Charm of the Carolines

Meet me under the Mistletoe

Anywhere you drive in middle Tennessee in the winter when the leaves are off the trees, you'll find boughs of mistletoe suspended high in the uppermost limbs.

Mistletoe was used by Druid priests 200 years before the birth of Christ in their winter celebrations. They revered the plant since it had no roots yet remained green during the cold months of winter and was vibrant and bore fruit when most other plants were dormant.

The ancient Celtics believed mistletoe to have magical healing powers and used it as an antidote for poison, infertility, and to ward of evil spirits. The plant was also seen as a symbol of peace, and it is said that among Romans, enemies who met under mistletoe would lay down their weapons and embrace.

Scandanavians associated the plant with Frigga, their goddess of love, and it is from this that we derive the custom of kissing under the mistletoe. Those who kissed under the mistletoe had the promise of happiness and good luck in the following year.

Oh, Bring us some Figgy Pudding

You probably remember it from the old Christmas song. Figgy pudding is a spiced cake (not a pudding at all!) made with figs and walnuts. It is moist, delicious, and anticipation builds as it takes forever to make in the traditional way with 3-4 hours of steaming. The history dates back to 15th century England, but we all know it best from the 19th century Christmas Carol where raucous and demanding party-goers won’t leave until they get some!

Here are the reasons I think we should all be making Christmas pudding:

It's delicious. It's sweet and fruity, spicy, filling, and, in its own simple way, exotic: It will taste like nothing else in your holiday spread. (OK, it's a little like fruitcake — I was trying to avoid mentioning that — but there is nothing green, bright red or fluorescently yellow in it.)

It's fun to make. The batter for the cake comes together very quickly (you don't need anything more special than a whisk in the equipment department) and cooks in a most unusual way: It gets steamed for a couple of hours, so while it's cooking, you hear a rat-a-tat-tat as it rocks gently in its water bath, and you have the pleasure of being in a kitchen fragrant with sugar, spice and spirits.

It's beautiful. The pudding is made in a Bundt pan and emerges from its steam bath honey brown and lavishly studded with fruit. It's even more beautiful brought to the table in flames.

It's a keeper. You can make it tonight, and it will keep until Christmas. In fact, it will get better because the fruits, brandy and rum will have more time to flavor the cake more deeply. Once it has cooled, wrap it up in plastic film, stow it in the fridge and just re-steam it before you're ready to serve.

It's got a lovely ritual attached to it. Everyone in the house is meant to have a hand in making the pudding, so everyone should grab the whisk and, together, give it at least one turn around the bowl while — here's the best part — making a wish. If you'd like, you could even stir a little trinket into the batter. Do this, and the person who finds it will be guaranteed good luck.

Figgy Pudding, aka Plum Pudding

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature

2 eggs

1 cup molasses

2 cups dried figs (about 1 pound), stems removed, chopped fine

1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel

1 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Optional: Whipped cream with a little vanilla and sugar whipped in for a delicious topping or ice cream.

1/3 cup warmed Brandy, pour on top and flame the pudding.

Preparation:

In an electric mixer, cream the butter until fluffy. Add the eggs and molasses and beat again. Add the figs, lemon peel, buttermilk and walnuts. Blend 1 minute. Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Blend until everything is incorporated.

Grease and flour a Bundt pan and pour in the batter. Bake in a 325-degree oven for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

If you would like to steam the cake in the traditional way, allow a couple of hours extra. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and seal the pan tightly with aluminum foil. There is actually a mold with fitted lid manufactured for this very purpose and I see them often in antique stores. I don’t think they are still in production. The aluminum foil method is easier, cheaper and makes for less mess to clean up.

Set the pan into the stock pot and fill the pot with enough hot water to come one-half to two-thirds of the way up the sides of the baking pan. Bring the water to a boil, then cover the pot tightly with foil and the lid.

Lower the heat so that the water simmers gently, and steam the pudding for 2 hours. (Check to make sure that the water level isn't getting too low; fill with more water, if necessary.) Carefully remove the foil sealing the pot — open the foil away from you to protect your arms and face — and then take off the foil covering the pan. To test that the pudding is done, stick a skewer or thin knife into the center of the pudding — the skewer or knife should come out dry.

To remove the pudding from the pan (a tricky operation), I find it easiest to carefully empty the water into the sink, and then carefully ease the baking pan out on its side. Transfer the pan to a cooling rack and let the pudding cool for 5 minutes. Detach the pudding from the sides of the pan using a kitchen knife, if necessary, gently invert it onto the rack. Allow the pudding to cool for 30 minutes.

