Wednesday, December 19, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Journey
through
Thyme
Jodi Schneider McNamee
Columnist
So just what IS
figgy pudding?
Christmas is almost here,
and ’tis the season for rich
food traditions. Some des-
serts have a special associa-
tion with the festive holiday
season based on old cultures
and traditions.
Figgy pudding and fruit
cake are just a couple of the
traditional desserts that come
to mind when thinking about
the Christmas season.
During the holiday sea-
son, one popular Christmas
carol, “We Wish You a
Merry Christmas” demands:
“Oh, bring us some figgy
pudding…”
What is figgy pudding?
Figgy pudding — also known
as plum pudding or Christmas
pudding is a steamed cake
full of raisins, currants and
brandy.
Christmas pudding
dates way back to medi-
eval England and is tradi-
tionally served as part of
the Christmas dinner in the
United Kingdom, Ireland and
in other countries such as
Australia, Canada and South
Africa, where it was brought
in by British emigrants.
The present form of
the Christmas pudding is a
Victorian dish made of dried
fruits such as sultanas, rai-
sins or currants soaked in
brandy overnight and then
held together by egg and suet,
mixed with sugar, bread-
crumbs and flavored with
spices such as cinnamon, nut-
meg, cloves and ginger.
Despite the name “plum
pudding” the pudding con-
tains no actual plums.
“Plums” was a term for rai-
sins or currants which are
commonly found in this
pudding.
The Yule log cake (or
Bûche de Noël for French
speakers) is an elaborate
creation consisting of a rolled,
filled sponge cake, frosted
with chocolate buttercream to
look like tree bark.
The history of the Yule
log cake stretches all the
way back to Europe’s Iron
Age, before the medieval era.
Celtic Britons and Europeans
would gather to welcome the
winter solstice at December’s
end. People would feast to
celebrate the days finally
becoming longer, signaling
the end of the winter season.
To cleanse the air of the previ-
ous year’s events and to usher
in the spring, families would
burn logs decorated with
holly, pinecones or ivy. Wine
and salt were also often used
to anoint the logs.
Those hearths were per-
fect for baking cakes. That is
where the first Yule log cake
was baked, and judging from
See DESSERTS on page 21
New Year’s Eve Bash
8th Annual • No Cover!
– 8PM to 2AM –
Drink Specials * Balloon Drop
Midnight Champagne Toast!
Monday • Dec. 31
LIVE MUSIC & DANCING WITH
Ukes!
THE HWY 97 BAND
CHOPS
Book your
offi ce & holiday
parties now
Bistro
LIVE MUSIC
Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays!
Join us for amazing food and specialty cocktails
in our lounge
g or dining g room.
370 E Cascade Ave. | 541-549-6015
Lounge open daily 4:30 p.m. to close | Dining Room daily 5 p.m. to close
Closed Mondays
Entertainment & Events
DEC
19
WED
Sisters Saloon Poker Night 7 p.m. Every Wednesday! $20.
For information call 541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net.
Cork Cellars Tasty Thursday Hosted Wine Tasting
5 to 7 p.m. For additional information call 541-549-2675 or
DEC
go online to corkcellarswinebistro.com.
20
THUR Sisters Saloon Karaoke Night 9 p.m. to midnight. Every
Thursday, no cover! For additional information call
541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net.
DEC
21
FRI
DEC
22
SAT
175 N. Larch St.
541-549-6114
5
4 1 - 5 4 9 -6
61 1 4
Hardtails Bar & Grill Karaoke Night 9 p.m. Every Friday,
no cover! For more information call 541-549-6114 or go to
hardtailsoregon.com.
Cork Cellars Live Music with Jazz Folks 6:30 to 8:30
p.m. No cover! For information call 541-549-2675 or go
online to corkcellarswinebistro.com.
Hardtails Bar & Grill Karaoke Night 9 p.m. Every
Saturday, no cover! For additional information call 541-549-
6114 or go to hardtailsoregon.com.
hardtailsoregon.com
DEC
23
SUN
DEC
25
TUES
Dec. 22 / Sat / 8 PM
Watkins Glen
DEC
26
WED
The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse Artist in Residence
with Kisha Jarrett 4 to 6 p.m. Free. Writer, Director, Actor,
ormation call
Storyteller. All are welcome. For additional information
541-638-7001.
Merry Christmas!
Sisters Saloon Poker Night 7 p.m. Every Wednesday! $20.
For information call 541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net.
Cork Cellars Tasty Thursday Hosted Wine Tasting
5 to 7 p.m. For additional information call 541-549-2675 or
DEC
go online to corkcellarswinebistro.com.
27
THUR Sisters Saloon Karaoke Night 9 p.m. to midnight. Every
Thursday, no cover! For additional information call
541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net.
PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK
The Ukeladies performed at a community holiday showcase at
Sisters High School last week.
Oregon-based
Oregon
based rock
rock-n-
n
rollers strive to create
magical musical moments
while paying tribute to
the repertoires of The
Band, The Grateful Dead,
Little Feat and The Allman
Brothers Band. One of the
most authentic, inventive
and compelling rock-n-roll
bands in the West.
DEC
28
FRI
DEC
29
SAT
Downtown Sisters 4th Friday Art Stroll 4 to 7 p.m.
Galleries and shops feature live entertainment and
refreshments, every fourth Friday of the month! For
additional information go to sistersartsassociation.org.
Hood Avenue Art More Small Wonders Artists’
Reception 4 to 7 p.m. With live entertainment and
refreshments! For more info go to hoodavenueart.com.
Hardtails Bar & Grill Karaoke Night 9 p.m. Every Friday,
no cover! For more information call 541-549-6114 or go to
hardtailsoregon.com.
Hardtails Bar & Grill Karaoke Night 9 p.m. Every
Saturday, no cover! For additional information call 541-549-
6114 or go to hardtailsoregon.com.
Perfect venue for
receptions, meetings,
gs,
or any event.
PUB OPENS 1 HOUR PRIOR TO SHOWS
BelfryEvents.com
541-815-9122
13
DEC
31
MON
Hardtails Bar & Grill Annual New Year’s Eve Bash 8 p.m.
to 2 a.m. Live Music with The HWY 97 Band! No cover! For
information call 541-549-6114 or go to hardtailsoregon.com.
The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse New Year’s Eve Party
9 p.m. to midnight at The Lodge Tower. DJ Jimbo and
dancing. Advanced ticket purchase required. Visit
TheSuttleLodge.com/happenings.