So, our English dinner was a rousing success! Everyone really enjoyed the unique menu and unfamiliar traditions. There were 10 adults in attendance and everyone was pretty giddy by the end of the evening.
We started with appetizers of pigs in a blanket (despite my previous objections) which were quickly devoured by the men in the group, crackers and English cheeses and mulled cider.
The table was set with white table clothes, white china and red accents-ribbons on the napkins, red candles and a gleaming bowl of red ornaments. In addition at each place setting there were Christmas Crackers.
For dinner there was a standing beef rib roast, duchess potatoes, brussel sprouts with bacon, flakey rolls with butter and assorted jams. We all drank PG Tips-Englands most popular tea-with milk. (I've never put milk in my tea before but since this dinner I have become quite addicted to it). Everyone loved the dinner
After the dinner dishes were cleared we "popped" the Christmas Crackers. This was definitely the hit of the evening. Each cracker contained a paper crown-which we gamely donned-a riddle and a small toy (yoyo's, tiny notebooks, bouncey balls). Everyone read their riddle in turn and by the end we had all dissolved in laughter. Afterward we passed everyone at the table a slip of paper which had one line from the song "The 12 Days of Christmas" whatever line you received you then had to act out for the rest of the table to guess. Maids a Milking was particulary popular. And somehow-quite spontaneously-the group sang the entire song!
After this came the figgy pudding. Now I had spend a few hours assembling and baking this the day before and it was quite a bit of work. It came out as it was supposed to but I would be lying if I said the dark brown mound of cake was particularly appealing. We did hide a gold coin inside and the person whose piece contained the coin got a small prize. After a thorough dousing of brandy sauce it was lit and flamed, although I'm afraid, rather unimpressively. The figgy pudding was enjoyeed by a few members of our group but generally was deemed to dry, heavy and chewy. I had expected as much and wisely baked a backup dessert-an amazing (Mexican) chocolate cake which was raved over. Here's the link to that recipe. http://patismexicantable.com/2012/09/jujus-birthday-cake.html
We enjoyed dessert with brandy spiked egg nog.
Overall the meal was a huge success. It really made the holiday feel more special. We are already planning for next year: Southern Italian Christmas with the Feast of the Seven Fishes. And I for one simply can't wait!
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