If you'd like to flame the pudding, warm 1/3 cup of brandy in a saucepan over medium heat. Pour the warm liquid over the top of the pudding, and then, taking every precaution, set a match to the alcohol. When the flames die out, cut the pudding into generous pieces and garnish with the whipped cream or ice cream.

Yield: 12 servings

Recipe Source: The Frugal Gourmet Celebrates Christmas by Jeff Smith

Holiday Inn

This is one of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite movies.

Last night I soaked pinto beans overnight and slow cooked them all day with the hambone from our Thanksgiving meal. My parents came over today and we watched this movie and enjoyed a very simple meal of beans served with leftover ham and biscuits.

To make scrumptious, slow-cooked beans, the recipe is very simple. You just need a little patience.

Pinto Beans

Ingredients:

1 pound dried pinto beans, sorted and washed and soaked over night in 6 cups water

3-4 cups water

1 large onion, chopped

4 to 8 ounces cooked ham, chopped

include hambone, too, if you have it

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

Cover beans with water and soak overnight; drain. Fill bowl with water again and swirl to loosen any remaing dirt; drain again.

Place beans in a 5- or 6-quart slow cooker with water and remaining ingredients except salt and pepper. You may want to dice green pepper or even hot peppers, optional. If you choose to add diced tomatoes, wait until the last hour or so of cooking. Acid items added can toughen the beans if added too soon.

Cover cooker and cook on low setting for 9 to 11 hours, OR on high setting for 5-6 hours.

Stir a couple of times during cooking and add more water if necessary.

Season with salt and pepper right before serving. If you add the salt too early, it will toughen the beans. Consider other seasonings, too: cumin, chili powder, oregano, it's your beans.

Serve with cornbread, or over rice, or with ham and biscuits. Yum-O!

I love a Parade... Christmas Parades 2009

Catch the holiday spirit at these 32 Christmas parades held throughout Tennessee this December.

Ardmore

Ardmore Christmas Parade, 256-423-7588, www.archamber@ardmore.net, www.gilescountytourism.com, December 5

Benton

Polk County Christmas Parade, 423-338-5040, www.westoffice@ocoeecountry.com, www.ocoeecountry.com, December 12

Clarksville

Jaycees Christmas Parade, 931-320-1057, www.clarksville.tn.us, December 5

Cleveland

Cleveland Christmas Parade, 423-472-6587, www.mainstreetcleveland.com, December 4

Columbia

Columbia Christmas Parade, December 7 at 7pm

Crossville

Crossville Christmas Parade, 931-787-1956, www.crossville-chamber.com, December 5

Doyle

Ardmore Doyle Christmas Parade, 931-657-2459, December 12

Elkton

Elkton Christmas Parade, 931-468-2506, www.gctourism@gilescountytourism.com, www.gilescountytourism.com, December 5

Fairview

Fairview Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting, 615-799-9290, www.fairviewchamber.org, December 5

Franklin

Franklin Christmas Parade, 615-591-8500, December 5

Gainesboro

Gainesboro-Jackson County Heritage Christmas Parade, 931-268-9315, www.blueheron@twlakes.net, December 7

Gallatin

Gallatin Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade, 615-452-4000, www.info@gallatintn.org, www.gallatintn.org, December 5

Gatlinburg

Gatlinburg’s 34th Annual Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade, 800-568-4748, www.gatlinburg.com, December 4

Goodlettsville

Goodlettsville Annual Nighttime Christmas Parade, 615-859-7979, www.goodlettsvillechamber.com, December 12

Gordonsville

Town of Gordonsville Night of Lights Christmas Parade, 615-683-8282, December 5

Greeneville

Greeneville Christmas Parade, 423-638-4111, www.greenecountypartnership.com, December 6

Hartsville

Hartsville Hometown Christmas Parade, 615-374-9243, www.hartsvilletrousdale.com, December 12

Hohenwald

Lewis County Jaycees Christmas Parade, 931-796-5425, www.director@hohenwaldlewiscounty.com, December 3

Jonesborough

Jonesborough Christmas Parade, 866-401-4223, www.historicjonesborough.com, December 12

Knoxville

Fountain City Christmas Parade, 865-522-2796, www.knoxville.org, December 19

Lafayette

Macon County Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade, 615-666-5885, www.mchamber@nctc.com, www.maconcountytn.com, December 5

