Friday, December 21, 2012

Santa's Irish Pudding Recipe

Yeterday, my TV was blaring away like it pretty much does everyday....around the clock.

Sue McGleno hates this, because she prefers "quiet moments."

However, continous television isn't the worst of it for her, what she really hates is my ability to watch the same movies over and over, and over and over...........

AMC is such a great cable station because they are custom fit for lab mice such as myself.

I haven't kept count, but I'll bet that 10 of the last 12 nights they've played back to back showings of Miracle on 34th Street.

First they run the black and white version, and when that's over they rotate to the colorized.

Sue McGleno has been more than annoyed by this, but with that said......

Klecko prides himself on being a problem solver and has found a partial solution to this.

One of Sue McGleno's favorite moment's in Hollywood's Cinematic history is when Natalie Wood (Little Susan Walker) goes down to talk with Santa Claus.

She is skeptical because her mother has preached the virtues of practicality. There simply is no way such a wonderful person can exisist in the world that her mother has painted for her.....

So now her mom sees her and pulls her away from Santa's throne and begins to yell at her love interest for taking her over there, and while this confrontation takes place....little Susan Walker peeks out the door and spys on Santa once more.

"Sue McGleno, hurry up.....you favorite moment is about to happen."

CLOMP-CLOMP-CLOMP.....Sue McGleno slams her little feet to let me know that shes participating, but under protest.

The only thing a woman hates is when they know that a man has discovered their kryptonite.

And with my Sue McGleno, her 2 weaknesses are chocolate cake and the following scene........

So like I said, Natalie Wood is spying out on Santa, and a woman and young girl  who have been waiting in the Macy's line for hours finally get their turn to approach Santa.

The mom syas something like........

"Good morning Santa this is my daughter from Rotterdam Holland. I have just adopted her, and I told her that you wouldn't be able to understand her request since you don't speak Dutch."

Then Santa stops......smiles and starts talking Dutch to the little girl whose eyes light up and shoot beams of joy over in Sue McGleno's direction.

Although I know what will proceed, I am always kinda surprised knowing that my wife is tough and holds her emotions closer to herself than a Friday night poker hand.

But then it happens........

Santa and the Dutch Girl move from discussion, to laughter.....and then finally into song.

Are those tears welling up in Sue McGleno's eyes?

And when Santa and the little Dutch girl start singing, he embraces her, pulling her close to him in such an innocent yet intimate way.....Sue McGleno falls apart.

Sometimes I think if the world could just experience the safety and understanding that - that little Dutch girl got to experience for those few short minutes, we'd be a much better palanet.

"Sue McGleno" I asked "What is it about that scene that moves you so?"

She stops for a second, and I can hear little hampster wheels roaring in her mind as she responds.

"I've always pictured Santa as American, not that he is. I think he originated in Germany right? But thats not even relevent. I have him pegged as American, so when he steps out of his mold and then is able to cure somebody that has no hope. In Dutch..... Can you get any better than that?"

Anyways, that lengthy digression, basically is the build up to the recipe portion of this Blog post.

I have this friend Billy D.

Billy D is lives in my neighborhood, and I see him often on Saturday mornings at my coffee house of choice.

Everbodyy want's to be friends with Billy D because he has a commercial kitchen set up in his house.

And in that kitchen he has been known to pour cocktail and make sausages.

When I say sausages, I mean every style, flavor and version that exsists in God's Kingdom.

For years I have been enjoying the spoils of his work.

That's why I found it odd when he asked me recently if I ever made Irish Christmas Pudding.

I know just yesterday I posted about the dental chick and Irish cream, but you have to remember.....

Capitol City is a city full of Micks (I being one of them.)

So anyways, I have yet to try this, but if Billy D says it's good, I trust him.

BTW....before I go, one last factoid on Miracle on 34th Street.

Did you know that Robert Shaw, the dude who played the captain in Jaws was the Taxi Driver in this film, and they didn't even list him on the credits?

Anyways....here it is in 3-2-1 and action.......

Yo, ....here is that recipe I talked about... from the Beginish Restaurant in Dingle Ireland.
  • 8 ounces dates, finely chopped (about 1 1/4 cups packed)
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 3/4 cups self-rising flour
  • 2 tablespoons instant coffee granules
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 9-inch-diameter springform pan. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper; butter parchment. Place chopped dates in small bowl. Pour 1 cup boiling water over dates and let cool, about 1 hour.
Using electric mixer, beat butter and sugar in large bowl to blend. Add 2 eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add half of flour and beat to blend. Add remaining 2 eggs, 1 at a time, beating to blend after each addition. Add remaining flour and beat until blended. Combine instant coffee and baking soda in small bowl. Pour into date mixture, stirring to dissolve coffee granules. Add date mixture to batter and beat to blend. Pour batter into prepared pan. Place on rimmed baking sheet and bake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour.
Cool pudding until just warm. Unmold; sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut into wedges and serve with whipped cream and Caramel Sauce.

Carmel Sauce:

  • 2 cups whipping cream
  • 1 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
    Bring cream, brown sugar and butter to boil in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer sauce until reduced to 1 3/4 cups, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Before using, rewarm over medium-low heat, stirring frequently.)
  • 1 comment:

    1. Ah, this is an especially great one! Loved it, loved it, loved it ...

      ReplyDelete