Mr NQN and I were shopping the other day. Well more correctly I was dragging him along to the shops and he was dragging his heels. He is usually fine as long as there’s a comfortable place for him to sit and an internet connection but there wasn’t in this case. I told him that if I had my own shop I would make sure that the bored menfolk would have their very own lounge and internet connection so that we could shop in peace. There would be a buzzer system where we could summon them to the changeroom for their opinion when needed.
“So, what would you call your shop?” he asked me.
“Hmmm….something about owls. The name Hooters is obviously out” I quickly added.
“And what would you sell?”
I started to get excited “Well I’m glad that you asked because I’ve thought about it! Of course I’d put some taxidermied owls in the window or other forest creatures. Or if I could I could have real owls but perhaps the local council wouldn’t like that unless they were Harry Potter fans. I’d sell things that I find interesting…like that.”
I pointed at a window. We were in the Blue Mountains over Easter and we had stopped in front of a shop with a window full of waving Queen Elizabeth II statuettes. The figurines were solar powered and upon closer inspection the solar panel sat on top of her handbag. It was fabulous and I knew just who I would buy it for. And before I would give it to them she would figure in my Queen Elizabeth II pudding recipe photo.
Peter Morgan-Jones
Yes this pudding recipe is Queen Elizabeth II’s very own recipe. And how did I get a hold of it? Well I was lucky enough to meet chef Peter Morgan-Jones who worked for Buckingham Palace a few years ago. I was at a lunch hosted by the Trippas White group who cater for the Art Gallery Restaurant, the Botanic Gardens restaurant and 360 Bar & Dining among several others. Peter is the group executive chef across all of the restaurants. He is a quietly spoken, lovely man and when the talk turned to the upcoming royal wedding, he mentioned that he used to work at Buckingham Palace and that he had the Queen’s Christmas Pudding recipe. Excitedly I asked him if he could share it and he told me that he could! Fascinated I read through the recipe. There was no month long steeping of fruit but there was stout, suet and grated carrot and apple.
Peter Morgan-Jones in a palace kitchen on the right
I must admit that I find the whole concept of royalty fascinating. And while I’m not vehemently pro or against I put them in the same category as celebrities. If I like what they say or do I like them but if they don’t then I don’t like them and I don’t take take a general stance on them. But I am absolutely fascinated in taking a peek into their world. What do they eat? Are they like the rest of us? And it seems I had met someone that could tell me all about them from a food perspective which is just what I was interested in!
Peter was a royal caterer for five years and he spent time working at Buckingham Palace , Windsor castle , Highgrove & Kensington Palace (for Charles and Diana), Clarence house (for the Queen mum) and Gatcombe park (Princess Anne). He also ran the Buckingham palace garden parties which were affairs with 8,000 guests and “We used to make 16,000 sandwiches and serve 10,000 cups of tea.” And what were each of their tastes like?
The Buckingham Palace kitchen-note the stag!
Well according to Peter, Charles eats organic fare from his estate at Highgrove. He didn’t eat red meat but occasionally would eat poultry and fish and Princess Diana would eat the same. The Queen and Queen Mum both loved traditional fare e.g. roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. For breakfast she would eat wholemeal toast (dry, from what he saw) and porridge. Her husband the Duke of Edinburgh (Prince Philip) was partial to game with Peter cooking at many pheasant shoots on their shooting estate in Tetbury, Gloucestershire. Peter would also cook for Prince Charles when he would entertain at Highgrove. Charles would host barbecues for all his farming land renters (Duchy of Cornwall) which would feature beef burgers, sausages , lamb brochettes , salmon kebabs, salads and bread. See, they’re just like us! Well not really 
He got to meet all of the royals although he did not formally meet the Queen as it takes five years before an introduction. Peter explains “The others are very approachable, just usual royal etiquette . Speak when spoken to and do not raise a question first. I met Princess Diana at Highgrove and we had a chat in her kitchen over a cup of tea on a couple of occasions. She was very warm and approachable. Prince Charles was also very social, dropping the occasional jokes etc.”
The card that accompanied the pudding that Peter made. The same pudding that the Queen would give back to Peter!
