Tuesday 4 December 2012

Day 4: Blissemas - An AUSSIE Christmas!


It's DAY 4 of BLISSEMAS 2012
so here's some more Christmas cheer!

People in the northern hemisphere often find it hard to relate to Christmas in the great south land. Summer isn’t something you northerners identify with carols, eggnog, roast turkey and tinsel. Well, I’m here to tell you we love our Christmas here in Aussieland…and we remember that the first Christmas was actually in a hot arid country, so celebrating in the hot weather isn’t all that strange. Okay, so seeing poor Santa swelter in that heavy red suit and beard in the heat is a little weird I guess, but hey, we watch TV…we see how you guys do it! We don’t want to be left out….LOL…

To be honest the traditions here are changing. It has a lot to do with our climate, and a lot to do with our multicultural country. As a child I lived in a society where most people were of a European background. Hence we celebrated much like a family from England or from the USA…minus the snow of course. Now we are a more eclectic society. Our neighbours are from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong….plus we still have our Irish, English and European heritage. It’s quite a melting pot really.

So now we combine our traditions. We might have lobster and prawns, and then plum pudding. Some still have turkey and ham and all the trimmings. Some have a barbeque on the beach. Anything goes.

What doesn’t change is that it’s bl**dy hot! So I try to have something cooling but still Christmassy enough to be a special occasion.

Here is my recipe for Ice Cream Christmas Pudding. It’s absolutely delicious, if I say so myself:)

Ingredients
1 litre tub of chocolate ice cream
500g mixed dried fruit
100 g glace cherries (optional)
100g choc bits
25 mls brandy or rum
500g good quality choc buttons (dark or milk)
250g white chocolate buttons
sprig of holly to decorate

Method
Leave the chocolate ice cream out to soften until it is able to be stirred.
In another bowl, combine the fruit and cherries. Leave aside
Line a pudding bowl with clear plastic wrap.
Melt the chocolate buttons ( in a double boiler, or microwave)

Add a small amount of the brandy or rum to the chocolate and stir. It now becomes hard, in a play dough sort of texture.

Put the chocolate mixture into the prepared pudding bowl and mould it around the sides until you have completely lined the bowl with the chocolate. Place it in the freezer for a few minutes.
Mix the fruit and the choc bits into the ice cream and pour it into the pudding bowl over the chocolate lining. Bring the cling wrap back over the top and wrap.
Place the bowl in the freezer and let it refreeze. Preferably overnight, but at least 4 hours.

To serve, pull the pudding out of the bowl with the plastic wrap. Up end it onto a serving plate. Melt the white chocolate and pour it over the frozen pudding and it will harden. It looks like custard.
Decorate with a sprig of holly…and voila!

Christmas pudding Aussie style.

Now for the fun part!

You could win the Blissemas Kindle Fire! Simply leave a comment on this blog and all the others listed at blissemas.co.uk and for each comment you'll win an entry into the draw! Please note only one comment per person per blog will be counted. Please check out http://blissemas.co.uk for terms and conditions.

Who doesn't want a Kindle Fire?

Please include your email address in your comment!  Good luck!

And don't forget to check out my books while you're here :-)

HEAD ON OVER TO www.blissmas.co.uk to see who's next! Keep leaving those comments on every blog for more chances to win!

36 comments:

Heather said...

You're right, we here in the north don't get hot weather at Christmastime. We had a record high of 65F here today, which is a good 30 degrees above normal. While I'm not a huge fan of those below-zero (F) days, it just doesn't feel like Christmas without at least a little snow on the ground.

Your recipe for ice cream Christmas pudding sounds yummy, but we never seem to have enough room in the freezer for something like that. Will definitely be saving it for future reference, though. ;-)

Maggie Nash said...

Maybe you can have the snow just for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day?

We had snow (okay, large hail stones) one Christmas. LOL. Of course it was also warm and humid first :-)

And you can make this as a loaf shape if you prefer. That doesn't take up as much room in the freezer :-)

Victoria Blisse said...

Ooh, that dessert sounds delicious. Mmmmmm.

Justine Elyot said...

That sounds delicious!

I've always fancied a barbie-on-the-beach Christmas with lobster and prawns. I do feel for your santas, though :D.

Lily Harlem said...

I love your picture of everyone in the sea with their Santa hats on - one year I would love a pic like that :-)

Thanks for the recipe - it looks yummy!

Maggie Nash said...

Thanks Victoria. It is yummy! I've made it about 10 times now and it's soooo good!

Hi Justine. Yep, I feel sorry for the poor Santas too...they certainly don't need any makeup to have rosy cheeks :-)

Lily - if you make it downunder I can show you around. I live near the beach :-) And yep - it's delish!

Anonymous said...

Sounds yummilicious. Buzzyevila@yahoo.com

Anon said...

Another summer missed downunder but it's spring warm here. My plants are confused.

I do like the romance of snow and lights as they play ever so kindly with each other.

Pudding is a food group so I will be doing this. :) Except as always I'm left answering "Why is all the rum gone?"

Maggie Nash said...

Dont' forget to leave your email address so you can go in the draw to win a Kindle Fire!

Sherry said...

Hey Mags,
This is me! Ya know The Sherry? So, is a liter like a half gallon? Cuz ya know,we yanks are they only people in the free world who don't use the metric system.... And there's a reason for that... We're just to damn lazy to learn something new.. Love the recipe.. I think I'm gonna make it and take to Double D's For Christmas. I think the boys will love it..... Oh, and Tiffany is coming all the way from Michigan just to eat Christmas dinner at Dalton's...


