Wednesday 23 November 2016

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.
 
 

 

 
 
 

33 comments:

  1. I can only say yum!!! I love a day of baking. I am making my mincemeat after the weekend and then the first lot of mince pies. We eat a tonne of them in our house along with using some as gifts and when people drop by. I always make my cake the first week of November and it has just been fed with some gluvhein. I sometimes make mince pies with a viennese biscuit topping which are really yummy. I can smell and taste your post from here!

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  2. Ooooooh I bet your kitchen smelt like heaven.
    Everything looks absolutely delicious-x-

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  3. Lovely goodies! The crumble topped pies look fantastic. I am off to make leek and potato soup now.

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  4. All that looks delicious ! When my husband ate fir the first time a Christmas Pudding with friends in London over 20 years ago, he fell in love and my friend each year sent him a pudding. Since then we get them here too. We have a big store with only English food. So what I buy is of course a Christmas pudding and often also cheese !

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  5. I love these traditions, though stir up Sunday isn't one in our house as none of us eat Christmas pudding, Christmas cake or mince pies. I know, we're a funny lot.

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  6. Oh wow, you've been so busy and it all looks amazing, especially those quiches. I can imagine the atmosphere in your kitchen, gorgeous xx

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  7. A very productive time, I bet your house smelt amazing.

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  8. My mouth is watering and I'm so sorry for my husband that his wife has left cooking to the last minute for our USA-tradition of Thanksgiving. Your post makes me want to be a better cook! Wondering if you have shared the recipe for your banana bread? It looks wonderful and mine never turns out that good looking.

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  9. I can imagine the wonderful smell of your kitchen with all the yummy baking going on there! You are all set for the festive season!

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  10. You are an amazing lady! How in the world do you get so much done. Getting supper on the table at night is a big accomplishment for me. Reading about your foods made me hungry.

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  11. My mouth is watering. Everything looks so delicious.

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  12. It all looks so delicious. I bet the aromas in your home were amazing. I'm starting to feel a little festive now. X

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  13. I seem to feel the smell from here.
    I love these quiches!
    If you want us to follow each other, let me know on my blog :)

    My Tester Mania

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  14. Oh my, I wish I lived close enough to you to be your baking quality control tester!!

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  15. You are a wonder! I wish I was as organised and could bake as well as you! Lovely treats for the weeks ahead!

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  16. Wow, you have been busy and your kitchen must smell amazing!

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  17. You truly amaze me with your industriousness! I'm crocheting and goofing off.. but tomorrow is our big feast and I'll be plenty busy then.. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  18. I love being here with you!
    I love sharing your lovely traditions!
    Wish I could spend some time learning from you. : )

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  19. You are not only organized with your crafting and sewing, but also in the kitchen! I found your discussion of making Christmas pudding very interesting. Are most families thus engaged at this time of year?

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  20. You were very busy in your kitchen and lots of lovely things were made for future meals and treats. No wonder your kitchen had such a glorious seasonal aroma:)

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  21. Having been away I'm behind with Christmas preparations, but I'm sure I'll get there in the end. Berkshire daughter will be coming up with lots of food goodies as she's the one these days that makes the special Christmas treats. Even though she's working full-time she enjoys cooking. Meanwhile, I'm starting to plan menus with local daughter and granddaughter for the family get togethers. You must be pleased that gifts have been made and plenty of cakes, puddings, savouries have been stored in the freezer ready for December days.

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  22. Hello is so yummy dish! :)
    Would you like to follow each other via GFC FB Twitter G+ and Instagram? Let me know in my blog leaving a comment so I can follow back. Thank you.
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  23. What an amazing lot of food you've made in such a short time! It all looks delicious.
    I had 4 very big, over ripe bananas which I turned into 3 Banana cakes. Just made cream cheese icing for them and they're ready for all the extra people who will be here for my BIL's memorial service.

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  24. Everything looks delicious! I absolutely love Quiches, too. :)

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  25. Everything looks delicious! I absolutely love Quiches, too. :)

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  26. What an interesting tradition! I love it :)

    I hope you can stop by and consider joining in the 2017 PenPal sign-ups:

    http://collettaskitchensink.blogspot.com/2016/11/tea-time-penpals-and-snow-112516.html

    Colletta

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  27. I was starting to get quite hungry reading this delicious post.......it's always a good idea to stock the freezer with home baking for the festive season......especially if you have a large family as I do.

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  28. Oh yum! Baking for Christmas is fun. I should as well. I should make the bishops bread again. Also biscotti is good but has so many stages but worth the taste. Great with tea as well!!

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  29. After seeing this post I became starving:)
    Everything look so delicious, especially cheese and onion quiches!

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  30. You did so much! And it all looks so good! I love to hear about your holiday traditions.
    xo
    Lynn

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  31. This post was just right up my street from start to finish ;). I love seeing how productive you were in the kitchen, it is inspiring, and yes, Jesus is certainly the reason for the season! Rejoice indeed!! :D

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  32. Thanks for sharing this with all of us.
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