As for this pudding, annually “We used to make 1,600 (of the puddings). I used to get one back each Christmas as a present from the Queen” Peter says. The Christmas pudding is of course out of season but I figured fruit cake and Christmas pudding are very similar creatures-cousins at least with the differences being the use of suet and breadcrumbs and the pudding being steamed rather than baked. And of course I wasn’t in a position to call the Queen up and ask her for her wedding cake recipe. Peter tells us that “Christmas pudding is traditionally served warm with brandy sauce /ice cream or custard. This recipe is very moist and I used to eat it cold. It is also good crumbled into ice cream to make Christmas pudding ice cream.”
This recipe does take eight hours of steaming. Yes eight hours. So I figured it was about perfect for the night of the wedding if you were so inclined and staying up for it. I kept it as authentic as possible by buying English stout rather than using beer although the only English stout was a chocolate stout (and hey when is adding chocolate a bad thing?). I also found myself some suet last minute from Victor Churchill although Peter advises that usually giving your butcher three day’s notice is wise as it’s not always an item that they stock.
As it was I started it around 6pm one evening and by the time it was steaming it was 6:30pm and I had to set alarms every two hours to keep topping it up with boiling water and a 2:30am wake up call to turn the stove off. And if there is one thing I would recommend, it is putting it in a large steamer pot. I had one that held a reservoir of 2 litres of water under the steamer insert which meant that I didn’t have to worry about it boiling dry and I could just check on it every 2-3 hours instead of more frequently. After eight hours, bleary eyed, I turned it off and then went to bed just hoping that the thing was cooked and at that stage not being even mildly curious just wanting some sleep.
The next morning, the pudding has cooled so that it was easy to handle. I took the lid off and peered inside it. Would it budge? All I had done was greased the pudding tin. I lifted the parchment disc and the pudding looked cooked which was an immense relief to me. The pudding was lovely and moist and packed with a generous amount of fruit and Mr NQN and I devoured it with much relish and then went back for more. I will be saving slices of this to eat with brandy custard when we watch the Royal Wedding tomorrow night on television.
So tell me Dear Reader, will you be watching the Royal Wedding?
Queen Elizabeth II’s Christmas pudding
Recipe courtesy of Peter Morgan-Jones
Makes 2-4 puddings depending on the size of your pudding basin. This made two 1 litre puddings
- 200g currants
- 350g seedless raisins
- 120g chopped candied mixed peel
- 350g sultanas
- 100g chopped glace cherries
- 170g blanched slivered almonds
- 1 tart cooking apple, peeled, cored, chop coarsely
- 1 carrot, peeled and chopped finely
- 5 teaspoon grated orange rind
- 2 teaspoon lemon rind
- 230g beef suet (order from local butcher), chopped finely
- 100g fresh white breadcrumbs
- 230g plain flour
- 230g brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg grated
- 4 tblsp brandy
- 1 teaspoon mixed spice
- 4 tblsp fresh orange juice
- 120 ml stout (dark Ale)
- 6 eggs
- 3 tblsp lemon juice
- butter for greasing the pudding basin
Method
1. Place the dry fruit and cherries and rind in the biggest bowl you can find, with the apple and carrot and almonds. Add the beef suet and mix together. Stir in flour, breadcrumbs, salt mixed spice and cinnamon and brown sugar.
2. Whisk the eggs until frothy. Add the ale, brandy, orange and lemon juice. Knead mixture together vigorously until well blended, spoon into four 750 ml pudding basins, cover with buttered greaseproof circle, and make sure pudding is not to the top of rim.
3. Cover pudding with aluminium foil and put a side plate on top to make a seal. Steam for 8 hours. When cool, place plastic lid on pudding, or use calico. Can be stored for up to 12 months.
To reheat, steam for 2 hours or place in the microwave (remove foil from top if using foil).
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85 Comments | Add your own
I am not a big fan of monarchies, even if I am English myself, but I’m sure this pudding is terrific if it is served to the queen! Really fabulous.
Cheers,
Rosa
My grandmother was British, but she hated pudding so never made it..
I’ll have to give this a whirl and see if I can channel the Brit in me…
Oh lovely lovely Lizzie there with her pudd! It looks and I am sure tastes delicious and is just the thing for today’s Sydney weather! Xxx
I think of myself as a modern American woman.. but there is something about the Queen and all that royalty stuff that sends some kind of ancestral shiver.
It’s cool to have her very own recipe…. I’m still trying to decide whether to get up at 4 am to watch it or not! You did a perfect job with it, Lorraine. Her majesty would be proud. Love Peter’s story and the pictures.
