OT Christmas customs in Australia

Ah, Melinda

All day I have been remembering other things about an Aussie Christmas that
might be unusual.

I am not into snow so have never gone looking for it (even in winter) but
yes - i suppose it does sometimes snow in at least some of the alpine areas
in December. But snow is pretty rare at that time of the year now. My
family in Tassie told me there was none last year.

I introduced a visiting American to the Aussie staple salad ingredient of
beetroot. I even had to mail her tins of Golden Circle sliced beetroot at
Christmas time. It cost me $20 for the tins, and $40 for the postage.
ROFL

And - yes, I love the "bashing through the bush" version of the carol! I
can't find my words though. If you have them could you post them here for
everyone? If I can find my old Aussie 12 Days song book I will put it on
Webshots. I have a great quilt pattern for the Aussie 12 Days of Christmas
that is a hoot!! Beaches and hats with corks feature strongly!

I love that with daylight saving (Summer Time) it is light until after 9pm,
even though it means that Carols by Candlelight has to run so late at night,
so that the candles and fireworks can be seen. Of course last year we
didn't have any fireworks because of the fire bans in our area!

I remember that as a kid swim suits and beach towels ranked pretty high on
the gift list.

I remember I was devastated when I found out that I could not put decimal
currency coins in Christmas puddings. I horde my small collection of
threepences and insist that they be returned to me in exchange for a small
gift. The "approved" silver tokens that you can buy are just not the same.
We are always very careful to have just three coins - one for health, one
for wealth and one for happiness!

I remember that my first boyfriend had a birthday on Christmas Day, and we
always celebrated it on the Australia Day long weekend a month later so he
wouldn't feel he had missed out.

I remember my first outback Christmas dinner - BBQd water buffalo and native
yams! Delicious!!

I remember my first Christmas in the Blue Mtns in NSW - the year of the last
big fires. The removalists dumped the contents of two trucks on the front
lawn and bolted because the Police were about to close the Highway. I had
to ring my Removals Officer to get them back the next day but my stuff sat
on the lawn overnight. I never got the smoke smell out of the curtains.

And I met my new neighbours there within hours of arriving because T. came
over to ask me to store some boxes of photos in case the fires came up the
gully. She was on the low side surrounded by trees and I was on the high
side on a rock outcrop. She thought my house would be safer. (The fire
didn't get closer than 500metres thankfully)

I remember the Christmas in Adelaide (at RAAF EDN) over 20 years ago when
the temperature didn't drop below 30deg C (about 86deg F) for five days and
nights, and we were sleeping outside on the grass at night because our
quarters were so hot. The insect bites were preferable to the sweltering
heat. People slept on the sand at the beaches to get cool. We hung our
stockings on the brush fence around our quarters and someone (still don't
know who) put chocolates in them. The chocs melted of course and the ants
had a great time. ROFL

I remember having to approve hosing down the hardstands on two Bases over
Christmas becasue the heat had melted the bitumen and the wheels of the
aircraft were getting damaged and sinking! (It got to 48deg C at Woomera on
Boxing Day - that's about 118F)

I remember some riotous Boxing Day celebrations too. There is nothing quite
like a true Aussie recovery party!! I also worked with some British
exchange personnel and we had the "switching roles" meal where the officers
served the ORs. I don't think the USA does this - or do they?

These days Christmas Day is very quiet at my house. I have no family here
so all my Christmas celebrations are in the weeks leading up to the day
itself. I love the Christmas season because it is a time when we all make
an effort to get in touch with those who are important to us but who we
might not see very often. But because most people are committed to family
activities on CD, it usually is one of the very few days of the year that I
can be sure I will NOT have any unexpected visitors. By CD I have usually
even packed away the tree, and last year I spent the day shampooing my
carpet LOL

Whatever I am doing I will keep all of you in my thoughts - even if it is
only to wish you were there to help me with the shampooing ROFLMAO!!!!



Does anyone have fond or funnt Christmas memories they would like to share?
--

Cheryl
http://community.webshots.com/user/witchofthewest
cawaitesATnetconnectDOTcomDOTau




High on the list would be BBQs! It is so hot here around Christmas that
some people substitute this for the traditional Northern hemisphere meal,
and many cook the traditional ham and pork roasts on slow cooker BBQs
outside.

Don't forget about the salads!




