Now Bring Me Some Figgy Pudding

Last year I kept seeing YouTube videos

on Christmas Pudding or Plum Pudding

or Figgy (or Fygey) Pudding.

I guess they're all the same thing.

I watched a few and thought it would be fun

try one.

Figgy Pudding A Victorian Christmas Tradition 

Tasting History with Max Miller 

Not making one, Heavens no, too many steps.

But sampling one.

Figgy Pudding A Victorian Christmas Tradition 

Tasting History with Max Miller 

Here's a bit of the info from

The Conversation-

"A Brief History Of Christmas Pudding"

A Christmas pudding should have 

13 ingredients – 

that represent Jesus and the 12 disciples. 

Traditionally, these ingredients include: 

raisins, currants, suet, brown sugar, 

breadcrumbs, citron, lemon peel, 

orange peel, flour, mixed spices, 

eggs, milk and brandy. 

All things nice and spice. Schnapps2012/Shuttersock

Brandy is also traditionally poured over 

the pudding and set alight. 

The flaming brandy is said to represent 

the passion of Christ.

Christmas puddings were traditionally 

boiled in a “pudding cloth”, 

although today are usually steamed in a bowl. 

Presented on the table with a sprig of holly, 

they are then doused in brandy and set alight.

source

Some can get quite large!

The bigger they are,

the longer they take to boil in that cloth.

So I assume a lot of puddings 

weren't humongous.

Here's an excerpt from Bleeker Street's 

"The Man Who Invented Christmas" 

movie's "The Christmas Spirits" web page

source

 (An excellent movie, by the way)

"PLUM PUDDINGS

For the Cratchits, the plum pudding was the 

crowing symbol of the holiday celebration. 

Dickens describes its appearance as the 

meal’s crescendo with great appreciation: 

“Mrs. Cratchit entered—flushed, 

but smiling proudly—with the pudding, 

like a speckled cannon-ball, so hard and firm, 

blazing in half of half-a-quartern of 

ignited brandy, and bedight with 

Christmas holly stuck into the top.”

 The strange concoction began in the 

14th century as a mixture of beef, 

spices, and dried fruit. 

Over time, as the pudding grew 

more sweet than savory, it became 

a mainstay of the English Christmas. 

While Oliver Cromwell banned the item

 for a short time in the 17th century 

as a remnant of earlier pagan celebrations, 

King George I brought it back to the 

Christmas table in 1714. 

Dickens’ celebration of the desert made 

it the delight of every Christmas meal. 

And recipes for the liquor-soaked dessert 

became the pride of every household 

during the Victorian period."

source

So how big is a cannon ball?

There is another technique where

they press the ingredients into a bowl

or a fancy mold and steam it 

covered in a pot of water for 6 hours.

source

The puddings come out slightly fancier

than an oddly shaped ball.

I was very close to buying one

at World Market

source

It was $19.99 and not very big,

I wasn't sure Sam would even like it,

so I passed on it figuring I'd never get to

try one.

But the ghost of Christmas Present

wasn't done with me yet,

Last year, for Christmas dinner

Sam and I went to the Silverado Steakhouse

at the South Point Casino

They offered a special four course meal

and one of the dessert choices

just happened to be

a Holiday Plum Pudding with Brandy Sauce!
I jumped at the chance to try a

 cupcake sized plum pudding!

I don't remember if they set it on fire or not.

and I must say It wasn't bad, I liked it 

and can see why it is a favorite 

Christmas symbol to many.

In my many searches on on Ebay 

I stumbled across, of all things,

A plum pudding candy dish!

Since I had now tried a plum pudding

and learned a bit about them from YouTube,

why not own this symbol of Christmas.

 A Fitz and Floyd

"Plum Pudding Lidded Box" 

circa 1993

I found one for $29.71 + 

$12.95 shipping and $2.49 tax

I displayed it on the buffet in front 

of the gingerbread man

Notice how he is holding a wooden spoon 

with white frosting and sprinkles on it?

It looks as if he is preparing the Christmas Pudding!

Plus the plate that's attached even matches 

the Bordallo Pinheiro Christmas Holly plates

I have in the background!

How cool is that?

It's as if it was meant to be!

Sam thinks it looks like frosted crap...

But I don't, however, now that she's said it

I can't get it out of my head.

 But that's no nevermind,

I do like it and think it adds to the overall

baking theme of the buffet.

We have Mrs. Claus stirring batter,

the gingerbread men are measuring spoons,

there's a cupcake on the top shelf,

and a gingerbread house at the top.

So the Christmas pudding is right at home,

with its Gingerbread Man baker right behind.

Now that the Christmas pudding has

arrived,

God Bless Us Everyone!

Thanks for stopping by

and

happy hunting!