I love Christmas pudding. I make ours every year. I use a stockpot to boil it in (lid on!) and start cooking in early in the day as sometimes it takes a little longer. If your not using a saucepan with a heavy bottom a small plate in the bottom will stop it sticking.
I’ve never had proper fruit pudding as I’ve been told it’s quite stodgy – but I don’t see what’s wrong with it! I am quite jealous you get to meet all of these people and to be honest 10000 cups of tea is very British!
Speaking of this post, the Queen came to my university today. She was here as Cambridge University St John’s College was turning 500 years old so she was here to cut the cake. It was quite annoying because I was trying to get to the supermarket but the road was blocked with security cars and tourists waving Kate and Will flags :p
I have never made a pudding before! But this looks AWESOME!
Love you Queen Lizzie statue!
This looks like an amazing recipe, so much fruit and so little flour. Never seen beef fat being used before.
The solar powered Queen is the perfect addition to your post. I would have to get up in the middle of the night to watch, so I’ll have to be content to watch what I’m sure will be endless recaps. Have fun! xoxo Mum
Lorraine,
Do you remember which shop, or which suburb, in the Blue Mountains you procured the waving betty? As my mother lives in the mountains I shall dispatch her to get me a couple. I have some friends they’d make a great gift for!
Cheers,
mikey
I’m not a huge fan of fruit cake but my dad loves it so I’ll be sure to make this for him at Christmas. Although I will be staying up for the wedding so you never know, he might get it early
OMG, steaming pudding for EIGHT HOURS?!? And here I thought my making polenta that took three hours was something to write home about. Ahhh, you trump me yet again.
Oh my goodness Lorraine! I admire your dedication, setting alarms and waking up. Actually that’s really clever. I would have just stayed up and paid for it the next day, silly me
The pudding sounds perfect for some royal TV watching. Not sure if I’ll watch it yet, no feelings either way about it just yet.
This looks really pretty!
Ha. My partner immediately sits/ slumps against a wall to surf the net on his phone when we’re out anywhere too. It drives me nuts! Mind our personal favourite was when he sat on a pink satin chair just outside the dressing rooms in a chichi boutique (since closed). The owner leapt at him demanding he get up – the chair wasn’t covered in upholstery fabric and WAS NOT FOR SITTING ON! We did both wonder why it was placed right next to the changerooms then…
Dear, Lorraine,
The hot custard reminds me of my first Christmas in England.
I taste it upon my tongue like a beautiful memory.
I’ll be thinking of you as we watch the Royal Wedding at the same time…Ausralia? America? xxx Can’t Wait to see what Kate’s wearing !!!!!!!!!!
A fascinating blog for the occasion – certainly different to what we see/hear almost fulltime on the media at the moment. And many so inclined will be thrilled to have the recipe.
But didn’t Peter Morgan Jones have to sign a ‘confidentiality agreement’ when working for the Royals? To the best of my understanding, unless such ‘news’ is released by the Royal Press Office, we should definitely not know what the Royals eat or how it is prepared! Clever of you to have ‘winkled’ that out!
Watch the wedding – of course -it is history-in-the-making, after all, and does anyone else in the world do ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ better than the Brits? Perchance, in these difficult times we can all ‘do’ with an adult fairytale? Never mind the dress, I’m waiting to see those magnificent standard trees which have been carried into the Abbey!
Hi Mikey-Sure great idea! The shop is called “Very Fashion” and their details are: 55-57 Waratah Street, Katoomba, NSW 2780 (02) 4782 7715 I hope your friends enjoy the solar queen, it’s pretty fabulous!
I was looking for the brandy in the ingredients, perhaps a few more tablespoons won’t hurt
That is so funny you woke up every couple of hours for the pudding, like having a baby, except it doesn’t cry and you didn’t have to convince it to go back to sleep, maybe its not really like a baby at all.
The idea of suet always scares me off, its in my grandmothers recipes too.
I will watch snippets of the wedding probably?
That looks so good. I am not a fan of christmas cake, but I love christmas pudding with brandy butter! I want to get some of that chocolate stout too!
What a gorgeous pudding, HRH would approve.
And I love your idea for a store, especially the ‘handbag’ section because the boyfriend chair in shops at the moment never has wifi and is always occupied anyway.