I don't think there is anywhere in Oz that has snow at Christmas - except
maybe the Antarctic Territory protectorate (which most people don't think
of
as part of Oz anyway!).

It has been know to snow at Xmas, mainly in Tassie and the alpine areas
Thredbo, etc.



We play and sing
most of the traditional carols, but do have a few that are just for
Australia (like "Six White Boomers" that tells of Santa's sleigh being
pulled through the Outback by six giant white kangaroos).

And the version of Jingle Bells where you go "bashing through the bush
in a rusty Holden ute"




One of the 'copters is called "Elvis" and it always makes the evening
news when Elvis arrives for the summer.

We get them up here in NSW too.



about 30years ago one wiped out Darwin (capital
city of the Northern Territory) right around Christmas.

1975 Xmas eve.

We have Santas in Speedos too LOL


--

Cheryl
http://community.webshots.com/user/witchofthewest
cawaitesATnetconnectDOTcomDOTau


"Bob & Kathleen" wrote in message
...
I'm glad you clarified "Thongs" as flip flops, the mental image of Santa
in a Speedo is the stuff nightmares are made of!

Kathleen in TX

Ah, Melinda

All day I have been remembering other things about an Aussie Christmas that
might be unusual.

I am not into snow so have never gone looking for it (even in winter) but
yes - i suppose it does sometimes snow in at least some of the alpine areas
in December. But snow is pretty rare at that time of the year now. My
family in Tassie told me there was none last year.

I introduced a visiting American to the Aussie staple salad ingredient of
beetroot. I even had to mail her tins of Golden Circle sliced beetroot at
Christmas time. It cost me $20 for the tins, and $40 for the postage.
ROFL

And - yes, I love the "bashing through the bush" version of the carol! I
can't find my words though. If you have them could you post them here for
everyone? If I can find my old Aussie 12 Days song book I will put it on
Webshots. I have a great quilt pattern for the Aussie 12 Days of Christmas
that is a hoot!! Beaches and hats with corks feature strongly!

I love that with daylight saving (Summer Time) it is light until after 9pm,
even though it means that Carols by Candlelight has to run so late at night,
so that the candles and fireworks can be seen. Of course last year we
didn't have any fireworks because of the fire bans in our area!

I remember that as a kid swim suits and beach towels ranked pretty high on
the gift list.

I remember I was devastated when I found out that I could not put decimal
currency coins in Christmas puddings. I horde my small collection of
threepences and insist that they be returned to me in exchange for a small
gift. The "approved" silver tokens that you can buy are just not the same.
We are always very careful to have just three coins - one for health, one
for wealth and one for happiness!

I remember that my first boyfriend had a birthday on Christmas Day, and we
always celebrated it on the Australia Day long weekend a month later so he
wouldn't feel he had missed out.

I remember my first outback Christmas dinner - BBQd water buffalo and native
yams! Delicious!!

I remember my first Christmas in the Blue Mtns in NSW - the year of the last
big fires. The removalists dumped the contents of two trucks on the front
lawn and bolted because the Police were about to close the Highway. I had
to ring my Removals Officer to get them back the next day but my stuff sat
on the lawn overnight. I never got the smoke smell out of the curtains.

And I met my new neighbours there within hours of arriving because T. came
over to ask me to store some boxes of photos in case the fires came up the
gully. She was on the low side surrounded by trees and I was on the high
side on a rock outcrop. She thought my house would be safer. (The fire
didn't get closer than 500metres thankfully)

I remember the Christmas in Adelaide (at RAAF EDN) over 20 years ago when
the temperature didn't drop below 30deg C (about 86deg F) for five days and
nights, and we were sleeping outside on the grass at night because our
quarters were so hot. The insect bites were preferable to the sweltering
heat. People slept on the sand at the beaches to get cool. We hung our
stockings on the brush fence around our quarters and someone (still don't
know who) put chocolates in them. The chocs melted of course and the ants
had a great time. ROFL

I remember having to approve hosing down the hardstands on two Bases over
Christmas becasue the heat had melted the bitumen and the wheels of the
aircraft were getting damaged and sinking! (It got to 48deg C at Woomera on
Boxing Day - that's about 118F)

I remember some riotous Boxing Day celebrations too. There is nothing quite
like a true Aussie recovery party!! I also worked with some British
exchange personnel and we had the "switching roles" meal where the officers
served the ORs. I don't think the USA does this - or do they?

