Christmas Puddings

Many families have their own recipe for Christmas pudding, some handed down through the family for generations.

Essentially the recipe brings together what traditionally were expensive or luxurious ingredients - notably the sweet spices that are so important in developing its distinctive rich aroma.

It is very dark in appearance - effectively black - as a result of the dark sugars and black treacle in most recipes, and its long cooking time.

The mixture can be moistened with the juice of citrus fruits, brandy and other alcohol (some recipes call for dark beers such as mild, stout or porter)

Initial cooking usually involves steaming for many hours.

To serve, the pudding is reheated by steaming once more, and dressed with warm brandy which is set alight.

It can be eaten with hard sauce, brandy butter, rum butter, cream, lemon cream, custard, or sweetened béchamel.

Here are some interesting facts you may or may not know about Christmas puddings:

• The origins are in medieval England
• They are sometimes known as plum pudding or plum duff

 This pudding has been boiled in a bag

• Prior to the 19th century, the English Christmas pudding was boiled in a pudding cloth
• Puddings boiled in bags were often represented as round

This pudding, boiled in abag has been hung on ahook to dry to inprove the flavour  

• Victorian era fashion involved putting the batter into a basin and then steaming it
• It was the Victorians that started the tradition of decorating the pudding with a sprig of holly
• The Roman Catholic Church decreed that the pudding should be made on the 25th Sunday after Trinity
• They also decreed that the pudding should have 13 ingredients - representing Christ and the 12 apostles
• The whole family was expected to stir the pudding in turn from east to west - in honour of The Wise Men and their journey from the East to visit the infant Christ

 This pudding mixture is ready for the family to stir

• It became traditional for each family member to make wish as they stirred that pudding
• King George 1 is sometimes known as 'The Pudding King' because he requested that plum pudding be served as part of his royal feast in his first Christmas in England
• It used to be common practice to include silver coins - sixpenny bits of silver threepenny bits in puddings
• Other tokens are also known to have been included, such as a tiny wishbone (to bring good luck), a silver thimble (for thrift), or an anchor (to symbolise safe harbour).
• Once turned out of its basin, decorated with holly, doused in brandy, and flamed (or "fired"), the pudding is traditionally brought to the table ceremoniously, and greeted with a round of applause

This pudding has been fired, applauded and now is being served 

• Puddings have great keeping properties and it has been known for the pudding made this year to be eaten at NEXT year's Christmas dinner!

For a gluten free version of Christmas Cake follow this link

Real Mix Christmas Baking Offer Buy 3, Get 3rd Free

For all you home bakers and home makers out their, we've got a deal for you. Come to Real Foods this October for Buy 3, get 3rd Free offer on Christmas baking ingredients and a chance at winning a gorgeous set of Mason Cash mixing bowls.

For more details go to http://www.realfoods.co.uk/article/real-mix-christmas-baking-offer-buy-3,-get-cheapest-free

If you'd like to enter the competition to win the set of Mason Cash mixing bowls, just download a copy of the entry form and either fax, email it to us info@realfoods.co.uk, or bring it instore. To download the application form go to http://www.realfoods.co.uk/article/real-mix-christmas-baking-offer-buy-3,-get-cheapest-free.

Competition closes 31.10.11.

Good luck!