So we decided in a money saving effort to take the train (coach) home for the holidays. That is 50+ hours. Here is our train! our seats were on the second floor.
And views from the train:
HOME: Christmas! Busy, saw lots of people, had a lovely time. I didn't take too many pictures, but one thing I did catch is the Christmas pudding and hard sauce snowman my mother makes. You eat a slice of ol' frosty on top of the pudding and it is delicious. This long-standing christmas tradition has been passed down for generations. Says my mother:
My Grandma Fern Bartlett Williams who got it from her mother Sarah Gaines. The family came from England sometime in the late 1600's. The vegetable oil and apple sauce were originally a "cup of suet" but it is better this way.
The hard sauce is just two sticks of butter mixed with about 3 Cups of powdered sugar and a tsp of rum or brandy or what ever is on hand. The butter should be at room temp when you begin. It needs to be stiff enough to mold into the snowman. Sometimes it takes more or less sugar depending on the humidity.
GREAT GRANDMOTHER'S CHRISTMAS PUDDING RECEIPE-GG
1/4 CUP VEGETABLE OIL
The hard sauce is just two sticks of butter mixed with about 3 Cups of powdered sugar and a tsp of rum or brandy or what ever is on hand. The butter should be at room temp when you begin. It needs to be stiff enough to mold into the snowman. Sometimes it takes more or less sugar depending on the humidity.
GREAT GRANDMOTHER'S CHRISTMAS PUDDING RECEIPE-GG
1/4 CUP VEGETABLE OIL
1 CUP SUGAR
3/4 Cup Apple Sauce
1 CUP GRATED RAW CARROTS
1 CUP RAW GRATED POTATOS
1 1/2 CUPS FLOUR
1 TEASPOON SODA
1 TEASPOON CLOVES I TSP Cinnamonn 1 CUP MIXED FRUIT-APRICOTS, DATES, FIGS
1 CUP RAISINS
PUT VEGETABLE OIL AND SUGAR TOGETHER AND STIR IN CARROTS AND POTATOS
SIFT TOGETHER FLOUR AND DRY INGRETIENTS
ADD FRUITS
STIR ALL TOGETHER slowly so it does not get lumpy. Put in pudding MOLD (you can use Coffee or Soup Can covered in Foil with string tied to secure the foil while streaming) Mold or can should not be more then 2/3 full.
PLACE MOLD IN Pan in an a couple of inches of water. Steam covered for 3 hours be sure to CHECK IT DOES NOT GO DRY
1 CUP GRATED RAW CARROTS
1 CUP RAW GRATED POTATOS
1 1/2 CUPS FLOUR
1 TEASPOON SODA
1 TEASPOON CLOVES I TSP Cinnamonn 1 CUP MIXED FRUIT-APRICOTS, DATES, FIGS
1 CUP RAISINS
PUT VEGETABLE OIL AND SUGAR TOGETHER AND STIR IN CARROTS AND POTATOS
SIFT TOGETHER FLOUR AND DRY INGRETIENTS
ADD FRUITS
STIR ALL TOGETHER slowly so it does not get lumpy. Put in pudding MOLD (you can use Coffee or Soup Can covered in Foil with string tied to secure the foil while streaming) Mold or can should not be more then 2/3 full.
PLACE MOLD IN Pan in an a couple of inches of water. Steam covered for 3 hours be sure to CHECK IT DOES NOT GO DRY
Also very exciting, we got to see our nephew, Graham, who just turned 1 year old. Apparently holding a baby makes one want to open one's mouth up wide. And the baby wants to too.
As you may have read, we had a stomach virus that decimated the McCarthy/MacGregor population. The day after christmas mom was sick, then I got it, nathan got off with a light fever, ellen got it, and then Carolyn. Hopefully the rest of you are safe!
Back on the train, we have white-out blizzards across ND, but woke up to the most beautiful scenery imaginable in our very own state of Washington. The pictures really don't capture it.
Arriving to a absolutely perfect day in Seattle. When it is clear there are mountains on either side of the city. The Olympics to the West are particularly majestic. The picture makes them look far away, but in person it is like they are RIGHT THERE and they are huge.
Happy New Years!
No comments:
Post a Comment