.: Favorites Christmas Recipes

Hi....

Peace be upon u.....................

This week was really hectic for me, as I was spending a lot of time adapting myself to a new embarked project. Despite having a week to complete, I managed to do so. See what focus, effort and hard work can do to help. I assume a lot of us can relate to what I said in regards to deadline......shisssshhh.....it's something that a lot of us don't like to work around with.

Anyway with the celebration of Christmas & New Year, my mind was transported back to the good old days while I was in Birmingham....that is where I discover my skills in cooking the festive specialty cuisine.....The famous English Roast Stuffed Chicken and mouth watering Christmas Pudding.....Well this recipe was taught to me by my friend Caroline. I distinctively remember a day before Christmas when I was helping her to make the pudding. When it was all done she said "U just finished something that is considered a difficult thing to make". That is the start of a new learning curve for me as I've learnt to cook from her. Till todate, I still use a lot of her techniques and knowledge into my cooking.

Frankly speaking I haven't tried the receipe for a very long time ever since my daughter was born 10 years ago. I guess I'm ready to take up the cooking activity again.

For today, I have 2 recipes to share with U which are both simple and delicious.

So, here, I present a special christmas recipe.....its called the Traditional British Chritsmas Pudding, made famous as it was the Queen favourite Pudding. ( I mean the Queen of England). The pudding was established in 1714 from the recipe by the King George 1. It was only during the Victorian revival of Christmas in the 19th century that plum pudding was 1st called Christmas Pudding.

Christmas Pudding In A Cloth

1 1/2 cups (375ml golden raisins

1 2/3(415 ml) currants

1/2 cup (125ml) blanched almonds chopped

1/3 cup (85ml) glace cherries (green colour), chopped

and 1/3 cup (85 ml) glace cherries (red colour) chopped

1 1/2 cups (375ml) raisins, chopped

1/3 cup (85ml) mixed candied peel

(candied peel preserved peel, commonly of citrus fruits used in confectionery and cake making. Its prepared by softening the peel, then boiling with sugar syrup)

1 small apple, peeled and grated

Combine chopped raisins and currants, almonds, cherries, in a larged bowl. Add mixed peel, golden raisins, apple and currants in a large bowl.

1/4 Beyh water

(This is Beyh drink (Pls refer to Under masakan Warisan Johor under "Sambil Makan Kuih Raya Jom Minum Air Beyh - 24 October, 2008)
or brandy for non Muslim-The alcohol will preserve the pudding. So U can keep it for months

Pour over Beyh water or rum(for non muslim), cover and allow to stand overnight

1 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

Cream butter and sugar

4 eggs

Beating well

1 cup (250ml) all purpose flour

pinch salt

1 tbsp (15ml) ground allspice

1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) baking soda

Sift flour, salt, allspice and baking soda

2 1/2 cups (625ml) soft white breadcrums

Soft :Fresh breadcrumbs, made with one or two days old bread in a blender or food processor

Dry : Commercial packages breadcrumbs

Add brudcrums to flour mixture. Fold flour, butter and fruit mixtures together

If U want to stick the traditional way of mixing, U need to use a wooden spoon and stir in a clockwise direction while making a wish. Everyone in the family gets to stir the pudding and make a wish....hahahahhahha..........

How to boil using the old fashioned calico or cotton

Dip pudding cloths in boiling or warm water

Pudding Cloth:
A piece of clean white cotton kitchen cloth which is used to enclose pudding ingredients for steaming or boiling. U can make ur own using plain white cotton or several layers of fine cheesecloth

Squeeze out excess moisture and lay cloth flat. Sift plenty of flour over three- quaters of cloth and rub in well- this forms a seal which prevents water seeping into puding during cooking

Move mix into bowl

Press down lightly with finger

Very carefully flip over mix onto centre of cloth

So its now sitting up right And bring up sides of material

Secure well with string

Bring approximately 2 quarts (2L) water to boil. Lower pudding into water.

Cover and boil pudding 4 hours, adding hot water as necessary.

Remove pudding, drain and hang for 1 day.

Reheat by boiling 2 hours. Remove from cloth.

This pudding can be sliced and eaten cold like a slice of cake

Serve with custard or brandy butter or cream

Custard

1 cup sugar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp salt
3 cup milk
3 egg yolks
2 tbsp butter
2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup brandy (not for muslim)
1/2 cup evaporated milk or whipping cream
In a sauce pan put sugar, salt and flour and mix well.Gradually add milk and mix after each addition. Beat egg yolks separately and add to the mixture. Slowly bring to boil stirring constantly until thickened. Add butter and stir.
Let it cool to room temperature or in a refrigerator.
Add evaporated milk , vanilla, and brandy. Whip the mixture with a blender.

How to steam a pudding using a bowl cooking method

Greace bowl with knob of butter

Move mix into bowl. Press down lightly with finger

Cover and seal with aluminium foil. (Make sure U have very tight seal)

Make a bain- marie or water bathe

Keep topping up water every hour

Serve

The pudding looked like a black lump of earth when it was served on the plate but I liked it very much

My Christmas Pudding is now ready to serve

Christmas Pudding is traditional made several months before Christmas to enlarge the flavour

Christmas Pudding even has health benefit. It is hostly made of mixed dried fruit such as raisins, currants and sultanas, all good sources of anti toxins that neutralise toxins in the body.

Who is sitting there? hahaha.........

Inside my heart, sweet memories stay with me each day

A memory that will forever live in my heart

Christmas celebration with Asean students......alamak macamana gambar nie boleh terlepas

It was 1993, I had completed my 1st year semester of college..

I imagine our reunion... I am feeling a bit nostalgic about my past especially my days at school and college which still fills me with joy and further adds to my inner happiness . And I 'm sure all of us here must be missing out our those wonderful friends in our wonderful days of school and college. Where we all enjoyed together....but now everything has ended and I am alone, I don’t have anyone to share my feelings......huh ...huh...huh....
So today I don’t know why am I recalling those days back and feeling very happy because those were the days which I miss a lot......now time has changed and everyone has changed & got engaged with their personal lives.

Roast Chicken With Herbs Stuffing

To make Herb Stuffing :