Lebanon

City of Lebanon Christmas Parade, 615-444-5503, December 6

Leipers Fork

Leipers Fork Christmas Parade, 615-715-1995, www.leipersforkvillage.com, December 5

Livingston

44th Annual Overton County Christmas Parade, 931-823-2735, www.overtonco.com, December 12

Lynnville

Lynnville Lighted Christmas Parade, 931-527-3466, December 5

Morristown

Annual Morristown Christmas Parade, 423-581-3280, www.downtownmorristown.org, December 3

Mt. Juliet

City of Mt. Juliet Christmas Parade, 615-754-2552, www.cityofmtjuliet.org, December 5

Newbern

Newbern Christmas Parade, 731-627-3221, December 3

Pickwick Dam

Pickwick Christmas Parade, 731-689-3129, www.tnstateparks.com, December 4

Pulaski

Pulaski/Giles County Christmas Parade, 931-363-3789, www.gilescountychamber.com, December 6

Savannah

Savannah Christmas Parade, 731-925-2363, www.tourhardincounty.org, December 7

White Bluff

Breakfast with Santa & Electric Christmas Parade, 615-797-3131, December 12

White House

Christmas Parade & Holiday Extravaganza, 615-672-4350 ext. 2114, December 5

"Christmas in Columbia- A Nineteenth Century Historic Home Tour and Downtown Open House"

Never before have I been this excited over a home tour. This is a good one. Mark your calendars now for December 4 and 5. For only $20 per person, 13 beautiful homes in the historic neighborhood of West 6th will be open for the Christmas in Columbia Home Tour. Additionally, your ticket will also admit you to the Athenaeum Rectory, Elm Springs Plantation, and the James K Polk Ancestral Home. Make a weekend out of it and enjoy the Columbia Downtown Christmas Parade Monday evening, December 7 at 7pm.

The Maury Alliance Building on 6th Street will serve as the Trolley and Carriage Station, with vintage-inspired transportation available between downtown and the W 6th Street Historic District.

Other events include:

Friday Downtown Events

Christy's Sixth Street Restaurant presents a Traditional Christmas Dinner for around $20. Reservations required.

Saturday Downtown Events

Breakfast With Santa at Square Market Cafe (children $8, adults $12) 8:00am - 10:00am

David's Old Fords Open House, Antique Cars, Toys and Memorabilia 10:00am - 5:00pm

Historic Nelson House Hotel Festival of Trees 10:00am - 5:00pm

Historic Maury Photo Exhibit at the Mann Building 10:00am - 5:00pm

Christy's Sixth Street Restaurant Christmas Tea for around $15 11:00am - 3:00pm

Christmas Dinner with Live Music at Square Market Cafe 5:00pm - 10:00pm

Other Venues and Events:

Susie's

Visit and Photo With Santa and/or Scrooge 10:00am - 3:00pm

Scrapbooker Linda Johnson 10:00am - 5:00 pm

The Royal Brush's Trish King 10:00am - 5:00 pm

Maury Hills Church of Christ 10:00am - 11:00am

Mt. Pleasant Middle School of the Performing Arts, Noon - 1:45pm

Courthouse Square

St. Paul's AME Choir 12:00N - 2:00 PM

First Presbyterian Church

Seasonal Musicale 11:30 - 12:30

St. Peter's Episcopal Church

Historic Lessons and Carols Service from 19th Century Cambridge University 5:00pm

The Memorial Building

Confederate Christmas Ball 7:00pm - 11:00pm

Also Downtown on Saturday, Dec. 5

Chili by Community First Bank and Trust

Cookies and Hot Chocolate by First Farmers and Merchants Bank

Candy canes and Balloons by Dubois Closing and Title Service

"Museum Without Walls" Display

Maury Christmas Memories Art Exhibit

Irish Folk Dance Performance by Eve Barbera Group

Book Signings by Sylvia Gray and Lana McCandless "Century of Culleoka Memories," Mildred Hartsfield "Historic Maury County," Linda Gupton "A Southern Saga"

Historic Maury County Vintage Postcard Exhibit

Sweet Adelines of Middle Tennesse Concert

Maestros in Training Violin and Piano Concert

Tickets are available at the Athenaeum, the Visitors Bureau Welcome Center, Carriage House Flowers and Gifts, and Maury Alliance. For more information visit www.maurychristmas.com.