Oooh love this post! I’m embarrassingly excited about this Royal Wedding
Unfortunately I will miss it live though as I have a friend’s birthday dinner (just quietly, I will be checking the news to see her dress).
I have always wanted to know what the Queen eats for breakfast!! You’re a very lucky girl x
How fabulous. Yes I will be watching the wedding while eating not-so-gourmet food. I must admit though, I will be glad when the top news stories aren’t how many flowers are in Kate’s bouquet!
That amazing kitchen makes me happy.
I love the soaring ceilings that makes it all so open and wonderful. 
GORGEOUS pudding, Lorraine!
I am excited to watch the wedding.Won’t be eating anything quite so fancy as that gorgeous pudding tho!
A tip re the suet. In the days before my children turned vegan I used the Tandaco Suet mix (flour and suet in a handy packet from the supermarket). I had used real suet in the beginning, but it became hard to get. I couldn’t tell the difference. Simply adjust the amount of flour in the recipe.
I now do a vegan Christmas Pudding that has all the same ingredients as the royal Christmas Pud but without the animal products. It is enjoyed by my extended family with the same amount of enthusiasm as the original. (The two who won’t eat sultanas and raisins get sticky date)
I think royalty is over-rated and they are just normal people like the rest of us. (Erm, slightly eccentric in my case.) But I would love a solar-powered Queen Elizabeth, and yes, I’ll be watching the royal wedding! What girl could resist?
Also, re providing something for the men, I was amused and impressed by the WOW museum in Nelson NZ adding a classic cars area to the World of Wearable art museum, so the men can be kept interested while the women can view the fashions without being harrassed. Of course, I’m stereotyping the sexes here.
Love your pudding and your Queen figurine! I also enjoyed reading about Peter’s insights into the Royal household. I am sitting on the fence about the wedding – not committed one way or the other about watching it yet.
Can you send a slice over to Adelaide as I’ve got some left over brandy butter from Christmas and nothing to put it on? PLEASE!!
As to the wedding, my 7 year old daughter is so excited, and plans to wear her ‘I’ve been to Londong to visit the Queen’ pjs bought at the Royal Mews last July. It will be a late night for her, but I remember as a child watching Charles and Diana’s wedding so want her to enjoy the ceremony that the Poms do so well!!
Oh – and your owl fetish. Kay Craddock Antiquarian Books in Collins Street, Melbourne has an amazing collection of owls throughout the store. You should visit next time you are in Melbourne!!
Love the pud recipe. Am going to try that this winter….despite the suet! Do you think Suet is any worse than any other fat? My Grandma used to make fantastic Suet Pastry for her Cornish Pasties.
The waving Queen is also available in Bondi or online at Remo (remogeneralstore.com)
Quite similar to one I have been making for years from Women’s Weekly. Last two years have used my slow cooker to do the long cook by just tucking lots of foil between the cooker bowl and pudding bowl then putting the lid on (which does not fit tightely so more foil) then put a folded towel on top to keep in heat. We love Christmas pudding as it is made over a number of days with every visitor/ family member having to have a stir. Also I make small ones in the microwave in small bowls. They are great also.
Question: What difference in taste if you use lard rather than butter? Much? I always had puddingsin Ireland and England growing up so it has lovely memories for me every year and now my grown children.
Not on your nelly, the Royals bore me.
that queen statuette is priceless – love the pudding – looks so neat – though I will pass on the beef suet (wish we could have vegetarian suet here like in the UK). The wedding will be mandatory viewing in our house though I think E is more excited than me.
Can’t wait to watch the Royal Wedding! Anyway, those figurines are awesome. Solar powered? woohoo, even the Queen as a figurine is terribly unique.
I must say, I’m not a fan of fruit puddings, but double chocolate stout? Oh yes. Yes indeed.
I love your gorgeous queen statue but I am not really interested in watching the wedding, I will tune in for highlights the following day.
I wil however be using the queens pudding recipe for Christmas this year, thanks Lizzy!
My family expect me to make the pudding each year, to my surprise it is almost the same recipe, mine only cooks for six hours! Have to say I really enjoy the task.
Beautiful pud, Lorraine – and I just adore the little queenie with it.
Oh wow! How cool you have the Queen’s pudding recipe.. It was great reading about they eat, I thought Prince Charles would be a keen read meat eater, funny to see he only eats organic food from his own farm. Also, didn’t know it took 5 yrs before you got a formal introduction to the Queen! I might give this a go for christmas this year.
