Stir Up Sunday 2021
Stir Up Sunday 2021. One of the most important features of Christmas is the pudding – the table is really quite empty without one. A Christmas pudding takes weeks of preparation – as any important feature of the holiday should! That’s why the last day before Advent is known as Stir Up Sunday.
This tradition began in Victorian times, when families would come together to start getting the pudding ready. Each member will take turns stirring up all the ingredients and contributing their fair share. This reminds one of the Wise Men who travelled to visit Jesus, going from East to West, and the thirteen ingredients that were traditional represented the thirteen disciples.
Why does it need to be done so far in advance? Well, for some its because they just like being organised. But for others, it has to do with the taste of the pudding. You would think that pudding would not be nice after a few weeks, but it actually gets better with time, thanks to the alcohol in them. It permeates the fruit inside, giving the most glorious flavour.
Some have a custom to place a coin inside the pudding, as a sign of good luck.
Another reason for the name Stir-up Sunday comes from a quote from the beginning of the Book of Common Prayer, “Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Vegan Christmas Pudding Recipe for Stir Up Sunday 2021
Courtesy of Mandy Mazliah for Metro.co.uk
Ingredients
100g chopped dried figs
100g mixed dried raisins, sultanas and currants
75g chopped dried dates, ideally medjool
1 apple, grated
Zest of an orange
100g plain flour
110g breadcrumbs
6 tbsp maple syrup
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp mixed spice
2 tbsp brandy (replace with orange juice if preferred)
6 tbsp aquafaba (the liquid you find in a tin of chickpeas)
You will either need a pudding steamer or a 1 litre pudding basin and a large saucepan with a lid.
Method
Cut out a circle of greaseproof paper to fit the top of your 1 litre pudding basin. Grease the basin and set aside.
Place all the ingredients into a large mixing bowl and mix well. Pour into the basin, squash down and flatten the top.
Place the greaseproof paper on the top of the mixture. Cover the basin with a double layer of foil and tie it up tightly with a piece of string. You can also make a handle out of string if you want, to make it easier to lift your basin out of the pan later when it’s hot. If you’re using a proper steamer you can follow its instructions.
Fill your pan to about one third full with water and bring to the boil. Carefully lower your basin into the water, making sure that it doesn’t come up to the foil as you don’t want water to seep in. You can also place an upturned saucer on the bottom of the pan if you’re worried about damaging your pan. The basin then sits on top of this.
Reduce the heat to a simmer and cover with a lid.
Steam for three hours. Check occasionally to make sure that the water hasn’t boiled away and if it has top up.
Once it’s done allow to cool for at least 10 minutes, place a serving plate on top of the bowl, turn it upside down and remove the pudding. If it needs a little help to come out, very carefully slide a thin knife around the edge of the pudding, then invert again and give it a little whack. It should slide out easily now.
Serve with vegan cream or custard
Stir Up Sunday 2021, ideal family fun, the more cooks the merrier !!
Read about Walnut Tree
Great Taste Awards
With Great Taste Awards for marron glacé, glacé fruit, dark chocolate ginger and pate de fruit. You will always be purchasing quality products from Walnut Tree.
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Supplied under own brand or white label to prestigious stores, palaces, castles, stately homes, garden centres, delicatessens, farm shops, hamper companies, department stores and gift shops.
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Walnut Tree supports Future Dreams Breast Cancer Charity with dried fruit for their care packages. www.futuredreams.org.uk
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