Stir Up Sunday (Prepare for Advent)

Today is Stir Up Sunday, the last Sunday before Advent. This is the traditional day in Britain to make the Christmas pudding, and set it aside for Christmas Day so the flavors have a month to develop.

At least, it used to be the traditional day; apparently most families buy a pudding in a tin now. What a shame! Being partly of British descent (and also being fond of brandy) I think it's worth the effort. And the flaming pudding is an exciting end to Christmas dinner!

This is a day of preparation: I prepare for advent and also for Thanksgiving. Because we have an unvaccinated one-year-old in our family, we will not be physically together again this year for Thanksgiving, but we are going to share food and then eat together on zoom!

I plan to use this day to center myself for a holiday that will be untraditional: I want to stir up my feelings about tradition, expectation, love, and family, and come to terms with a low key quarantine holiday season, which will still be deep and satisfying. Advent is a time of expectant waiting - for grace, and the joy of the returning Light - and this week I will actively prepare to wait.

Agenda for today:
1- Journal queries

2- Prayer
3- Start the Christmas Pudding

4- Collect greens

1- Journal queries:

How can I generate joy and togetherness while also respecting health protocols?

What creative ways can we be together this year?

What are the positive themes I want to focus on this year?

What are some traditions I can modify?

2- Prayer:

The name "Stir Up Sunday" comes from the Church of England collect for this day: A collect is a short prayer, which “collects” or sums up the thoughts of the day and season.

The collect for this Sunday is: “Stir up, we beseech thee, O God, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded.” 

This prayer was parodied: "Stir up, we beseech thee, the pudding in the pot. And when we do get home tonight, we'll eat it up hot."

My prayer today is: Stir up, I beg thee, my sluggish soul, and wake me up to the wonder and joy of the season of Thanksgiving and Advent.

3- Start the Christmas Pudding:
I should have started the pudding yesterday, because the fruit has to soak overnight, but I had delightful company last night, and didn't get to it.

So, I'll start today and steam the pudding tomorrow. And be aware that it takes 7 hours to steam this pudding - choose a day when you will be home to watch it!

Ingredients:

I used kiwi and peaches 2 years ago - very colorful.

• 1 lb. (about 3 c.) dried mixed fruit (raisins, prunes, currants, etc.)
• 1 small tart apple
• 1/2 of a large orange and 1/2 of a lemon
• 1/2 c. brandy or sherry
• 1 c. vegetable shortening, frozen, then grated
• 1/2-c. all-purpose flour
• 1/2-c. dark brown sugar
• 1/2-tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/4-tsp. ground cloves
• 2 c. fresh white bread crumbs
• 1/4-c. chopped almonds
• 2 large eggs 

Yield: Serves 8 - 10

Day one:

1- Cut up about 3 c. of dried fruits (I used dates, cranberries, prunes, and golden raisins this year).

2- Peel, core and chop the apple finely and add to the bowl.

3- Remove and finely chop the zest from 1/2 of a lemon and 1/2 of an orange, and squeeze the juice. 

4- Add zest and juices, along with a few spoonfuls of brandy. Stir, cover the bowl with a clean towel, and marinate overnight.


5- Put the vegetable shortening in a plastic tub in the freezer overnight (so you can grate it tomorrow).

Day two:
1- Lightly butter a 2-1/2 pint pudding basin. Fill a pot half-way with water and start to heat on medium.









2- Combine flour, sugar, and spices in a large mixing bowl.

3- Grate the frozen shortening into the bowl and work the shortening into the flour gently, leaving large chunks of shortening.



4- Add the breadcrumbs, and nuts and stir gently until well mixed.


5- Add the eggs to the fruit, and mix, then add the dry ingredients and fold together until everything looks moist.




Folklore dictates that all family members must take a hand in the stirring, and it must be stirred in a clockwise direction, with eyes shut, while making a secret wish.

6- Spoon into the pudding basin, gently pressing and smoothing the mixture with the back of a spoon. 

Pudding is in the pot and ready to steam!

7- Cover with the lid, and place the basin in a pot of simmering water. Steam for 7 hours. Make sure you check the water level frequently so it never boils dry.

8- Remove the pudding from the steamer and cool completely. Remove the lid; the pudding should be a deep brown color. Don't try to eat it now- it will collapse. 

Poke the top of the pudding all over with a skewer and pour in a little extra brandy. Cover again with the lid and store in a cool dry place until Christmas day. (The kitchen might be too steamy -- I put ours in the bedroom closet.)

9- Top the pudding up with a splash of brandy every week to keep it moist.

10- Reheat on Christmas day by steaming again for about an hour. Half-fill a metal ladle with brandy and carefully heat over a candle flame- when the ladle is hot enough, the brandy will light on fire. Pour the flaming brandy over the pudding. Turn the lights out and carry it to the table to serve.

4- Collect greens:

Each year before Advent starts I collect greens from around the neighborhood to make an advent wreath. This week I've picked up many storm dropped branches, including a large Grand Fir branch from an alley.