December 8, 2004

• Laughter and Friends fill each day with joy.

  
  

  The following is a letter from my mother dated Nov. 6th, 2004 explaining why she was sending me a plum pudding.

  
  

  Dear Linda,

  
  

  When I saw the plum pudding in a catalog it reminded me of my Grandmother Vaughan's plum pudding. The day before Thanksgiving, Grandma Vaughan made the pudding. She used a large tin can for the mold. The can she had saved for months just for this pudding. The can was filled with batter was placed in a pan of water; then all placed in the oven of her big black wrought iron range. Grandma Vaughan kept constant watch over the pudding and the stove - keeping the temperature just right. She made the brandy sauce from the plum or peach brandy which Uncle Gorge brought her every summer from California. He knew the man that made it in a small one man business. Uncle George would always buy two gallon jugs for Grandma Vaughan to use for her fruitcakes and plum puddings. When the pudding was steamed Grandma Vaughan would bring it to the table and was greeted with exclamations of delight. The pudding was served into round slices and the sauce ( also cut into rounds) on top.

  
  

  I remember the family around the table and two solders from the nearby base. People would always invite the solders for the holidays. They were young boys away from home for the first time and soon would be going overseas fighting either in the Pacific or in Europe. 

  
  

   

  
  

  I was about eight or nine years old when my mother and I stayed with Grandma Vaughan while my mother recuperated from an operation.

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

  when I saw the pudding I thought I would share the memories with the family and explain why you are getting a plum pudding. Of course it wont be as good as the one my grandmother made. I don't have her recipe and don't know if anyone does. I doubt it.

  
  

   

  
  

  Love, Mama

  
  

   

  
  

  The Plum Pudding arrived, the Guys and I tried it one night. I think it was a bit to rich for them as they had never had steamed plum pudding before and this pudding was very heavy. The recipe of my Great Grandmother Vaughan is lost more likely than not. The only one to have it would be My Great Aunt Lill's daughter. Never mind it's only a recipe for plum pudding. Futhermore, why should I be bothered? I no longer celebrate Christmas at least not in the manner which christians do.. That's not the point now is it?

  
  

   

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