English Cuisine : Christmas pudding with citrus & spice

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/8370/christmas-pudding-with-citrus-and-spice

A fruity pud, served with orange custard cream, makes the perfect end to the traditional Christmas meal

Ingredients

• 175g each raisins (des raisins secs) , currants (des raisins de Corinthe) and sultanas (des raisins de Smyrne)
• 140g whole glacé cherries (des cerises confites)
• 50g mixed peel (des écorces d’agrumes confites)
• 50g whole blanched almonds (des amandes émondées) 
• zest 1 orange and 1 lemon
• 1 medium carrot , peeled and finely grated
• 150ml brandy (comme un cognac ou un armagnac)
• 50ml/2fl oz orange liqueur, such as Grand Marnier
• 175g light muscovado sugar (vergeoise)
• 175g fresh white breadcrumbs (chapelure)
• 125g self-raising flour (farine avec levure incorporée)
• 1 tsp mixed spice (mélange pour pain d’épices)
• ¼ tsp grated nutmeg (noix de muscade)
• 175g butter , frozen
• 2 eggs , beaten
• butter , for greasing
• holly sprig, to decorate (une petite branche de houx) 

  

  1. Mix the fruit, almonds, citrus zests and the carrot with the brandy and orange liqueur in a large mixing bowl. Cover and leave to soak (tremper) overnight.
  2. Mix all the dry ingredients together, then add to the soaked fruit mixture. Grate (râper) in the butter, then add the eggs and stir. Don't forget to make a wish!
  3. Grease a 1.5-litre pudding basin (une moule à pudding) with butter and line (tapisser) the base with greaseproof paper (papier cuisson). Spoon in the mixture, press down well and make a hollow (un creux) with the back of the spoon in the centre. Cover the surface with a round of greaseproof paper, then cover the bowl with double-thickness greaseproof paper and foil (papier d’aluminium) and tie at the rim (au bord) with string. Lower the pudding into a pan with an upturned (posé à l’envers) saucer (une soucoupe) in the base, then fill with water until it comes halfway up the sides of the bowl. Steam (faire cuire à la vapeur) for 6 hrs, topping up with water as necessary.
  4. Alternatively, steam in the oven. Stand the pudding basin in a roasting tin (un plan à rôtir) filled with water, then cover with a tent of foil and cook for the same length of time at 160C/fan 140C/gas 3. Check roasting tin occasionally as the water may need to be topped up.
  5. To store (conserver), allow to cool, then store in a cool, dry cupboard. The pudding will keep for up to a year.
  6. On the day, steam for 1 hr before turning out (sortir de la moule), decorating with holly and serving with extra-thick double cream or vanilla ice cream. Alternatively, try my Orange custard cream (below).

  

  Orange custard cream

  Whip (fouetter) 285ml double cream with the grated zest ½ orange until it holds its shape. Fold in a 500ml tub fresh vanilla custard and serve.

Christmas in Britain - The Twelve Days of Christmas

The Twelve Days of Christmas are the days beginning on the evening of Christmas Day to Epiphany (the evening before is called Twelfth Night). These twelves days are still celebrated in some aspect in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, the traditions have almost completely dissappeared in the United States except with a few religious groups.

These holidays have led to a famous holiday song sung in all English-speaking countries, The Twelve Days of Christmas. Versions of this song have existed since the XVI century but the version known today was arranged in the XX century by Frederic Austin.

For the lyrics to this song, go HERE.

VOCABULARY partridge - pedrix turtle dove - tourterelle hen - poule *calling bird - merle ring - anneau, bague goose (irregular plural form - geese) - oie to lay (irregular verb - laid, laid) - pondre swan - cygne maid (archaic) - demoiselle to milk - traire to leap - bondir, sauter piper - joueur de cornemuse to pipe - jouer de la cornemuse drummer - batteur to drum - jouer de la batterie *"colly" or "collie" means "black" and originates from an old English word for "coal." Apparently the sung was orignally sung with 'four collie birds.'

Christmas in Britain - Giant Christmas Pudding (Sky News video)

An eccentric Englishman trims his bushes to resemble a giant Christmas pudding!

Vocabulary

to trim - tailler bush - buisson sheet - drap to drape - draper gale - grand vent plywood - contreplaqué berry - baie lit up - allumé float - flotteur, flottateur

Christmas in Britain - I Saw Three Ships

There is a lot of mystery that surrounds the popular carol, I Saw Three Ships. It was first published in 1666 by Cecil Sharp, a collector of English folk song who discovered various versions of the carol throughout the British Isles. It is unclear how far back the song actually dates but some believe that it is an upbeat version of Greensleeves. There is a lot of debate around the symbolism of the carol. What do the three ships represent? Columbus's voyage? The Holy Trinity? The three wisemen? Or faith, hope and charity from I Corinthians 13:13? Despite the mystery, this traditional carol remains a favorite in the English-speaking world.