I just want to see what (and who) Kate wears, and what her new royal name is going to be! Which I’m sure I can wait to find out in the gossip pages the following day. Now christmas pudding ice-cream on the other hand… it waits for no woman! Cold Rock did a really great version for Christmas time last year, which was even better when you mixed in choc chip cookie dough as well! I’m getting hungry…
Lovely recipe! I will not be watching the royal wedding – although I’ll be working from home, we are without tv reception after moving. I have not missed tv til now – I would actually love to watch it
Heidi xo
what a lovely post around the royal wedding time…
Love your pictures n story… More so how you tell the story
Waking every few hours to feed the steamer is just like a baby….
Cheers,
The Variable, Crazy Over Desserts – Nachiketa
That’s a fantastic story. I’ve seen a book about Charles’ organic garden at Highgrove, with photos of huge compost heaps being turned by a tractor.
I hate any kind of fruit pudding, but I am beside myself with excitment about the wedding.
I remember watching Charles and Di as a kid. Alas MPS and Boo are rather miffed about me wanting to watch it but I will placate them with popcorn. Mine will be sprinkled with truffle oil.
I love the waving Queen. I have recently procured my own from Holy Sheet in Newtown.
I’d love to have a whack at this for tomorrow but I’m travelling via train to get to the party I’m off to and Puddings and trains aren’t great.
I hope you have some Pimms with that Lorraine.
Definitely nothing better than a proper chocolate stout – for drinking and cooking!
Weddings, however, leave me bored and disinterested (and it gives me too big an opportunity for sour-graping!), so I looking forward more to John Paul II’s beatification than the Royal Wedding.
thanks for sharing this tasty creation, lorraine! more than anything, i love the little figurine.
Lorraine, how you meet so many interesting people…! I’ve always had a soft spot for history, so even though I don’t care much about the coming royal wedding, I like reading about their lives (but mostly the ones who’re not alive anymore;))
I used to hate this sort of pudding when I was young and my grandmother made it for us (read made us eat it!!!) – but now I love it!!! I guess it is something you grow accustomed to over time!!!
This recipe just wouldn’t be the same without the awesome Queen accessory – as so many things in life wouldn’t be!
I’m not a fan of puddings or the royals but I love weddings so I’ll be watching for sure!
Very entertaining post
Thank you!
Ciao
Alessandra
I like royals for the same reason, they’re celebs afterall huh. This is one big pudding isn’t it, love that you’ve added a double chocolate stout, couldn’t agree more – when is chocolate a bad thing??!!
Hi Rosa-Thanks! Well the Queen actually gives this out to people
Hi Rocky Mountain Woman-hehe really!
Absolutely, I bet you’d do a great job! 
Hi Liss-hehe thankyou! I just had to buy her!
Absolutely, with some custard 
xxx
Hi deana-Yes it’s fascinating isn’t it and I’m surejust full of great stories too!
Ahh 4am! I’d be tempted to sleep but as it’s on at a decent hour here that’s much more reasonable 
Thankyou! 
Hi Sonya-Fabulous!
Yes you do the right thing, I really shouldn’t have started it at 6pm 
Ahh good tip! 
Hi Pudding Pie Lane-It’s quite rich and sweet indeed but quite nice
I know, 10,000 cups of tea! Imagine! 
Oh how interesting. She is working today so close to the wedding? 
Hi Lisa-hehe well if you do this has the queen’s approval!
Hi Tina-Thankyou!
Hi Three-Cookies-Thanks so much
I know, I love the amount of fruit in it!
Hi Barbara-Thanks mum!
Yes I would just watch the recaps! 
xxx
Hi Nic-Oh cool! Well I hope he likes this one, I thought that the recipe was fantastic
Haha now that would be a nice surprise!
Hi Carolyn-I know, eight hours, it’s a lot isn’t it!
I’d say your polenta was harder though, I didn’t have to stir this 
Hi shaz-Thankyou! I couldn’t let it run dry
I tried to stay up but couldn’t 
Hi Michelle-Thankyou!
Hi Clare-haha well that shop owner was clearly unfamiliar with the male shopping companions! How silly to put it there!
Hi kim-Ahh wonderful! Yes it brings back memories!
