Stir Up Sunday

Sunday was stir up Sunday, the traditional day for making your Christmas Pudding over here in England.  It gets its name from the beginning of the collect for the day in the book of common prayer which begins with the words "stir up, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people".  It is always the last Sunday before the season of Advent.  The whole family gather in the kitchen to make the pudding and each are given the chance to stir the pudding and make a wish for the year ahead.  It is stirred from East to West honouring the three wise men who visited the baby Jesus.

These days there is only my husband and I to stir it up and it takes some stirring as I like to make at least 6.  This year was no exception 5 traditional recipe and 3 with cranberries replacing the currants.  The smells permeating around the house was a joy, for me the real smell of Christmas and the start of the Christmas season.  We sang along to a real mixture of songs and carols, a treat and joy.  I did have to do them in 2 lots as I didn't have enough pudding bowls so some were cooked Sunday, some Monday but they are all ready and taste better for leaving.

The standard of the photograph sadly is very poor the lighting in the kitchen is not good adding to the time of day they were taken but I will share what I can.

 

Port was added this year instead of the usual stout, orange peel not added to batch with cranberries.

 

Whilst the puddings were boiling away I made a start with some baking for the freezer.  Boy, with all the steam and heat from the oven it was hot in that kitchen.

 

I had several bananas that were starting to brown and needed using up so I made two loaves of banana bread.  Once cool one was sliced and wrapped individually for the freezer and the other frozen whole.

 

 

I made 2 dozen crumble topped mince pies with nuts and 1 dozen without the added nuts.

 

 

The tin is full with a variety of jam tarts for this week and a couple of lots of uncooked pastry is now in the freezer ready to make more.

 

 

Cheese and onion quiches and cheese and broccoli quiches have been added to the freezer, the perfect accompaniment to a winter salad.

 

 

Cheese scones are now in the freezer already to be served with soups.  I made carrot and coriander soup, parsnip with nutmeg and leek and potato soup for the freezer.  The perfect winter warmer and ideal to pull out for a quick meal throughout December when we are so busy.

 

 

Soups, scones and quiches were also made for my parents freezer to make it easy to feed family when they visit.  I do need a couple more baking sessions but a start has been made.  This is what the season is all about sharing with loved ones and remembering Jesus is the reason for the Season!  Rejoice!

 

See you soon.