The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #28826   Message #361133
Posted By: MMario
21-Dec-00 - 12:38 PM
Thread Name: Does anyone know? What is Figgy Pudding?
Subject: RE: BS: Does anyone know?What is Figgy Pudding?
Recipe for "A Smoking Bishop"
Taken from "Drinking With Dickens", published in the US by New Amersterdam Books, NY

'Port was the base for a number of drinks: "we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of smoking bishop." Bishop seems to have been a very popular drink, and no wonder. I discovered it many years ago and it quickly became a traditional winter party drink. Not only is its taste exquisite, but equally its medicinal qualities are great. You can feel it doing good. Temperatures go up, from the top of the head (bald heads turn red) right down to the toes.'

A Smoking Bishop

Ingredients For an American version
5 sweet oranges
1 old fashioned grapefruit
1/4 lb sugar or to taste
2 bottles cheap strong red wine
1 bottle ruby port
cloves

How It's Done

Bake the oranges and grapefruit in the oven until they are pale brown and then put them into a warmed earthenware bowl with five cloves pricked into each. Add the sugar and pour in the wine - not the port. Cover and leave in a warm place for about a day. Squeeze the oranges and grapefruit into the wine and pour it through a sieve. Add the port and heat, but do not boil. Serve in warmed goblets and drink hot.