These days Christmas Day is very quiet at my house. I have no family here
so all my Christmas celebrations are in the weeks leading up to the day
itself. I love the Christmas season because it is a time when we all make
an effort to get in touch with those who are important to us but who we
might not see very often. But because most people are committed to family
activities on CD, it usually is one of the very few days of the year that I
can be sure I will NOT have any unexpected visitors. By CD I have usually
even packed away the tree, and last year I spent the day shampooing my
carpet LOL

Whatever I am doing I will keep all of you in my thoughts - even if it is
only to wish you were there to help me with the shampooing ROFLMAO!!!!



Does anyone have fond or funnt Christmas memories they would like to share?
--

Cheryl
http://community.webshots.com/user/witchofthewest
cawaitesATnetconnectDOTcomDOTau




High on the list would be BBQs! It is so hot here around Christmas that
some people substitute this for the traditional Northern hemisphere meal,
and many cook the traditional ham and pork roasts on slow cooker BBQs
outside.

Don't forget about the salads!




I don't think there is anywhere in Oz that has snow at Christmas - except
maybe the Antarctic Territory protectorate (which most people don't think
of
as part of Oz anyway!).

It has been know to snow at Xmas, mainly in Tassie and the alpine areas
Thredbo, etc.



We play and sing
most of the traditional carols, but do have a few that are just for
Australia (like "Six White Boomers" that tells of Santa's sleigh being
pulled through the Outback by six giant white kangaroos).

And the version of Jingle Bells where you go "bashing through the bush
in a rusty Holden ute"




One of the 'copters is called "Elvis" and it always makes the evening
news when Elvis arrives for the summer.

We get them up here in NSW too.



about 30years ago one wiped out Darwin (capital
city of the Northern Territory) right around Christmas.

1975 Xmas eve.

I used to have a joke picture of Santa - nude - in a beef cake pose. His
buns were all white and clabbery looking - ewwwwwwwwwwhhhhhh!!

--
http://community.webshots.com/user/snigdibbly
SNIGDIBBLY
~e~
"
/ \
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/snigdibbly.
http://www.ebaystores.com/snigdibbly...ox&refid=store
"Bob & Kathleen" wrote in message
...
I'm glad you clarified "Thongs" as flip flops, the mental image of Santa
in a Speedo is the stuff nightmares are made of!

Kathleen in TX

Cheryl:
Thank you. I enjoyed this post and subsequent posts about
Christmas in Australia.

Now you need to explain to the kidlets in Judy's school what you
mean by Pudding!! Over here it is a creamy dish, with consistency
of plain yogurt. Unless one has tapioca pudding, which is like
lumpy yogurt, or rice pudding, which is even lumpier yogurt, or
bread pudding, which is like mushy bread. (LOL) But the kids
today will think of the creamy type, and wonder why and how you
slice it! So, it is like a fruit cake, yes?

Question: why do you have to use 'approved' coins in your
Pudding? Can't you just use what you want in the privacy of your
own kitchen?!

TTFN, PAT

Cheryl in Oz wrote:

Since you asked I don't mind sharing - but I don't think much is different
here except the weather LOL and please bear in mind I had assumed
this was for youngsters!

Judy (and I assume - students)

....cut...
And Christmas puddings made of icecream have always been big where I live.
You mix dried and glace fruit into dark choc icecream with some extra cream
(and maybe some liqueur) and freeze it in a big round pudding bowl to be cut
into slices - just like a pudding. Yummy!!

the pudding is steamed for a long time, never made one cuz mil always made
them, last yr was the first time she wasnt there for xmas day but last yr we
barely made it thru the day with all we'd got thru that yr, argh.
yes it is a fruit pudding, much like fruit cake. more fruit than anything
else.
its traditionally served with brandy sauce tho we like it with hot custard
here and a dollop of whipped cream.
oh i must find the kiwi 12 days of xmas book.
on the first day of christmas my true love gave to me, a pukeko in a ponga
tree.
two kumaras
three flax kits
four huhu grubs
five big fat piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigs
six
seven
eight
nine
ten
eleven
twelve
and a pukeko in a ponga treeeeeeee.
ratz, ok, what little brat hid my book where?
hmmmmm.
just found this for someones version of the aussie 12 days.
www.able2know.com/forums/about2187.html&e=912
wooooohoooooo, i found it.
http://folksong.org.nz/nzchristmas/pukeko.html
jeanne
not amused at all i cant be sure what the rest are off the top of my head
but i will find out
--
san-fran at ihug dot co dot nz
nzlstar on yahoo msg'r
http://community.webshots.com/user/nzlstar
http://community.webshots.com/user/VirtualQuilting


"Pat in Virginia" wrote...

