are there.There’s Bundt cakes, puddings and more, and all of them perfect for an alternative to the usual pud or cake.Urban Fruit is available to buy in Waitrose in front of store snacking area, at Tesco with the other whole foods, at Asda with fresh food + veg, on Ocado, the Co-Op with the other dried fruits, Whole Foods, Planet Organic and lots of lovely independent stores around the country.
To celebrate Stir-Up Sunday, Great British Chefs are holding a Twitter Party on the 23rd November, between2pm – 4pm, and they would love you to get involved. Follow @UrbanFruit on Twitter, use the hashtag #StirUpSunday and show us what you’re cooking or ask any Christmas baking questions.Hopefully you will have all queries answered before you launch yourself into Stir-Up Sunday baking and cooking! But for now, I leave you with some of my other cakes that would all benefit from being made this Sunday, as well as some other Christmas recipes……have a wonderful weekend, Karen
Christmas Cakes, Puddings and Other Festive Recipes:
When the nation starts festive baking on Stir Up Sunday, we’ll be hosting a Twitter Party from 2pm – 4pm on 23rd November and would love you to get involved. Follow @UrbanFruit on Twitter, use the hashtag#StirUpSunday and show us what you’re cooking or ask any Christmas baking questions.
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Great gluten free recipe Karen. Such lovely ideas for stir up Sunday. I particularly like the snow flake cakes, so cute and pretty. GG
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Karen Burns-Boothsays
Thanks GG! I seem to have collected a lot of Christmas pudding, cake and mincemeat ideas and recipes over the years! I DO love a bit of festive baking too……Karen
LOVE your pudding basin with the owl and squirrel. After seeing it and all your others on Instagram I’m feeling rather sad about my traditional white ones. I think some pudding bowl retail therapy is required…
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Karen Burns-Boothsays
There is something rather lovely about a white pudding bowl too Claire, but, if you need some pudding bowl therapy, then who am I to stop you! Karen
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Danielle Vedmoresays
I love the look of the Clementine and Brandy Pudding – looks delicious! Have already done my cake but have never made my own pudding – a bit scared to be honest! x
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Karen Burns-Boothsays
Thanks Danielle! Puddings are VERY easy to make and you shouldn’t be scared to make one – honestly! Karen
Traditionally, families gather together in the kitchen of their homes to mix and steam Christmas pudding on Stir-up Sunday. Parents teach their children how to mix ingredients for the pudding. Everyone takes a turn to stir the pudding mix, for each person involved is able to make a special wish for the year ahead.
On Stir-Up Sunday, families gather together to mix the pudding. Each member of the family takes a turn in stirring the mixture whilst making a wish. The pudding should be stirred from east to west, in honour of the Magi (Wise Men) who came from the east to visit the baby Jesus.
No British Christmas is complete without a Christmas Pudding. Unlike American puddings, a Christmas Pudding has a sticky, dense sponge, much like a fruitcake, made from mixed dried fruit, candied fruit peel, apple, citrus juice, and zest. Brandy and spices provide a deep, complex flavor and signature dark color.
Stir-up Sunday is a centuries-old annual tradition where home cooks spend the last Sunday before Advent 'stirring up' their Christmas pudding. That means it's not on the same date each year, and falls somewhere at the end of November before Advent begins.
Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All rituals have their superstitions: the mixture must be stirred from east to west (the path of the sun across the sky, as well as the direction of travel by the Wise Men) or clockwise (never anti-clockwise, which is going against Nature and, therefore, bad luck).
It's traditional to stir the pudding mix 'from east to west', to honour the journey of the Three Wise Men, and to make a wish as you stir. You could pop the traditional silver coin in for luck – just remember to remind guests to look out for it!
: to cause (someone) to feel a strong emotion and a desire to do something. The speech stirred up the crowd. 2. : to cause (something) to move up into and through the air or water. The workers stirred up a lot of dust.
American puddings are closer to what the Brits would call "custard." A British pudding is a dish, savory or sweet, that's cooked by being boiled or steamed in something: a dish, a piece of cloth, or even animal intestine.
Pudding can be sweet or savory, a course or a dish
Further complicating the linguistic difference between American and British "pudding" is the fact that in the U.K., pudding may refer not to a dish or recipe at all, but to a course.
Hence, a cruel saying: Japanese women who remained unmarried past the age of 25 used to be referred to as Christmas cakes, implying that they had passed their use-by date.
Christmas cake is an English tradition that began as plum porridge. A traditional English Christmas cake is made with moist Zante currants, sultanas (golden raisins) and raisins which have been soaked in brandy, rum, whisky or sherry.
A Christmas cake is a heavy cake containing much dried fruit and usually having a covering of icing. It is made to be eaten at Christmas. It can also be called a fruitcake.
Sometimes referred to as plum pudding or Christmas pudding – we'll get to that later – figgy pudding is a type of British pudding, which is a steamed, cake-like dessert as opposed to the spoonable, thick custard that might come to mind when Americans hear the word “pudding.” Richly spiced and studded with dried fruits ...
It is believed that a Christmas pudding must contain thirteen ingredients. These ingredients each represent Jesus and each of his twelve disciples. Traditionally, brandy is poured over the Christmas pudding and set aflame before serving. The flames are believed to represent Christ's passion.
No Harry Potter fan can forget the epic scene where Dobby drops the pudding made by Aunt Petunia on the lady's head in Chamber of Secrets to stop Harry from returning to Hogwarts. Let's recreate this retro-style meringue dessert perfect for your next Harry Potter marathon!
It's made with alcohol and dried fruit and is a traditional English dessert. It's more like a cake than what Americans think of as a soft, custard-like pudding. Figgy pudding is also known as Christmas pudding or plum pudding.
Introduction: My name is Greg O'Connell, I am a delightful, colorful, talented, kind, lively, modern, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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