Pudding!

 

I am loathe to mention the Christmas word whilst we are still in November BUT Christmas is just four weeks away and plans are beginning to crank up regarding The Dinner. 

Andy and I are hosting this year. The main course is all organised. But, as a diners’ collective, we are having a pudding conundrum.

I am happy with the traditional Christmas pudding, but I am in a minority of one on this. A couple of us can’t cope with too much cream, so anything with double cream in it is risky. One of us can’t cope with too much chocolate, so that is risky, too. I mean, profiteroles is just asking for trouble. Ditto a Yule log, a cheesecake and a trifle. 

As a collective, we’ve discussed pudding options. Something fruit-based, maybe. ‘A Christmas Pudding?’ said I, hopefully. My suggestion - because Christmas Pudding is basically fruit so ticked the suggestion - criteria - was met with the damp squib of no enthusiasm. 

There’s always crumbles, of course. I have a large chest freezer that is 75% filled with plums, blackberries, raspberries and apples from this year’s fruit harvest. But we eat crumbles as a regular pudding throughout the year, and whilst I am of the opinion you can’t beat an apple and blackberry crumble, there’s nothing Christmassy special about it unless you form it into the shape of a reindeer, for example, or a snowman, and that way madness lies. 

I think something gingery would be seasonally suitable. Or something orangey. And I’m also thinking a strudel might be nice. Andy has suggested a fruit salad, but does that scream Yuletide joy? Hmmmm. I’ve found a recipe for a bread and butter pudding thing using either panettone or brioche. That’s a possibility. I don’t mind a mince pie option but mention mince pie to Andy and you’d think he was being poisoned. 

There’s the good ole steamed pudding, of course, with either syrup, orange sauce, jam, dried fruits. A good, warm and comforting Winter choice. Of course, if we have a steamed pudding people will be wanting custard with it. I won’t, because custard is an abomination and ruins a good pudding by making it taste of nothing but custard. What is WRONG with people, that they want to eat custard?? Incomprehensible. 

I fear we are running into the dangerous territory of ‘Multiple Pudding Options’ to cater for everyone. Perhaps we should cut pudding altogether and have a nice cheeseboard instead? 

The Great Pudding Search continues…