Im not British, but I am interested in some of their Christmas traditions.

The most fascinating one for me is the Christmas pudding.

Somewhere Jesus is probably involved, but I can’t be bothered with that.

This year, Im making a Christmas pudding, and Id love for you to join me.

Welcome to the first installment of my six-part Christmas Pudding Chronicles.

I know, Thanksgiving hasnt even happened yet, so why write about a Christmas pudding now?

Its not made in advance for party prepping, and its not frozen.

Ive decided to call this process curing the cake, but we’ll cross that pond later.

Why make a Christmas Pudding?

I have a penchant for pursuing desserts that are unusual to me.

Its part culinary curiosity, and part thrill without much risk.

The worst thing that can happen is I waste time on something that tastes terrible.

Im not repulsed by dried fruit, so the odds are in my favor.

How do you do it?

Then you store it.

This is pretty inactive of course, but I plan on doing the optional feeding.

Once a week, I will feed my pudding a few tablespoons of brandy.

When Christmas finally shows up, the pudding is steamed again to heat it through.

Then it’s treated with a momentous brandy flambe for serving.

Shes a British person, for one thing.

In her recipe, she suggests soaking the dried fruit overnight, or for up to a week.

Well be soaking a combination of currants, sultanas, and prunes in sherry.

I found all of my dried fruit in the local ShopRite.

Sultanas are usually labeled as golden raisins in the United States, or sometimes sultana raisins.

I did have some trouble locating Pedro Ximenez sherry, which specifically uses the eponymous grape.

The liquor store in my part of Brooklyn carries a single sherry, so thats the one I used.

If you don’t partake in alcohol, you’re free to still have a fine pudding.

Substitute the booze for an equal amount of any fruit juice you like.

Cover the container and set it aside overnight or up to a week.

Next weeks edition of Christmas Pudding Chronicles is steaming day.

Ill clue you in on what works and whats awkward.

Until then, get soaking.