MUM’S
CHRISTMAS EVE PLUM PUDDING
Mum's Christmas Eve Plum pudding was a tradition in our household. We would wrap our presents during the day, and after tea, mum would start to prepare the Christmas plum pudding whilst we would make ourselves scarce out of mum's kitchen. NO talking to Mum whilst she was making the Christmas pudding.
So when we were very young, we would go to bed, even though we could not sleep so that we could go to Midnight Mass. We had to have a sleep before we went to Midnight Mass. otherwise we could not go. As we grew older, we used to watch Carols by Candlelight- a Melbourne tradition for a little while or do other things- as long as we were not in mum's kitchen as she prepared the Christmas Eve Plum Pudding.
So when we were very young, we would go to bed, even though we could not sleep so that we could go to Midnight Mass. We had to have a sleep before we went to Midnight Mass. otherwise we could not go. As we grew older, we used to watch Carols by Candlelight- a Melbourne tradition for a little while or do other things- as long as we were not in mum's kitchen as she prepared the Christmas Eve Plum Pudding.
Originally mum started making this pudding for her mother and father. As they were getting older, they started to find mum's plum pudding a little too heavy. So this became known in our household as mum's ''light plum pudding" and became a tradition. Long after Nanny and Pa has passed on, mum was still making the light Christmas Eve plum pudding.
Mum would prepare the first part of the pudding on Christmas Eve before she got ready for midnight Mass and then, on Christmas morning COOK the pudding. What a mother!!!
Dad (Jack) had a special role in mum's plum pudding. He would go out to the garage and get the string for tying the pudding lid to ensure no water seeped through. I miss dad not tying the Christmas pudding. It was such a ritual. Mum would say '' Jack, have you got the string- I need you to tie the pudding."
I have to say that now that I have tried mum's recipe twice- once the year before she died, with mum keeping a keen eye on what I was doing and once since she has died. I have to say that I do NOT make it on Christmas Eve and complete it on Christmas Day. I prepare the first part of the pudding preparation on the day before Christmas Eve (Dec 23) and get up early on Christmas Eve and complete it. Then on Christmas Day itself, I warm it in the microwave. It makes Christmas Day less stressful for me, although I marvel how mum used to cook the pudding on Christmas Day along with everything else on the stove.!!! I have to say it tasted just as nice as I remember mum's Christmas Eve plum pudding.
By the way, I think the reason dad always tied the pudding was that the lid did not fit properly- been knocked out of shape over many years of use, but mum did not want to make her pudding in any other bowl than the Christmas pudding bowl. A new Christmas pudding bowl was out of the question.!!!
This Christmas pudding, should there be any left over keeps very well. Another tradition that we had once my siblings left home and there was only mum, dad and myself was to keep part of the Christmas pudding and to eat the remaining portion of the Feast of the Epiphany (arrival of the Kings). It is beautiful to eat hot of course, but also just as lovely on a hot day served cold, either by itself or with ice cream and/or custard sauce.
This Christmas pudding, should there be any left over keeps very well. Another tradition that we had once my siblings left home and there was only mum, dad and myself was to keep part of the Christmas pudding and to eat the remaining portion of the Feast of the Epiphany (arrival of the Kings). It is beautiful to eat hot of course, but also just as lovely on a hot day served cold, either by itself or with ice cream and/or custard sauce.
INGREDIENTS
2 LEVEL TABLESPOONS OF BUTTER= 1 OUNCE NB 1 TABLESPOON = ½ OUNCE.
1 AND ½ CUPS OF BOILING WATER
1 AND HALF CUPS OF MIXED FRUIT ( measure out carefully)
CHOPPED MIXED PEEL
I LEVEL TEASPOON OF MIXED SPICE
½ CUP OF RAISINS
3 TABLESPOONS OF SUGAR
LEVEL TEASPOON OF BI CARB SODA
1 AND ½ CUPS OF PLAIN FLOUR
1 CAP OF CASTER SUGAR ( CAP NOT CUP) IE TO COVER THE TOP OF
THE PUDDING WITH THE CASTER SUGAR FOR DECORATION.
S PRIGS OF HOLY. (WASH AND DRY)
METHOD
- GREASE PUDDING BASIN WITH BUTTER.
- PUT BUTTER IN A ROOMY BASIN AND THEN POUR IN 1 AND ½ CUPS OF BOILING WATER. STIR WELL.
