I ♥ school holidays

We hosted a holiday party this weekend and it was good fun. I made eggnog, rum punch that would have made my grandmother proud and a persimmon pudding that was a big hit. This pudding is dense, dark and rich but it has no butter and only a bit of sugar in it. The key is to start with very ripe hachiya persimmons.

Persimmon Pudding

4 persimmons
1/4 cup sugar
6 tablespoons canola oil
4 large eggs
2 t vanilla extract
2 C flour
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
2 t ground cinnamon

Oil a 3 quart pudding mold ( I used a bundt pan) with veg oil.
Peel and mash persimmons. In a large bowl, beat together the sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla until fluffy, then all persimmon pulp. Sift together flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Add to the persimmon mixture and mix just until smooth.

Pour the mixture into pudding mold and cover tightly with a round of parchment paper and a rubber band, then with foil. Place on a rack in a large pot (I used my canner) and add boiling water until it comes halfway up the mold. Cover the pot, bring water to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2 1/2 hours, adding boiling water as necessary to maintain level.

Remove mold from pot and uncover pudding; the top should spring back when touched. Cool pudding for one hour, then loosen from the mold and invert carefully onto a serving platter. Serve with Sour Lemon Sauce.. this is a must!

Sour Lemon Sauce:

1 cup sugar
1 1/4 T cornstarch
Pinch of salt
1 1/4 C hot water
3 1/2 T unsalted butter
5 T fresh lemon juice
3 t lemon zest

Combine the sugar, cornstarch and salt in the top of a double boiler. Add the hot water and cook until it starts to thicken. Add the butter, lemon juice and zest and continue cooking, stirring gently, for about 5 more minutes. Cool slightly before using, but do not refridgerate or re-heat (it will get aspic like.) You have to eat it all in one go- good news!

It is finally snowing!

On the merits of singing

Last night we went out caroling with a lovely group of people. The night was chilly and the moon was almost full. My favorite song was soul cake but we also sang some x-mas classics and the dreidel song. The look of wonder on children's faces when we showed up in the dark singing to them was a gift. It is good to knock on strangers doors.

New Things

I have never had my own Christmas tree, nor have I wanted one. We used to have beautiful trees when I was little and I have left it up to my parents to provide that magic for my children..until this year. This year we have our own tree and I must say, it is kinda nice. The lights, the feeling of anticipation, the sheer delight of having a big tree inside the house.
Happy Holidays- may we continue to surprise ourselves.