I SAW THREE SHIPS

I saw three ships come sailing by

On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;

I saw three ships come sailing by

On Christmas Day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three,

On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day?

And what was in those ships all three,

On Christmas Day in the morning?

Our Saviour Christ and His Lady,

On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;

Our Saviour Christ and His Lady,

On Christmas Day in the morning.

Pray, whither sailed those ships all three,

On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;

Pray, whither sailed those ships all three,

On Christmas Day in the morning?

O they sailed into Bethlehem,

On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;

O they sailed into Bethlehem,

On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the bells on earth shall ring,

On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;

And all the bells on earth shall ring,

On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing,

On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;

And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing,

On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the souls on earth shall sing,

On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;

And all the souls on earth shall sing,

On Christmas Day in the morning.

Then let us all rejoice again,

On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;

Then let us all rejoice again,

On Christmas Day in the morning.

VOCABULARY carol - chant de Noël upbeat - plus rythmé wiseman - sage faith - foi hope - espérance pray (archaic) - de grâce whither (archaic) - où soul - âme

British Cuisine 01: Mincemeat Pies

An essential part of the British Christmas table is the mincemeat pie (or mince pie)! They are traditionally eaten between Christmas Day and Ephiphany.

Despite its name, today's mincemeat pie contains no meat but dried fruits and spices. This sweet tart dates back to medieval times when the pies were made with shredded meat, liver and boiled eggs with dried fruits and spices added for variety. By the 17th century the meat was replaced with suet and then by the 19th century no meat products were used at all!

Mincemeat has crossed the Atlantic and is also eaten in America though the traditions and myths surrounding mincemeat remain British. For example, in Britain it is considered lucky to eat one mince pie every day of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Christmas Day to Ephinany). When stirring the mincemeat, it is too be stirred in a clockwise direction because to do otherwise could bring bad luck for the upcoming year. When you eat your first mincemeat pie of the season, you make a wish and of course, mincemeat pies are to always be eaten in silence.

Traditionally to thank Father Christmas for filling their stockings, British children leave a mince pie or two for him along with a carrot for his reindeer.

VOCABULARY

shredded - découpé

liver - foie

suet - graisse de rognon

to stir - remuer

clockwise - dans le sens des aiguilles d'une montre

wish - souhait

To make mince pies, you can find the recipe on BBC Good Food HERE!

Note: Jars of mincemeat can usually be found in specialty food stores in France. I have seen it in the food store of Galéries Lafayette and Monoprix in Strasbourg.

Christmas in Britain - The Holly and the Ivy

This old 17th century English yuletide carol is one of the most beautiful but also one of the most unusual in that it appears to blend paganism and Christianity. Holly and ivy plants were an integral part of the Druidic system for centuries. It was custom in winter for the pagans to decorate with evergreen plants they picked from the landscape. The ancient pagans used to fashion ivy into wreaths which had close ties to the Roman god of wine, Bacchus. Holly was often used in the Roman celebrations of Saturnalia on which the present holiday season was modeled. The Celts also used holly in their summer and winter solstice celebrations.

It is unclear how holly and ivy came to play a major part in Christmas celebrations. As Christianity spread, the early Christians used evergreens in their decorations despite protests from the clergy. In any case, evergreen plants such as mistletoe and other symbols of the pagan past were quickly being co-opted by Christianity.

Today, it is said that holly's prickly leaves represents the crown of thorns Christ wore and the holly's berries represent the drops of blood He shed from that crown. In Scandinavia, holly is know as Christ Thorn. Because ivy has to cling to something for support, it represents the need to cling to God for support.

LYRICS:

THE HOLLY AND THE IVY

The holly and the ivy when they are both full grown Of all the trees that are in the wood, the holly bears the crown Refrain: Oh, the rising of the sun and the running of the deer The playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir The holly bears a blossom as white as lily flower And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to be our sweet Saviour Refrain The holly bears a berry as red as any blood And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to do poor sinners good Refrain The holly bears a prickle as sharp as any thorn And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ on Christmas Day in the morn Refrain The holly bears a bark as bitter as any gall And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ for to redeem us all Refrain

VOCABULARY yuletide - période de Noël to blend - mélanger, incorporer holly - houx ivy - lierre evergreen - à feuillage persistant wreath - couronne, guirlande to spread (NOTE Irregular verb - spread, spread) - se répandre despite - malgré mistletoe - gui prickly - épineux thorn - épine berry - baie to shed (NOTE Irregular verb - shed, shed) - verser to cling - s'agripper à deer (NOTE The plural form is the same 1 deer, 2 deer) - cerf, chevreuil, daim, biche blossom - fleur to bear (NOTE Irregular verb - bore, born. The expression 'to be born' comes from this verb) - porter morn - short for 'morning' bark - écorce bitter - amère gall - galle, amertume to redeem - racheter