Cheryl:
Thank you. I enjoyed this post and subsequent posts about Christmas in
Australia.

Now you need to explain to the kidlets in Judy's school what you mean by
Pudding!! Over here it is a creamy dish, with consistency of plain yogurt.
Unless one has tapioca pudding, which is like lumpy yogurt, or rice
pudding, which is even lumpier yogurt, or bread pudding, which is like
mushy bread. (LOL) But the kids today will think of the creamy type, and
wonder why and how you slice it! So, it is like a fruit cake, yes?

Question: why do you have to use 'approved' coins in your Pudding? Can't
you just use what you want in the privacy of your own kitchen?!

TTFN, PAT

Cheryl in Oz wrote:

Since you asked I don't mind sharing - but I don't think much is
different here except the weather LOL and please bear in mind
I had assumed this was for youngsters!

Judy (and I assume - students)

...cut...
And Christmas puddings made of icecream have always been big where I
live. You mix dried and glace fruit into dark choc icecream with some
extra cream (and maybe some liqueur) and freeze it in a big round pudding
bowl to be cut into slices - just like a pudding. Yummy!!

quoting from an archived posting dated 1 Dec 1999 from someone called
Jeanne --

on the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
a Pukeko in a Ponga Tree.
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
2 kumara and a Pukeko in a Ponga Tree.
On the third day of Christmas me true love gave to me,
3 flax kits, 2 kumara and a Pukeko in a Ponga Tree.
On the 4th day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
4 huhu grubs, 3 flax kits, 2 kumara and a Pukeko in a Ponga Tree.
....5th day
5 biiiiigggggg, fat piggggggggs,
4 huhu grubs, 3 flax kits, 2 kumara and a Pukeko in a Ponga Tree.
....6th day
6 poi a-swinging, 5 big fat pigs, 4 huhu grubs, 3 flax kits, 2 kumara and a
Pukeko in a Ponga Tree.

7 eels a-swimming,
8 plants of puha
9 sacks of pipi's
10 juicy fish heads
11 haka lessons
12 pui pui's swinging

Anne in CA -- not a kiwi, but my sister attended Uni in Auckland for two
years ...
annerudolph AT comcast DOT net
"It's not having what you want; it's wanting what you've got." -- Sheryl
Crow
http://community.webshots.com/user/annerudolph3
http://www.frappr.com/rctq



nzlstar* wrote:
the pudding is steamed for a long time, never made one cuz mil always made
them, last yr was the first time she wasnt there for xmas day but last yr we
barely made it thru the day with all we'd got thru that yr, argh.
yes it is a fruit pudding, much like fruit cake. more fruit than anything
else.
its traditionally served with brandy sauce tho we like it with hot custard
here and a dollop of whipped cream.
oh i must find the kiwi 12 days of xmas book.
on the first day of christmas my true love gave to me, a pukeko in a ponga
tree.
two kumaras
three flax kits
four huhu grubs
five big fat piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigs
six
seven
eight
nine
ten
eleven
twelve
and a pukeko in a ponga treeeeeeee.
ratz, ok, what little brat hid my book where?
hmmmmm.
just found this for someones version of the aussie 12 days.
www.able2know.com/forums/about2187.html&e=912
wooooohoooooo, i found it.
http://folksong.org.nz/nzchristmas/pukeko.html
jeanne
not amused at all i cant be sure what the rest are off the top of my head
but i will find out

Cheryl
http://community.webshots.com/user/witchofthewest
cawaitesATnetconnectDOTcomDOTau


"Pat in Virginia" wrote in message
news:TY3gf.12546$ih5.8138@dukeread11...
Cheryl:
Thank you. I enjoyed this post and subsequent posts about Christmas in
Australia.

Now you need to explain to the kidlets in Judy's school what you mean by
Pudding!! Over here it is a creamy dish, with consistency of plain yogurt.
Unless one has tapioca pudding, which is like lumpy yogurt, or rice
pudding, which is even lumpier yogurt, or bread pudding, which is like
mushy bread. (LOL) But the kids today will think of the creamy type, and
wonder why and how you slice it! So, it is like a fruit cake, yes?

