Thread by @avaeats

since it’s meghan markle’s first christmas as duchess of sussex, lets talk about christmas pudding.

w. origins in medieval england, it’s sometimes known as plum pudding or just "pud" #happyfoodmas #avaeats

we know pudding as a soft, custard dessert—in the uk, pudding just means “desserts”

christmas pudding consists of dried fruits held together by egg +suet (raw, hard beef fat) moistened w. molasses +flavored w. cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, ginger +other spices #happyfoodmas #avaeats

the story goes that plum pudding's association w. christmas goes back to a custom in medieval england that the "pudding should be made on the 25th sunday after trinity, that it be prepared with 13 ingredients to represent christ...”
#happyfoodmas #avaeats

“+ the 12 apostles, + that every family member stir it in turn from east to west to honour the magi + their journey in that direction"

however, recipes for plum puddings appear mainly, if not entirely, in the 17th century + later #happyfoodmas #avaeats

the prayer for the sunday before advent in the church of england’s book of common prayer begins w. the words "stir up, we beseech thee, o lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works..."
#happyfoodmas #avaeats

this prayer led to the custom of prepping christmas puddings on that day which became known as stir-up sunday.

for those who don’t know, the sunday before advent is around the end of november
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it was common to include small silver coins in the pudding mixture, usually a silver threepence of sixpence. the coin was believed to bring wealth in the coming year, + came from an earlier tradition wherein tokens were put in a cake #happyfoodmas #avaeats

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 #happyfoodmas #avaeats

before the 19th century, christmas pudding was boiled in a pudding cloth + often represented as round. now in a basin, the batter is steamed (to cook + reheat it) then topped w. holly, doused in brandy + flamed before serving—part of the christmas tradition #happyfoodmas #avaeats

christmas puddings have excellent keeping properties—because brandy.

many families keep one back from christmas to be eaten at another celebration later, often at easter.

some families even eat the pudding from the christmas before #happyfoodmas #avaeats

that last gif was the perfect way to end this thread—so happy i found it 😂

come back tomorrow for our next stop on the #HappyFoodmas tour around the world w. @EatWithNia #avaeats