Add your Christmas story here, old family pudding traditions, pudding disasters ALWAYS welcome!

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Showing comments 1 to 17 of 134 | Next | Last
Jenny Sharp
Posts: 106
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Re:
Reply #134 on : Sat December 24, 2011, 13:24:06
I love your site about Xmas puddings and cooking them
Laura
Posts: 106
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puddings
Reply #133 on : Sun December 18, 2011, 14:41:58
Thanks for your site even though I found you after I have started the christmas pudding recipe your instructions have been invaluable and I wish I found you sooner.
Never mind have a gresat Christmas.
You arenow in my favourts site.
Tasmania
toni brown
Posts: 106
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Xmas pudding
Reply #132 on : Fri December 16, 2011, 10:56:13
Great web site and so very easy to understand.
Thank You
Toni
Julee Calvert
Posts: 106
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Breadcrumbs
Reply #131 on : Wed December 14, 2011, 17:26:59
What a nightmare! The Christmas Pudding is boiling away and I've just found the breadcrumbs that should be in the mix. I thought it looked a bit sloppy when I poured it in the bowl. My mother (not known for her cooking) was visiting and I asked her what she thought, "it looks divine, darling." What now? Does a Christmas pudding really need breadcrumbs?
Trish
Posts: 106
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Pudding
Reply #130 on : Mon December 12, 2011, 13:55:48
Hi Paul,
About to make my 2 puddings for the umpteenth time. They are a great favourite with the family, particularly the sixpences which can be redeemed for a scratchie.
Karen M Murray
Posts: 106
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First Attempt @ Christmas Pudding
Reply #129 on : Wed December 07, 2011, 17:09:42
I wish I had found this site before I made my pudding today. I followed a friend's Grandmother's recipe which uses carrot, apple and potato! I have tasted it in the past and it is delicious. I also had an in-laws recipe that is quite delicious, but it seemed to have quite a lot of booze in it. I compared these recipes to an old Scottish cookbook and went from there. My pudding is cooling just now, and it looks ok...will probably add some more brandy until Christmas and hope for the best. Really appreciate the storage notes, as I was a bit confused about that! Next year I would like to try Paul's Traditional Recipe. Great Site!! Merry Christmas Everyone!
Anne Blanton
Posts: 106
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Plum Pudding
Reply #128 on : Sat November 19, 2011, 08:15:06
My grandmother had a recipe that her father-in-law brought from England in the early 1900's. She has passed, but I suddenly wanted to make the pudding. The recipe only listed the ingredients, no instructions. My grandmother never made the pudding when anyone else was around. Your website has been extremely helpful. I made the pudding last week and am not totally satisfied with it, but your site has helped solve my issues, so next year I will try again. Thank you.
Steve Sidaway
Posts: 106
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Our Xmas puds
Reply #127 on : Sun November 13, 2011, 23:21:11
I thought that this may be of interest. We have just finished making a double batch of our Christmas puddings (18 puds) ready for 2012. The puddings for this Christmas were made this time last year, they really do improve with age.
The recipe that we use is the recipe that my grandmother wrote down in the early 1900’s so is about 100 years old minimum. We, together with some friends, make these puddings every year and it has now become a bit of a social occasion. I include the recipe for your information, apparently the potato is included to make the pudding darker.
12 ounces bread crumbs -- fine
6 ounces plain flour
8 ounces raisins
8 ounces currants
8 ounces sultanas
3 ounces prunes -- chopped
4 ounces dates -- chopped
8 ounces beef suet
4 oz candied citrus peel -- chopped
1 lg carrot -- grated
1 lg potato -- grated
1 lg apple -- grated
4 oz brown sugar
3 tbsp molasses
2 oz almonds -- finely chopped
2 oz walnuts -- chopped
2 tsp lemon rind -- grated
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tsp orange rind -- grated
1 tbsp orange juice
4 large eggs
1/2 tsp nutmeg -- ground
1 tsp mixed spice
1/2 tsp salt
10 fl oz stout
10 fl oz light ale
2 tbsp rum
2 tbsp whisky
2 tbsp brandy

Mix the ingredients together and leave the mixture overnight. Everyone must have a final stir while making a wish, stir clockwise or the wish will not come true. Put the mixture into basins to within 1 inch of the top, cover the mixture with oiled, greaseproof paper then seal them with tinfoil. Steam the puddings until cooked, see table below.