Well, traditional Xmas Pudding is a very heavy rich mix of fruit and eggs
and flour and suet (animal fat!) and all sorts of things, and yes - uncooked
it looks a lot like a heavy fruit cake mix. The mix is poured into a cotton
cloth square and the corners are all pulled up and tied together so you get
a big ball shaped lump. You tie a string around all the ends and lower the
pudding into a VERY big boiler and simmer it for hours. The water has to be
topped up many times (my job as a child). Then the cooked pudding is taken
out and cooled and then hung by the string in a cool dark place (we used a
corner shelf of the kitchen). I don't know what the "tradition" is but we
had ours for about a month before Christmas. On Christmas Day the pudding
is reheated in the big boiler again and served with flaming brandy or brandy
sauce or - in our house - with hot custard and cream.

Recipes for "good puds" were - and still are - highly prized, and pass
between friends and family. I still have my mother's recipe. But I don't
know many people who still make their own puddings the traditional way.
Most just buy a steamed fruit pudding in the supermarket or from one of our
volunteer organisations (like Lions) who make a very nice line of cakes and
puddings every year as a fund raiser.



We have a wonderful series of Australian childrens' stories called "The
Magic Pudding Books" by Norman Lindsay about a type of pudding.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159...books&v=glance
"The Magic Pudding is a pie, except when it's something else, like a steak,
or a jam donut, or an apple dumpling, or whatever its owner wants it to be.
And it never runs out. No matter how many slices you cut, there's always
something left over."

Lindsay was one of our best known artists a century ago, and the book is
eighty years old but still a classic and very funny. The illustrations are
beautiful drawings.




There are a lot of food terms that are different between our countries. You
talk about "peanut butter and jelly" - but to us jelly is a clear dessert
mould like Jello. We have a fruit spread called "jam" but it is usually a
bit chunkier than your "jelly". I don't actually know anyone out here who
has ever tried a PB&J sandwich. But we eat a weird spread called Vegemite.
It is black and very salty and we love it.




Question: why do you have to use 'approved' coins in your Pudding? Can't
you just use what you want in the privacy of your own kitchen?!


You can use them but the new currency (new as in since decimal currency was
introduced nearly 40 years ago lol) have a different metal composition
and they can contaminate the food, so it's not a good idea! The old coinage
is safe in food.

We now have small sets of silver charms that are made specifically to put in
Christmas puddings. I kept some old threepenny pieces (pronounced
"thrippenny") coins that I can still use. But since I don't like fruit cake
or Christmas pudding much I don't make it anymore.

Because it is so hot at that time of the year I have got used to making the
icecream puddings I talked about. The big round bowl is a bit like the
shape of a traditional pudding, and the chocolate icecream is at least a
brown colour lol I still put the coins in though.

((And in case you were wondering - yes, sometimes youngsters did swallow a
coin. But a threepence is quite small so they don't hurt you. I don't
think I would go into how they were recovered - IF they were recovered!
ROFL))






Pat - the puddings are a British tradition that we "inherited". Ask some of
our Brits about Christmas traditions and they could be similar.

If the kids at the school are interested in trying our vile national
spread - Vegemite - let me know and I'll see what I can organise LOL


TTFN, PAT

Cheryl in Oz wrote:

Since you asked I don't mind sharing - but I don't think much is
different here except the weather LOL and please bear in mind
I had assumed this was for youngsters!

Judy (and I assume - students)

...cut...
And Christmas puddings made of icecream have always been big where I
live. You mix dried and glace fruit into dark choc icecream with some
extra cream (and maybe some liqueur) and freeze it in a big round pudding
bowl to be cut into slices - just like a pudding. Yummy!!

Cheryl in Oz cawaitesATnetconnectDOTcomDOTau wrote:
Ah, Melinda

All day I have been remembering other things about an Aussie Christmas that
might be unusual.

I am not into snow so have never gone looking for it (even in winter) but
yes - i suppose it does sometimes snow in at least some of the alpine areas
in December. But snow is pretty rare at that time of the year now. My
family in Tassie told me there was none last year.

I don't go looking for snow either, I just remember reports of where
the snow fell at an unusual time of year. I would of been about
5-10 yrs ago.

