What IS figgy pudding, anyway?
Is it like mincemeat pie made with leftover ground up Salisbury steak? It is time to de-mystify this mysterious food. Speaking of mystery foods, one time we were invited to a friend’s house for turkey fries. My husband and I ate with great gusto. (We were very poor college students at the time and we pretty much ate anything with great gusto if it was FREE.) The turkey fries were yummy until our friends disclosed what they were. Since this is a family friendly blog I won’t tell you the unsavory details. Let’s just say, there were some mighty depressed and sore (not to mention dead) Tom turkeys that day.
Anyway, back to the figgy pudding. I googled it and found out that it contains chopped dates and figs mixed with walnuts, cream, sugar, butter, eggs and dark chocolate. Then the warm pudding is topped with whipped cream or ice cream.
Wow, that sounds good and caloriefied!
You will find me using this new suffix in a variety of new ways. For example, if something has been crammed full of calories it is calorified. If something is crammed full of nutrients like broccoli it is nutrified. When I say fatified I am talking about one of my clients after Christmas dinner. See, this is going to be a great suffix for me to use and abuse.
Anyway, back to figgy pudding. I am shocked that we no longer include this as a Christmas favorite. It has sadly been replaced with mint flavored M&M’s (and for approximately one dollar per M you can have your child’s name painted on them with paint from China).
Now I am not saying figgy pudding is the answer to the national debt crisis but if you are going to eat a decadent calorified dessert anyway I think figgy pudding will fit the bill. Dates and figs are packed with vitamins, minerals and fiber. Walnuts are a good source of omega 3 fatty acid, fiber and protein. And anti-oxidant rich dark chocolate can’t be beat! It may be a calorified dessert but it is also a nutrified one.
So, I was wondering if maybe you’d like to come to my house for Christmas dinner. We are having turkey fries and figgy pudding. .
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
WD (a goofified registered dietitian in Kansas City)