Absolutely! I can’t wait to see her dress 
xxx
Hi EHA-thanks Eha! I was very excited as Peter would definitely know what they really eat! I’m sure he did but things such as what food they eat aren’t terribly secret things. I’m sure he wouldn’t have revealed anything that he wasn’t allowed to. I asked the chef of the King of Bahrain the same things and he could talk about that quite freely. yes it’s an adult’s fairytale!
Hi chopinandmysaucepan-Hehe all at your own discretion…
Hi muppy-I know, it’s very much like one! Which goes to show that a pudding on one night is ok but I don’t know if I am cut out for a couple of years of it!
Yes you don’t see it much nowadays do you?
Hi Susan-Ooh yes brandy butter!
I love that stuff 
I just got it at a bottleshop-Mr NQN really liked it
Hi OohLookBel-hehe I hope so!
Oh yes they need their entertainment too quite seriously!
Hi Chanel-Oh no! What a shame but I’m sure technology will help you along the way
Hi Veggie Mama-Yes, me too!
Thankyou 
x
Hi Claire-Haha I plan to order something in!
Hi Krista-Isn’t it fabulously huge! Thankyou so much Krista!
Hi Maris-hehe well my main will be something home delivered I think
Hi margie-Oh good tip thanks! I’ve seen it in the shops and much easier if you don’t have the time to wait 3 days
Hi Bronnie-hehe well their bbq sounded just like an Australian one
Hi margie-Oh how clever! They definitely know their audience! Haha!
Hi Cakelaw-Thanks so much
Me too, it was fascinating! Fair enough 
Hi Ellen-haha of course! Teleporting you some now
Aww how sweet, that’s so gorgeous! thanks, I will definitely try to. I think I’d love it there!
Hi Lyn-hehe the suet isn’t so bad but I’m sure you could use butter instead
I have heard it is great for pastries as is lard. Ah good to know!
Hi Diana-Oh interesting! I wonder if they got a copy of it too
That would be a good idea and then it could just take care of itself! I find that butter has a distinct flavour to it (which is divine) whereas lard has an entirely different flavour. Also with the texture, I can usually tell when lard vs butter has been used.
hi jenny-haha ok!
Hi JohannaGGG-She’s great isn’t she? I’m sure you could use butter quite successfully
haha isn’t that funny1
Hi diva-Plus you’re a local too!
I know, isn’t that great?
Hi Hannah-hehe I thought you might like that!
Hi GourmetGetaways-hehe that’s ok! I’m sure a lot of people aren’t very interested which must make the news that’s currently on a bit too much!
hehe yes thanks indeed! 
Hi Mal-Oh cool! I wondered what would happen if I cooked it for less. Are the proportions the same?
Hi Amanda-thanks Amanda!
Hi Melissa-I was so excited to get it!
Yes isn’t it funny how some people aren’t what you expect! wonderful! I hope you like it! 
Hi Keely-Oh yes I can’t wait to see the dress! Yes the ice cream sounds diviiine!
haha now that sounds very decadently good!
Hi Heidi-thankyou! Oh no what a shame!
Perhaps the internet will have a live feed somewhere? xxx
Hi Nachiketa-Thankyou so much!
I know, although it was easy because all it required was water 
Hi Arwen-thanks Arwen!
He sounds very serious about it!
Hi Kelley-hehe I can’t imagine you being excited about it. What has come over you?
Hi Jasmin-Thanks Jasmin!
Ooh how fabulous! I didn’t have to go very far for it did I 
Yes that’s true! Have fun 
Hi Midge-haha exactly!
Oh really? I’m the opposite 
Hi grace-Thanks Grace, she’s pretty fab isn’t she?
Hi Cooking Gallery-Thanks CG! Me too, history is so interesting
hi Cate-Hehe isn’t it funny how things change!
Hi Shan-Haha! She adds a certain authority doesn’t she?
hi Jen-Cool!
Hi Alessandra-Thanks Alessandra!
Hi Anna-haha I know you’d understand my thinking!
I totally lol-ed when I saw that mini figurine in your pictures. I’m not a particular fan of puddings, or spiced fruit BUT I’ll definitely be GLUED to my screen tmr heh ;p
No, I won’t be but probably catch the highlights on the evening news. There’s been so much of it everywhere that it’s verging on overkill!