I introduced a visiting American to the Aussie staple salad ingredient of
beetroot. I even had to mail her tins of Golden Circle sliced beetroot at
Christmas time. It cost me $20 for the tins, and $40 for the postage.
ROFL

There's nothing like a homemade hamburger with beetroot, yum!
I also love beetroot sandwiches!

And - yes, I love the "bashing through the bush" version of the carol! I
can't find my words though. If you have them could you post them here for
everyone? If I can find my old Aussie 12 Days song book I will put it on
Webshots. I have a great quilt pattern for the Aussie 12 Days of Christmas
that is a hoot!! Beaches and hats with corks feature strongly!

I don't have the words or the song, might be able to google it, but
one of DBil's has it.

I love that with daylight saving (Summer Time) it is light until after 9pm,
even though it means that Carols by Candlelight has to run so late at night,
so that the candles and fireworks can be seen. Of course last year we
didn't have any fireworks because of the fire bans in our area!

I usually watch Candles by Carolight, whoops that should be Carols by
Candlelight, from Melbourne.

[snip]

I remember my first outback Christmas dinner - BBQd water buffalo and native
yams! Delicious!!

DM's side of the family is Dutch, so we usually have something traditional
at dinner, not lunch. Usually a roasted bird and a bit of pork.
We have lunch with my parents, it's usually cold salads, cold meat, and
a little hot meat.

[snip]

I remember some riotous Boxing Day celebrations too. There is nothing quite
like a true Aussie recovery party!! I also worked with some British
exchange personnel and we had the "switching roles" meal where the officers
served the ORs. I don't think the USA does this - or do they?

I usually spend Boxing Day watching/listening to the cricket. I'm not
sure who the Aussies are playing this year, the test series against
the Windies is only 3 tests (the 2nd test has just finished, Aussies won)
and the 3rd test is in Adelaide. I still remember the stink that
happened the year they tried to shift the Boxing Day test match off
Boxing Day!

These days Christmas Day is very quiet at my house. I have no family here
so all my Christmas celebrations are in the weeks leading up to the day
itself. I love the Christmas season because it is a time when we all make
an effort to get in touch with those who are important to us but who we
might not see very often. But because most people are committed to family
activities on CD, it usually is one of the very few days of the year that I
can be sure I will NOT have any unexpected visitors. By CD I have usually
even packed away the tree, and last year I spent the day shampooing my
carpet LOL

DH's side of the family get together before Xmas, so Xmas Day is for
DM's side of the family as we're all still close, even the cousins
DF family has drifted a bit since us 'kids' have grown up.

Whatever I am doing I will keep all of you in my thoughts - even if it is
only to wish you were there to help me with the shampooing ROFLMAO!!!!

I should be able to pop in here during the morning, 3 yrs ago was
'announcement day'! :-)

--
Melinda
http://cust.idl.com.au/athol

We say 'pudding' often instead of saying dessert, but apart from rice
and other milk puddings, ones actually called pudding as part of their
name are usually the hot, homemade ones like steamed sponges and bread
and butter pudding, though there is the wonderful Summer Pudding which
is a basin lined with bread and filled with fresh summer fruits. You
put a weighted plate on top and leave it overnight so all the juices
are absorbed by the bread

I still make my own Christmas Puddings, but I steam them in basins in
a steamer. My recipe makes two big ones, so I keep one till the next
Christmas - they improve with keeping. We have just finished a stray
one that was coming up to 3 years - it was delicious. The first
boiling is for a min of 8 hours, and on Christmas Day it gets about 5
hours. With repeated boilings they go really dark and moist. We
usually have them with a sweet white sauce with a llittle brandy in,
or with Brandy Butter - butter mixed with icing sugar and brandy with
a little orange rind on top. For Christmas the supermarkets now have
lots of lovely ready made sauces - cream combined with liqueurs, etc.
- all guaranteed fattening! - I like them on mincepies too.

I also make my own mincemeat for mince pies. My recipe says 'rum or
brandy to mix - but doesn't say how much, so my pies always dance
round the kitchen! The mincemeat is mixed and then left for 3 days
before being put into jars. This allows everyone time to have a stir
and make a Christmas wish. I've got 12 jars - hope its enough!