WEIGHT.(lbs.) STEAM TIME.(hrs) RE-HEAT.(hrs)
1/2 4-6 1
1 6-8 2
11/2 7-9 21/2
2 8-10 3
Drew Mckenzie
Posts: 106
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Substitutions
Reply #126 on : Tue November 08, 2011, 20:00:03
Hi.
I was wondering what role the breadcrumbs in these recipes play. Can they be substituted with almond meal? Or omitted from the recipe all together?

Thanks.

Regards,
Drew
John Buchanan
Posts: 106
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Christmas Pudding Au
Reply #125 on : Sun November 06, 2011, 10:58:09
I always make our families pudding - some large eaten on the 25th - others smaller used as gifts - I glean recipes from all over and add or delete ingredients to perfect the product produced.
Frank Bromley
Posts: 106
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Overcooking pudding ?
Reply #124 on : Wed November 02, 2011, 10:59:02
I cooked several christmas puddings, a similar recipe but without suet, for six hours steaming. Then turned them off except for one which has had a total of about 14 hours steaming. There was still water a third of the way up the sides.
Do you think this is going to be over-cooked or ruined ? Are there any indicators like looking too dark on the base (I haven't checked yet).
Andria Redlin
Posts: 106
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Christmas Pudding Was a Hit in America!
Reply #123 on : Mon October 31, 2011, 23:49:21
Hey there!

I'm an American who, for many years, always wanted to know what Christmas Pudding was, and what it tasted like. So two Christmasas ago, I pulled out my British cookbook on Halloween and made a batch of pudding. Eight weeks later, reheated and slathered with brandy butter, it was well-received at my Christmas Day gathering, and my family dubbed it 'a keeper.' The following Christmas, I made another pudding, and that one got even more rave reviews. So what am I doing today for this Christmas? Making a double-sized batch! I am so glad to add this tradition to my family's Christmas meal. I am shocked that nobody I know has ever tasted Christmas Pudding, considering many Americans have English roots. Who knows? If I keep making it every year, I'm bound to get other people in the family to do it too! So glad I found this site!
Natalie
Posts: 106
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First Timer
Reply #122 on : Sat October 29, 2011, 12:39:17
Hi Paul,
I am wanting to make smaller puddings for gifts. I will need to do it in the calico cloth.
1 - does the boiling time differ?
2 - in the notes one person says to take it out, dry and then cover in plastic wrap. another person says to just hang it. Which works best?
3- in the case of doing a few little ones - can you boil them all together?

I have realised I'll need a bigger pot to boil the 'big' one. Can the mixture sit for an extra day?

This looks amazing. I haven't made one before so it's going to be fun. I am just glad there is suet all through it, or I would be tasting the mixture so often there would be none left!
Kathrzn Bahn
Posts: 106
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I love this site
Reply #121 on : Wed July 06, 2011, 17:10:57
I am about to have a go at my first ever boil in a bag pudding. I am very excited about the skin forming and keeping it hanging up in the laundry for five months :) Thanks for doing this site. It is GREAT.
Kathrzn Bahn, Dubbo NSW
judy
Posts: 106
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xmas pud
Reply #120 on : Tue May 17, 2011, 14:23:06
Hopeful
Sally L
Posts: 106
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Am doing Xmas in July this year on 23rd July
Reply #119 on : Sun March 06, 2011, 09:34:17
Will get back to you on the success or failure of the christmas pudding. We made our own wedding cake a few years ago so i have high hopes of cooking something edible. Also doing crockpot roast beef. We have 5 kids all grown up (youngest is 22) plus their partners so 14 at the table including the two grandkiddies
Phil Barry
Posts: 106
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Christmas Pudding
Reply #118 on : Sat February 26, 2011, 12:21:34
I have been making this Pudding for about 9 years using this recipe. It is the best. I make my puddings in March but have kept them for up to 2 years and they taste wonderful. Dark and rich, full of flavour. Thanks Paul.
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