Christmas Pudding - Our Tradition from the Making to the Flaming
As the evening sun dipped below the horizon, she carried it carefully into the dimly lit dining room. A sweet, dark, glistening dome of sticky goodness- dried fruits and nuts steeped in brandy and bourbon, fragranced with warm spices and steamed into the traditional Christmas pudding . My Christmas Pudding- our family tradition from the making to the flaming. He waited, spoon in one hand and bourbon in the other to flame the pudding as a nod to the pagan winter solstice celebration where fire and light and warmth were brought into the chilly winter darkness. The children's eyes glowed like hot coals in eager anticipation of this ritual. The Christmas meal was coming to an end, culminating with the grand flambé . When the alcohol caught fire and the blue flame was poured over the pudding, everyone's hearts leaped like the flames that danced lightly over the pudding. Two weeks earlier the whole family had been in the kitchen having a go at the making of this pudding. Each fa...