Love you.
Sherry

Nicola said...

I've been thinking I should make a cold Christmas Pud for years. So maybe this will be the year - and yours the recipe :)

Nicola@lovebooks dot net dot au

Hot Ash Romance Novels said...

Ohhh...that sounds heavenly!!
And so does Christmas on a tropical beach.

JanD said...

I'm fine with Christmas without the snow and cold.
bituin76 at hotmail dot com

Unknown said...

I asked Santa for a Kindle Fire for Christmas.
Maybe I will get my wish.
lauratroxel@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

We recently moved to an island and though we won't have hot weather, we'll have nice weather. Of course, when I went to Australia in the winter, your winter, it was warm and all of the Aussies were wearing coats and jeans, we were in T-shirts and shorts.

Sara @ Sarayork (dot) com

Lasha said...

I lived in Tasmania for a few years and miss it being warm during the Christmas holidays. :)

Great recipe!

Lasha

mslasha@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I don't get snow where I am (though it's not hot), so the ice cream pudding would be perfect!

vitajex(at)aol(Dot)com

aureliatevans said...

That sounds so tasty! I have family in Australia, and my uncle regularly plays Santa Claus. He wears the hat and beard with a Hawaiian shirt. :D

I do have to admit that the cold weather in Texas just seems to make Christmas sweeter because we usually aren't sweating, which is a plus. (Usually. We've had a few Christmases where I pulled a Grumpy Cat because it was in the 70s instead of the 50s.)

aureliatevans (@) yahoo (.) com

Unknown said...

I've never been to Bondi or any other beach at Christmas, too busy sweating it out in the kitchen cooking the family the traditional fare - how ridiculous in the Aussie climate.
When I was living in the UK I got a white Christmas - loved it :)
Might have to give that recipe a try, sounds yummy!

Normandie Alleman said...

What a fun picture! Yay! I'm all for anything with ice cream at any holiday. We have an ice cream cake in the shape of a turkey each Thanksgiving. Weird, but a family tradition the kids (and grownups) love. Thanks for the recipe and the contest too!

normandiealleman(at)yahoo(dot)com

Dalton Diaz said...

I'm going to have to get used to the weather difference. My brother is living in Australia for the next 3 years, maybe longer!

DD
www.DaltonDiaz.com
daltondiazromance@yahoo.com

Morticia Knight said...

Mmmmmmm...chocolate. Looks awesome Maggie!
morticiaknight at gmail dot com

Shadow said...

Yummy recipe! Great post! Had fun! You have a wonderful night! Happy holidays to you! Best wishes and many blessings! :)
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

The Scarf Princess said...

I'm from the Midwest US and it's always snowy and cold! Believe me, I'd love some sunny and hot weather for a change! Love the sound of your dessert and appreciate your creativity in creating it.

joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com

Debbie said...

That ice cream pudding sounds like a wonderful idea Maggie. I'm printing a copy right now! Debbie debbie at dpplus dot com dot au

Unknown said...

Where I live - if we were to leave the ice cream out until it's soft that would take about 5 months!
We have done Christmas in warm climates - actually love it - a palm tree looks great with Christmas lights.

Unknown said...

Christmas '71 was a warm one in SW Michigan. Why do I remember that? It was our first Christmas in our new house. We had moved in just the week before & after opening presents, we mowed the lawn.

drainbamaged.gyzmo at gmail.com

Kaetrin said...

If you left out the dried fruit, I'd be so there with the ice cream Christmas pudding. Though we often have trifle or pavlova at home after a Roast Turkey.

This year we aren't doing any meals at home so we'll be having party platters on Christmas Day and a BBQ on Boxing Day. I am however in charge of dessert. *rubs hands together* My favourite part!! :D

hankts AT internode DOT on DOT net

Miz Angell said...

I've always wanted to spend Christmas in a warmer climate. Of course I've always been looking for an excuse to go to Australia. Ever since I was 10 and they started showing Home and Away up here in Canada. That was also the year my Aussie heroine, Olivia Newton-John, opened Koala Blue.

This Ice Cream Christmas Pudding looks like something I should try this year - but I'm not good at sharing so maybe I should make two. :P

angell.brooks at hotmail.com

desitheblonde said...

i could use the fire and then we do not have snow and they said n sanow for while

Unknown said...

sounds amazing. wish we had such tradition. have a blessed holiday.anais4160@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

wish we had such tradition. no snow here, how sad. have a blessed holiday!

Unknown said...

sounds amazing. wish we had such tradition. have a blessed holiday.anais4160@hotmail.com

Sebrina said...

Mmmmmm, you said Rum! And I'm thinking that a vacation to a warm location is in order! I hate this cold, rainy season we have this time of year. Well, if you really think about it, it rains all year, the only difference is during what's supposed to be summer is usually not as hot as I'd like it!!
Thanks so much
Sebrina_Cassity at yahoo dot com

bn100 said...

Thanks for the recipe.

bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

Lynn Crain said...

It must be so strange to have Christmas in the middle of summer. Then again, if that's where you grew up, not so strange.

Still, for one who has only lived in the northern hemisphere, it looks odd yet wonderful. I think I'd love to go hemisphere hopping going from summer to summer. LOL!

Hope you had a wonderful holiday without the white stuff. Where I live in the states, we rarely have snow either.