Plum Pudding

[lesliec]

Just been to the pub for my traditional Friday lunch (cider and chips, since you ask). As is my custom around this time of year, I scrounged some Guinness for my Christmas pud, which I will put together in the next week or so.

A question arises: the recipe I have is for Traditional Plum Pudding, and it's a stunning mix of sultanas, raisins, currants, ginger, figs, carrot, apple - everything, in short, bar plums. I don't believe I've ever seen a Christmas pudding recipe which included plums, but Plum Pudding is a common term for such items. So ... why plums?

I surmise there is probably an answer from the mists of time, when plums were indeed included (just as mince pies were formerly made with meat along with various dried fruits and spices). Has any eGulleter got anything reliable on this, to satisfy my curiosity and that of my Friday lunch companions?

Yours festively,

Leslie

[Darienne]

You could always start with this article from Wikipedia.

[lesliec]

Thanks, Darienne.

It's a good start - prunes (= plums) added at the time of Elizabeth I.

Have a great weekend,

Leslie

[Mette]

We once made chrismas pudding with the addition of prunes - the prune flavour was overwhelming. Fine if you are fond of prunes (they went slimy too )

[Sugar Apple]

According to the OED, one definition of plum is "a dried grape or raisin as used for puddings, cakes, etc. Now rare except in certain combs." I've never seen a recipe for Christmas pudding that had prunes in it but most, if not all, have raisins or sultanas.

Funny, I've never actually heard anyone from England call it plum pudding, all the Brits I know (including the one I married) refer to the dessert as Christmas pudding.

[Lindacakes]

Leslie, is it possible that you would share that recipe?

I want to try something new this Christmas, and I vote for "stunning".

[lesliec]

Hi Linda.

Yep, very happy to share. It might take me a day or two (I don't think I've got an electronic version, so I'll need to transcribe), but I'll put it in RecipeGullet and let you know when it's there.

In the meantime, start accumulating figs, marmalade, brandy, dark ale, sultanas, ginger, currants, carrots, raisins, ...

[Jaymes]

Hi Linda.

Yep, very happy to share. It might take me a day or two (I don't think I've got an electronic version, so I'll need to transcribe), but I'll put it in RecipeGullet and let you know when it's there.

In the meantime, start accumulating figs, marmalade, brandy, dark ale, sultanas, ginger, currants, carrots, raisins, ...

And plums?

[lesliec]

Jaymes, behave. We will have no trifling with my pudding, lest we make fools of ourselves. No, no plums (although according to Abigail's definition above, there are).

Attention, one and all: if you turn your attention here, you will find the recipe in all its glory. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. It's a little time-consuming but not particularly difficult, and if you have leftovers I'm happy to take them off your hands.

It may seem early but ... Merry Christmas, everybody!

[Darienne]

Jaymes, behave. We will have no trifling with my pudding, lest we make fools of ourselves. No, no plums (although according to Abigail's definition above, there are).

Truly wicked, that is.