We are almost ready for Christmas. We have finally decorated the tree, so the knee-deep clutter of too many boxes of ornaments spreading all over the living room floor and slyly sidling into the dining room has finally be corralled, and the house is almost presentable. Now, if only the dog would stop shedding! The last box went to the post office yesterday, along with the Christmas cards. We need to wrap family presents, but that can wait for a day or two while we admire the decorations, basking in the glow of candles and twinkling lights, watching tear-jerking holiday movies and joyfully anticipating festive holiday treats.
On Christmas Eve we make our annual pilgrimage to church. We like to go to a children’s service, with the Nativity Play presented by the youngest parishioners. There is nothing quite so endearing as watching wee ones sporting tinsel haloes and delicate gossamer fairy wings. Mixed symbolism, I imagine, but heart-warming, nonetheless. The sight of all those snub noses and sparkling nimbuses, quivering with excitement, can stamp out any Scrooge-like feelings in a flash! We remember why all the Whos were singing!
For the past few years or so, we can’t remember exactly when the practice began, we have met our neighbors from across the street for dinner at the Chinese restaurant that is just up the road. Our friends have lived all over the world, so we like to think this practice lends us an air of sophistication and refinement, though I am sure, our worldlier readers have just shuddered. We make merry and eat heartily, as Old Fezziwig would wish, while toasting the holiday and each other. Shrimp, steak, eggrolls, rice, chopsticks and fortune cookies are the gateway drug to dessert back in our ‘hood.
I am quite sure that what follows would blast figgy pudding right off the Queen’s Christmas menu.
Last year our neighbors served individual Sticky Toffee Puddings to us after dinner. I beg you – put off your diet plans until Boxing Day. Maybe even longer than that, in case there are leftovers… You have to eat this dessert and revel and roll around in it: warm pudding, lyrically thick syrup, cool ice cream and gratuitous homemade (of course!) whipped cream. We wandered back across the street, dazed and as happy as Tiny Tim. God bless us, every one!
Surprisingly, the recipe for this well of pleasure did not come from Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management or any other well-thumbed English cookery book. You can find it right here: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sticky-toffee-pudding-recipe6/index.html
The clever folks at Food52 have a boozier version, if you prefer: https://food52.com/recipes/9660-individual-guinness-sticky-toffee-puddings-w-ginger-cream
If you want to streamline the proceedings, because you want to sit on the sofa and watch Love Actually, you can take this fab shortcut: butterscotch sauce to go over your bowl of ice cream. Not quite as heartwarming as our neighbor’s Sticky Toffee Pudding, but worthy of some of those dancing sugar plums you have been imagining all year: https://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2009/12/ridiculously-easy-butterscotch-sauce/
The test kitchen at Bon Appétit Magazine has yet another variation on this rich and satisfying thene: https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/sticky-toffee-pudding
“Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart. ”
― Washington Irving
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