Love your effort Lorraine, you always go the extra mile whenever you take a project on. Love your idea of your own ‘shop’ one day, the men’s lounge sounds like a great idea.
I bow to your awesomeness and dedication in steaming the pud for 8 hours! Personally not that interested in watching the wedding but there won’t be anything else on TV now that the Chaser mob have been forbidden to to a spoof commentary!
This is such a fun post, Lorraine! The figurine of the Queen is darling…and how cool that you have her pudding recipe! It looks like it came out perfect!
Won’t be watching the wedding. I think bookmarking this recipe for Christmas in July may be on the cards though.
Not watching it because the ‘The Chasers’ have been chased off, shame would have been a laugh!!
lorraine, this means you are only one degree of separation from the british royal family.
i love your shop idea, esp the part with the buzzers to call up husbands for opinions. i am constantly searching for mine through the doorway, as he tends to wander off for a comfortable place to rest!
i can’t say that this is the kind of pudding i’d like to try, but very neat that it’s so.. royal.
How fun to have made this for the wedding day! All the fruit in the cake looks delicious. And, that solar-powered statuette is fantastic. I hope to catch at least part of the wedding!
Such a nice substantial pudding – fit for a Queen indeed!
yay!!!! loved the Liz statuette. and we are absolutely watching the Wedding! Neighbor ladies are having a pajamas and tiaras party. Scones with jam and clotted cream (thank you Wegmans!), quiche, angel food cake with strawberries, tea, and mimosas! Like we need an excuse to drink champagne at 4 AM….
BRILLIANT. We have had so much fun planning royal wedding menus. Cannot wait for tomorrow. Here’s hoping there’s no rain!
Have you ever heard of bubble and squeak?
That figurine is rather cool. Solar panel handbag and all.
8 hours steaming eh?…. I can do that, good timing too, as I pinched the family pudding tin just on the weekend.
will be watching the wedding tonight over a roast dinner at our english friends house, he’s making a bit of a night of it
I’m interested out of curiosity sake, and i guess it’s quite historical…other than that the royals and most celeb for that matter hold not alot of interest to me
You always have the best props! Love the figurine and your pudding looks divine. Another here who never knew you could put beef fat in pudding. I think i’d rather not know that
Looks delicious Lorraine, I love Christmas pudding. My friend is holding a dinner party for the wedding, and is going to be featured on Channel 10 at 6pm!!
I think the Queen is awesome! I love the kitsch she adds to the pudding.
I will probably watch some of the wedding, I was allowed to watch Lady Di’s when I was a little girl, we watched Princess Mary’s with my older daughter, and this one I’ll watch with my younger daughter. Not that I care about the royals, just because it adds a bit of fun and whimsy- we might even wear tiaras whilst we sip out Earl Grey tea!
No time to make fruit cake so we’re having fruit toast watching the wedding instead
The wedding has just finished and I thought it was beautiful.
I’m not for or against either but they are fascinating dont you think.
I just googled “suet”. You learn a new thing everyday!
Since I had to work today, couldn’t stay up all night but did get up early, have a bit of an English breakfast and watch several recorded hours of the wedding and kiss! Love it!
Ooh, I love this post (I’m a bit royal mad at the moment) – I nearly bought the exact same waving queen, until I realised I have too many silly little things as it is. And I often ponder having my own shop one day too (I’m also a bit crazy for owls and woodland creatures) – man-friendly areas are definitely a must!
Briony xx
Lorraine, I don’t know how I missed this post. “Speak when spoken to, and don’t ask any question first.” That’s just how my husband’s first wife is with her husband. He speaks when spoken to. I guess she’s the queen of that house.
And, I suppose I’m a different sort of queen. We MUST find our husband’s wifi to keep them happy, right?
My entire family has decided that our place, Cherry Lodge in Blackheath,is THE place to be for Christmas Lunch this year, and so they all got together and invited themselves. Sounds like fun to me, a 2 course birthday lunch for 80+ has been done in our kitchen before, so whay not Chrissy Lunch for 24?
They are coming from Belfast, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Brisbane and Sydney. I won’t be able to do the usual shortcuts (roast beef for Christmas – no way!),that enabled 80+ for lunch so I am planning now.
So this pudding is definitely getting a run! The dried fruits will all be soaked in Irish whiskey for a month beforehand.
Great story, unfortunatey the pictures are of The Royal Kitchens Windsor Castle.
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