Stir-up Sunday.

It’s tomorrow, the last Sunday before Advent, when the Anglican Collect for that day starts with the words “Stir up we beseech you….” Since this is conveniently the right moment to mix up our Christmas puddings it served as a timely reminder. Christmas pud was introduced to Britain by Prince Albert when he married Queen Victoria, as well as the indoor Christmas tree, festooned with paper decorations. The five remaining weeks until Christmas allow time for the pudding to develop it’s flavour and certainly lets us have one job ticked off the list! I remember teaching a lovely group of girls in Barnet who preferred to stay inside at lunchtimes and spent may days mixing up puddings to sell to the eager customers amongst the staff. We probably made double quantities each day, so 6 at a time, which then went to the school canteen to be steamed during the afternoon, ready for delivery the next day. The recipe we used was a Good housekeeping one which I still have, but no longer make. With just two of us to eat it these days I buy a small on, ready made. It’s going to be one of the traditional variety, not one of the more unusual sticky toffee ones, or one with an orange in the centre….What will you be having for dessert on Christmas day?