As you might expect, Christmas in our house is an English affair – from the very first mince pies usually baked on Christmas Eve, to the masses of seasonal food for the big day itself. A true English Christmas dinner is the star of the show obviously, with turkey (cooked on the barbecue! Mr R has been threatening to do this for years, and this time the sun was shining (and it actually turned out really well!)!), stuffing, chipolatas, bread and cranberry sauces and lots of veg (and with crackers this year donated by an Argentinian friend who had no clue what to do with them!). This was followed by a short interval (with everyone already beginning to complain about being full), and then a flaming Christmas Pudd (which we introduced one of our Bavarian neighbours to – taking him around a warm bowl full!) with plenty of cream and brandy butter. But, with each year that we are away, we find little traditions and foods from our host countries sneaking in to our celebrations, and I know a lot of them will probably stay with us down the line…
Bavaria is a dieter’s nightmare at Christmas with piles of lebkuchen everywhere (not to mention tempting drinks that always seem like such a good idea at the markets). I have attempted to make lebkuchen in the past, but don’t actually bother anymore, there’s not much point whilst were still in the land of the gingerbread masters. A homemade stollen is however usually a part of our festivities as it’s so much nicer freshly baked (plus it makes the house smell amazing!); toasted and buttered it is the breakfast of kings by the way (whilst you’re not worried about piling on those festive pounds!).
Denmark gave me an addiction to the pastries it’s so famous for (and that don’t bear much resemblance to the soggy bottomed excuses we often try to pass off as Danish pastries at home), as well as an obligatory love affair with Scandinavian Furniture, a fondness for ridiculously cold weather, and a dangerous addiction to candles. Amongst all the recipes that came with us when we left, my favourites have to be for Flæskesteg (Danish roast pork), Aebleskiver, and then there’s Denmark’s answer to Christmas pudding – Risalamande. Traditionally served on Christmas Eve (the most important festive Day both here and in Denmark), cold, packed full of whipped cream with generous dollops of warm cherry sauce, Risalamande might not feature in our house exactly on that day, but we do make it at some point between Christmas and New Year… Like our English Christmas pudd, it also contains a “wish” and one less likely to break your teeth than the traditional coin in our version.
I can’t think of one person who doesn’t like a really good rice pudding, and if nothing else, it allows for an absolutely quiet 10/15 minutes at least (quite possibly the only quietness you will experience during the festive season) whilst everyone sifts through each mouthful to find the magic whole almond to make that all important wish. What’s the betting it’s for another bowl?…
Ingredients:
1.5 litres whole milk;
2 vanilla pods;
250g short grain rice;
1/2 tsp salt;
4 tbsp caster sugar;
75g almonds sliced (keeping one whole for the wish!);
200ml whipped double cream;
1 Jar of Cherry Sauce.
Gently heat 1.4 litres of the milk in a big saucepan. Just before boiling add the rice, slit one of the vanilla pods lengthways and chuck this in too. Cook gently for 30 minutes, stirring from time to time to keep it from catching. Take the pan off the heat and stir in the salt. Cover and leave for a few minutes before adding the sugar and leave to cool completely. Remove the vanilla pod and add the sliced almonds, keeping the whole one separate. Slit the second vanilla pod, and scrape out the seeds, adding them to the rice. Fold in the remaining milk, and the whipped cream. Either put in a large serving bowl, or individual bowls, and hide the whole almond in one of them. Serve with hot cherry sauce on the side… Enjoy.
Isn’t it wonderful that you and your family are picking up so many special traditions from your travels. You are giving your children such memories – of places and people and, with those cooking aromas, they will smell certain things in the future and be transported to another country.
Thank you Trish. That’s such a lovely comment. Who knows how much longer we will be living this expat life, it almost makes me feel sorry for the baby as he might feel left out one day! :D xxx
I find Christmas traditions around the world absolutely fascinating, especially when it comes to ex-pats. It’s lovely to see which British traditions they make sure they do every year and which ones they are happy to let slide. Intrigued by the idea of a turkey on the BBQ though!
Thanks so much Penny! Barbecued turkey turned out surprisingly well, and meant the oven was completely freed up! :D
I do love discovering new foods and traditions.
This looks delicious
Thank you Clare! (:
Oh yum – it is a good job I can’t eat all that food now. I have never thought of putting almonds in my rice pudding – shall have to give it a try.
Don’t forget the cherry sauce! Thanks Joy! (:
I’ve had an aversion to rice pudding ever since primary school dinners ruined it for me – but your version looks delicious. I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas x
We were subjected to tapioca in our school… I quite liked the semolina though! Thank you, I hope you did too! x
Oh my days, you are making me hungry. This is not doing my new years resolve any good whatsoever!!
Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas xx
Sorry about that Donna! Thank you, hope you did too! (: xx
Oh that looks amazing, I’ve not had rice pudding for years and don’t think I have ever made it for the kids. Going to go and see if I have this ingredients to make this now xx
Hope you had them to make it! Thanks Sonia! (:
Oh my, this looks delicious
Thanks Kara! (:
Homemade rice pudding is possibly my favourite Winter Food and this looks delicious!
I think you would love it Cass! (:
This looks and sounds delicious. Pinning to try out very soon
Thanks so much Kizzy! (:
That sounds delicious! How lovely to be able to hold onto your traditional British Christmas dinner, but then pick up all these new ideas along the way too.
Hope you all had a lovely Christmas.
We had a really lovely Christmas even though we weren’t at home. Thanks Sarah, hope you did too! (:
Oh yum. I am a big fan of rice pudding and the husband was weaned on the stuff being the son of a dairy farmer. I will have to give it a try with almonds. I hope you have had a wonderful festive season.
Thanks so much Jen. Hope you did too! (:
What a fab dish, festive and also looks super delicious and easy to make. I can’t wait to try this. x
Thanks so much Lori. I hope you enjoy it! (:
That looks lovely Emma, and I love the idea of hiding a whole almond.
My mouth is watering at the idea of Lebkuchen, I adore gingerbread at any time of year.
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. xx
We had a really fantastic Christmas thanks Emma! Hope you did too! :) xx
Love the sound of this – it seems so festive, and delicious, but not that tricky to make, which is a great combination. Loved this post too and finding out about all these different Christmas foods. Hope it all went very well for you!
It did, thanks Sarah. Now it’s time for the diet! Well maybe after New Year! :)