Stir-up Sunday

Stir-up Sunday.

A few weeks ago my family got together to re-introduce "Stir-up Sunday" to our calendar. From the age of around 2 and 3 years old, my children (Jenny and Andrew and any foster children that where around) got involved. This involved mixing the Christmas Cake, the Christmas Pudding or the Mincemeat for Mince pies, whatever you had decided to make, and making a wish as you stir. Each member of the family has a stir and then someone is chosen to add charms, threepennny pieces (remember those from before decimalisation) etc.. This year we decided not to add anything..Health and Safety you know......! We used to do this for many, many years but, as the children flew the nest, we sort of dropped the tradition. This year Andrew and Gemma are hosting Christmas Day and, as we were all together this one particular Sunday, Tony suggested we re-start the tradition and so here are the images of the day.

So Jenny, Andrew and Gemma (and of course Alfie) arrived to create and stir the puddings. This is Jenny taking her turn and even Alfie used his paw to stir the spoon!! Why am l not surprised! Ha x

The rest of the family waiting their turn! I wish l had caught Tony in a different pose but....sorry Tony not  the most flattering image x

Once the puddings have been stirred, it is put into suitable bowls, ready for steaming.

 A double circle of greaseproof paper is placed over the bowl.

 Then a piece of cotton or muslin is placed over that.

Then take a piece of string.."how long is a piece of string?" l hear you ask. Well, enough to wrap round at least 4 times. Firstly, secure the paper and cloth tightly and then pull up the spare material into a handle.

The handle enables you to put in and take out the pudding from the boiling water, without burning yourself. Clever, what!?

Here are the two puddings in boiling water cooking. "Why two?" you ask....Well, as Tony said, "You need to make two, because you need to eat one before Christmas, just to check the one for  Christmas Day, is ok"..Tony's logic/stomach at work here!

 Here are the finished two puddings, waiting in a cool place for their time to come!!

It was a great morning and after "The Stirring" we all went out for a walk in Richmond Park before we all went our own ways.

A great time was had by all!