- ADD MIXED FRUIT, CHOPPED MIXED PEEL, MIXED SPICE AND RAISINS.
- ADD 3 TABLESPOONS OF SUGAR. STIR AGAIN.
- PUT A LEVEL TEASPOON OF BI CARB SODA INA FINE TEA STRAINER AND SIEVE INTO PUDDING MIXTURE. BLEND WELL.
- ADD 1 AND ½ CUPS OF PLAIN FLOUR INTO THE SIFTER AND ADD AS AN EXTRA ROUNDED TABLESPOON OF FLOUR. SIFT INTO MIXTURE.
NB The mixture will look very
thin but don’t worry. Cover bowl with foil and put lid on ((jack’s task to tie
with string) and then go to bed.
CHRISTMAS DAY
1. COOK
STEADILY FOR 3 HOURS. **
2. DON’T
HURRY THE PUDDING OUT OF THE BASIN. LET IT STAND FOR A FEW MINUTES.
3. DECORATE
WITH CAP OF CASTER SUGAR A SPRIG OF HOLLY BEFORE SERVING.
**HOW TO COOK THE PUDDING
PUT PUDDING BASIN IN THE BOILER. FILL THE BOILER UP TO ¾
PUDDING BASIN WITH BOILING WATER. KEEP WATER LEVELS UP TO ¾ PUDDING BASIN FOR 3
HOURS. PUT THE TIMER ON FOR EVERY 10
MINUTES TO CHECK THE WATER. KEEP THE KETTLE WITH BOILING WATER ON HAND TO TOP
UP THE PUDDING LEVELS.
2011 VARIATION
¼ CUP OF CHOPPED MIXED PEEL
1 PKT OF MULTI GLACE CHEERRIES chopped
375G MIXED FRUIT = 2 CUPS.
2 ounces of butter instead of one ounce.
2013 VARIATION
Prepared the Christmas Pudding on Sunday 22nd and cooking it right now ( Monday 23).
I thought I had some mixed peel in the pantry, but when I went to prepare the pudding yesterday I did not. I have therefore left out the mixed peel.
A friend of mine came over to prepare her pudding at the same time using this recipe. This was a blessing for me as between the two of us was able to get the lids on without having to tie it with string. I am sure Dad would not mind, as tying it with string was his contribution to the pudding preparation. I feel sure he was looking out for me from above and helped us get the lids on securely.
The timer has just gone so need to check water levels.
Post eating the pudding: I think it needs the mixed peel- tasted fine without it but mixture seemed smoother this year. Also, I cut the cherries too fine this year.
For 2014, I will make sure I have mixed peel in the pantry and get less excited using my tupperware turbo chelf for cutting the cherries.
2014: Definitely it is better if the cherries are not cut too fine and I like it better with Mixed Peel in it.
2015: Seeing that it was 5 years since Mum showed me how she made it, I made it exactly to her recipe in memory of her.
2016: Having some guests for dinner just before Christmas, so I will be making the plum pudding.
2017: I am making the pudding for a friend this year. I will make the first part of the pudding tonight and cook it tomorrow. I have to make it ahead of time this year.
2013 VARIATION
Prepared the Christmas Pudding on Sunday 22nd and cooking it right now ( Monday 23).
I thought I had some mixed peel in the pantry, but when I went to prepare the pudding yesterday I did not. I have therefore left out the mixed peel.
A friend of mine came over to prepare her pudding at the same time using this recipe. This was a blessing for me as between the two of us was able to get the lids on without having to tie it with string. I am sure Dad would not mind, as tying it with string was his contribution to the pudding preparation. I feel sure he was looking out for me from above and helped us get the lids on securely.
The timer has just gone so need to check water levels.
Post eating the pudding: I think it needs the mixed peel- tasted fine without it but mixture seemed smoother this year. Also, I cut the cherries too fine this year.
For 2014, I will make sure I have mixed peel in the pantry and get less excited using my tupperware turbo chelf for cutting the cherries.
2014: Definitely it is better if the cherries are not cut too fine and I like it better with Mixed Peel in it.
2015: Seeing that it was 5 years since Mum showed me how she made it, I made it exactly to her recipe in memory of her.
2016: Having some guests for dinner just before Christmas, so I will be making the plum pudding.
2017: I am making the pudding for a friend this year. I will make the first part of the pudding tonight and cook it tomorrow. I have to make it ahead of time this year.
