Mrs Beeton’s Christmas Plum Pudding
Mrs Beeton’s Christmas Plum Pudding Song
Can you put the missing ingredients and instructions in the correct part of the text? (video of song at the bottom of this page)
| A Pour it round about your Christmas pudding | I half a pound of candied peel |
| B Fetch your pudding waiting in the store | J Now bring your pudding swiftly to the table |
| C Eight ounces of dried currants | K a large amount of cooking sherry |
| D boil boil boil, but only lightly | L fine French brandy |
| E Eight well-beaten eggs | M a pound of sugar |
| F Turn it firmly out on to a plate | N Boil at least another hour or more |
| G Then press the mixture in a buttered mould | O A pound and a half of breadcrumbs |
| H twenty four ounces of good raisins |
John Harle’s Mrs Beeton’s Christmas plum pudding, barbershop-esque setting of Bristol-born author, Charlotte Cory’s, text of Mrs Beeton’s recipe. BBC commission; premiere recording Chester Music
(Music with the apologies to the great tradition of Barbershop singing!)
oo-oo-oo-oo
Make make make make make a Christmas pudding
At an av’rage cost of three and six
Stir ……………………. 1
……………………. 2 mix – (do mix)
Then you are halfway through your Christmas pudding
Sit down now and have a little rest – a rest
Swig ……………………. 3
And your Christmas pudding will be the best.
Make make make make make a Christmas pudding
At an av’rage cost of three and six
……………….. 4, twelve of suet
And …………………. 5 do mix – do mix
…………………… 6, …………………….. 7
A wineglass full of very best brandy – best brandy
Make sure your Christmas pudding is well blended
And your fam’ly happy ever more shall be –
…………………… 8
In a floured cloth your plum pudding enfold
Now, Madam, tie it tightly and
…………………… 9…
To purchase moulds
in every shape and size
make to visit
for this enterprise
Messers R and J Slack
Who are located –
Can be syncopated –
At three hundred and
thirty six the Strand
A good id-ea if you can bear it
Is to make extra puddings – ………. (“but I wouldn’t wear it!”)
And your friends will travel for miles
And leave with cheer-ier smiles
“Who’s there?”
“It’s the unexpected guests
come for a slice of Mrs Beeton’s
Christmas plum pudding!”
“But I’ve only made the one!”
“Where’s your Christmas spirit?”
“Cook’s drunk it!”
And you will see Missus Beeton has beaten the rest
Missus Beeton has beaten the rest.
On Christmas Day first thing in the morning
……………………. 10
Plunge into a vat of boiling water
……………………. 11 (“oh, at least!”)
When the pudding sure is steaming nicely
……………………. 12 (“fireproof plate!”)
Plant a sprig of holly in the middle
It cannot grow but it will decorate. (“one more time!”)
Fill a wineglass full of ……………………. 13
An extra drop or two and you’ll go far
……………………. 14
Ready for the final coup de grâce (“coup de grâce”)
……………………. 15
Light a match – no one will be to blame
As Mrs Beeton’s famous Christmas pudding
Comes to table circled now with flame!
“Quick, call the firebrigade, dial 999!”
“I am dialling – hallo, hallo? I want the firebrigade.
Lots of firebrigades. They don’t answer!”
“They must all be eating
Mrs Beeton’s Christmas pudding!”
As Mrs Beeton’s famous Christmas pudding
Comes to table circled now with flame.
“All aboard!” “Chocks away!”
“Cheers!” “Cheers, darling!”
“Happy Christmas!”