Its no wonder I always but 8oz on at Christmas!
--
Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~
http://community.webshots.com/user/sallyswin

On Mon, 21 Nov 2005 09:52:06 +1100, "Cheryl in Oz"
cawaitesATnetconnectDOTcomDOTau wrote:

Cheryl
http://community.webshots.com/user/witchofthewest
cawaitesATnetconnectDOTcomDOTau


"Pat in Virginia" wrote in message
news:TY3gf.12546$ih5.8138@dukeread11...
Cheryl:
Thank you. I enjoyed this post and subsequent posts about Christmas in
Australia.

Now you need to explain to the kidlets in Judy's school what you mean by
Pudding!! Over here it is a creamy dish, with consistency of plain yogurt.
Unless one has tapioca pudding, which is like lumpy yogurt, or rice
pudding, which is even lumpier yogurt, or bread pudding, which is like
mushy bread. (LOL) But the kids today will think of the creamy type, and
wonder why and how you slice it! So, it is like a fruit cake, yes?

Well, traditional Xmas Pudding is a very heavy rich mix of fruit and eggs
and flour and suet (animal fat!) and all sorts of things, and yes - uncooked
it looks a lot like a heavy fruit cake mix. The mix is poured into a cotton
cloth square and the corners are all pulled up and tied together so you get
a big ball shaped lump. You tie a string around all the ends and lower the
pudding into a VERY big boiler and simmer it for hours. The water has to be
topped up many times (my job as a child). Then the cooked pudding is taken
out and cooled and then hung by the string in a cool dark place (we used a
corner shelf of the kitchen). I don't know what the "tradition" is but we
had ours for about a month before Christmas. On Christmas Day the pudding
is reheated in the big boiler again and served with flaming brandy or brandy
sauce or - in our house - with hot custard and cream.

Recipes for "good puds" were - and still are - highly prized, and pass
between friends and family. I still have my mother's recipe. But I don't
know many people who still make their own puddings the traditional way.
Most just buy a steamed fruit pudding in the supermarket or from one of our
volunteer organisations (like Lions) who make a very nice line of cakes and
puddings every year as a fund raiser.



We have a wonderful series of Australian childrens' stories called "The
Magic Pudding Books" by Norman Lindsay about a type of pudding.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159...books&v=glance
"The Magic Pudding is a pie, except when it's something else, like a steak,
or a jam donut, or an apple dumpling, or whatever its owner wants it to be.
And it never runs out. No matter how many slices you cut, there's always
something left over."

Lindsay was one of our best known artists a century ago, and the book is
eighty years old but still a classic and very funny. The illustrations are
beautiful drawings.




There are a lot of food terms that are different between our countries. You
talk about "peanut butter and jelly" - but to us jelly is a clear dessert
mould like Jello. We have a fruit spread called "jam" but it is usually a
bit chunkier than your "jelly". I don't actually know anyone out here who
has ever tried a PB&J sandwich. But we eat a weird spread called Vegemite.
It is black and very salty and we love it.




Question: why do you have to use 'approved' coins in your Pudding? Can't
you just use what you want in the privacy of your own kitchen?!


You can use them but the new currency (new as in since decimal currency was
introduced nearly 40 years ago lol) have a different metal composition
and they can contaminate the food, so it's not a good idea! The old coinage
is safe in food.

We now have small sets of silver charms that are made specifically to put in
Christmas puddings. I kept some old threepenny pieces (pronounced
"thrippenny") coins that I can still use. But since I don't like fruit cake
or Christmas pudding much I don't make it anymore.

Because it is so hot at that time of the year I have got used to making the
icecream puddings I talked about. The big round bowl is a bit like the
shape of a traditional pudding, and the chocolate icecream is at least a
brown colour lol I still put the coins in though.

((And in case you were wondering - yes, sometimes youngsters did swallow a
coin. But a threepence is quite small so they don't hurt you. I don't
think I would go into how they were recovered - IF they were recovered!
ROFL))






Pat - the puddings are a British tradition that we "inherited". Ask some of
our Brits about Christmas traditions and they could be similar.

If the kids at the school are interested in trying our vile national
spread - Vegemite - let me know and I'll see what I can organise LOL


TTFN, PAT

Cheryl in Oz wrote:

Since you asked I don't mind sharing - but I don't think much is
different here except the weather LOL and please bear in mind
I had assumed this was for youngsters!

Judy (and I assume - students)

...cut...
And Christmas puddings made of icecream have always been big where I
live. You mix dried and glace fruit into dark choc icecream with some
extra cream (and maybe some liqueur) and freeze it in a big round pudding
bowl to be cut into slices - just like a pudding. Yummy!!