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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Talking of digestion - just tucked into a second helping of sticky fig pudding
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Posts: 9,242 Likes: 1
Former Developer
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Former Developer
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What the heck is sticky fig pudding?
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Figgy pudding - served after Christmas dinner, soaked in brandy, set fire to to burn it off and then served with brandy source.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Found on the internet..... It's amazing what a brief mention in one Victorian-era Christmas carol can do for an obscure little dessert called figgy pudding. Every year, thousands of people around the world become curious about the figgy pudding mentioned in the secular English carol "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." Apparently, the party-goers mentioned in the lyrics refuse to leave until they get some figgy pudding from their host. This must be some seriously good pudding.
In actuality, figgy pudding is more of a cake than a pudding. There have been recipes for figgy pudding since the 15th century, although its popularity as a Christmas dessert probably reached its peak during the late 19th century. Several factors have significantly hampered the wholesale expansion of the figgy pudding industry, including an interminably long cooking time, an exotic ingredients list and a cringe-inducing dependency on saturated fats for texture.
There are numerous recipes for figgy pudding, from a traditional steamed version similar to modern bread pudding to a pastry-covered blend of figs, dates, fruits and spices. Nearly all figgy pudding recipes call for three or four hours of steaming. This is accomplished by placing a metal bowl with the figgy pudding mixture into a larger bowl partially filled with boiling water. The indirect heat generated by the boiling water cooks the figgy pudding evenly and slowly. This is equivalent to using a bain marie water bath for individual ramekins filled with batter.
The most traditional figgy pudding recipe is very similar to a carrot cake base blended with a custard. Chopped figs are added for flavoring and texture, along with chopped dates or apples when available. The spices in a figgy pudding are similar to carrot or spice cake - cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg are commonly used. Heavy cream, eggs, sugar and milk help to create the custard. For additional flavoring, many traditional figgy pudding recipes also call for liqueurs such as cognac or rum. Non-alcoholic extracts can also be used.
Some figgy pudding recipes call for a loaf of fig-infused bread to be crumbled into the mixture, while others suggest standard breadcrumbs. As if this weren't enough, the most faithful recipes also call for the addition of an animal fat called suet. Suet is a form of fat found near an animal's kidneys. Pure butter and shortening can be substituted if suet is not available locally. All of these ingredients are mixed together in a metal bowl or pudding mold and placed in a larger pot for steaming over a fire.
Only three or four short hours later, those house-squatting carolers demanding their figgy pudding can finally be appeased. Steaming was a very popular cooking method before the days of regulated heating. Even if the source of the heat were inconsistent, the food itself would still cook fairly evenly. Even so, the unveiling of a figgy pudding was often a defining moment for the cook. The dessert would be either a solid success or a soggy mess. Charles Dickens hints at this figgy pudding moment-of-truth during the Cratchit's dinner in his novel, A Christmas Carol.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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The most traditional figgy pudding recipe is very similar to a carrot cake Well then it must be pretty good. I really like carrot cake.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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tastes nothing like carrot cake LOL Or even looks like it - far more sticky and delicious.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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It is 'Yule Log' tonight
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2004
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It is 'Yule Log' tonight C'mon now Ian, this is a family orientated board
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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LOL - I assume they have Yule Log in the USA
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Joined: Nov 2006
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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You keep your log to yourself and we'll get along just fine
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Well I did Problem is I now have to loose all the weight put on over the last few days LOL
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2004
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Ditto which takes us neatly back to this thread .
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addict
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addict
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We have sticky date pudding in Australia. Yummy.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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At least our convicts imported something for you It seems to be confined to certain areas - it is not common in Europe even.
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 16,299 Likes: 116
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Joined: Jun 2006
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I know the song, but i've never eaten the product :x
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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We purchased a nice posh version of it, in the post-Christmas sales - the date is 2010 so it will do fine for next Christmas
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Joined: Jun 2006
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Joined: Jun 2006
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I hope it's not like fruit cake... :pukes:
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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nope - nothing like fruit cake - that is Christmas Cake - also very nice with marzipan and icing
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by Outdoorking - 04/13/2024 5:08 PM
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