Tags
cake, Christmas food, King, Levée, PEI
Well a few weeks back, Will said that this Christmas he would not make any Plum Pudding because he did not fell up to it, given his health. Ok no problem, we have a wonderful freshly made one year ago Christmas Fruit Cake from our friend John who for the past 40 years has sent us his home made cake which is beyond good and wonderful. I think it must be a secret recipe, the cake smells heavenly and it is so delicious it is difficult to stop yourself from going for more than 2 pieces at a time, it is very rich and soaking in Brandy.
So Will asked on FB if anyone knew of a place where you could buy a good Plum Pudding. Out of the blue came a reply from an old school friend from 70 year ago. Now that is a lifetime when you think of it, she offered to send us one, she makes them every year. It arrived my mail from Vancouver. At the same time I asked a friend here on the Island, who lives just outside of Charlottetown in Vernon Bridge if he was making any Plum Pudding, yes he said and then went on to ad that he would let me know. Heard nothing and yesterday he brought us a pudding which is quite large and in Island fashion is made in a can, the recipe is somewhat different from the traditional one but nonetheless very good. So now I have Christmas Plum Pudding and Will is going to make the hard butter sauce with brandy to go with it.
So we made shortbreads and now Will wants to make a Ginger Cake and a Gum drop cake. We will have to have a lot of people over to eat the stuff. I can’t eat it all by myself.
Last night I saw on Instagram a recipe on how to cook the perfect Prime Rib Roast Beef. I am fascinated by this recipe and how easy it is. The fellow is a chef and he cooks all manner of dishes. This one suggest cooking your Prime Rib at 500 F. 15 minutes per rib, so 2 ribs would be 30 minutes and then turn off the stove and leave your prime rib in the oven for 2 hours, do not open the door at any time. After 2 hours it will be ready to eat. He also gives a recipe on how to make a rich gravy with red wine and beef stock. I am very tempted to try it.
Winter is going to be mild, today again the weather is mild 3C and light rain. I hope that if we cannot have snow on Chritsmas day we have at least no rain and some sunshine.
The dinner Friday at the Club was a huge success about 70 people came and the food was wonderful. The entertainment was also very good and everyone had fun. The Mayor showed up and had dinner and spoke to everyone. There is a New Year’s Eve party with more entertainment and then the Levée on New Year’s day which is a very old tradition going back to the Court in France in 1563. In Canada as of 1812 we followed this tradition where people come and pay their respect to the Representative of the King, in this case the Governor of PEI at Government House. One year I worked it and 600 people showed up to shake hands and offer good wishes. The Club has a Levée so does the Mayor and the Commanders of the Army and Navy in Charlottetown. But this year I am staying home because of infections and Covid running around still. I am going to see the Governor this week privately and will offer my good wishes then.
Tomorrow Monday we have an appointment with the doctor for Will and we will get more results on his cancer etc. I hope for good news. He is looking so much better now.
Queen Charlotte’s Levée Room at St-James Palace, London. She was the wife of King George III and Charlottetown is named for her.
