Fruit and Nuts!

Today is Stir-up-Sunday!  It is the last Sunday before Advent and traditionally the day to make Christmas pudding.  This is to allow the flavours of fruit, nuts, spices and alcohol to have plenty of time to mature before the big day.  Originally the pudding was made from 13 ingredients, representing Jesus and his twelve Disciples, and everyone in the family would have a stir and make a wish, moving the spoon from East to West to represent the journey the Three Kings made.  A silver sixpence was sometimes added for good luck.  My Grandad would spend an age practically sieving the pudding, whether to get rich or to avoid choking, we were never sure!  Vegetarians, however, should watch out that no suet is added to their pudding!

Whilst I consider myself "awkward" for being vegetarian, many people are equally awkward in their dislike of any dried fruit.  Sadly they do not get to enjoy the seasonal pleasures of Christmas cake, pudding and mince pies.  One friend regularly asks the waiter if the sticky toffee pudding contains dates as she cannot bear to eat any dried fruit.

Nuts are another seasonal treat and particularly good for us (unless of course you have an allergy). They provide much needed protein for we vegetarians but are also good at bringing cholesterol levels down too.  Whilst in New York I discovered some delicious honey-roasted nuts sold in carts on the streets under the brand Nuts4Nuts - delicious! 

In Yorkshire I saw this sign outside a pet shop - just made me smile!