Forget celeb chef Heston Blumenthal’s trendy Christmas pudding with an orange in it – learn how to make your own. The Lakeside Hotel & Spa, on the shores of Lake Windermere, is stirring up a fantastic weekend break where you can take part in a one-off cookery class to learn how to make a traditional pud.
The weekend, November 24 and 25, coincides with the festival of “Stir Up Sunday”. This was when the Anglican Churches determined the Sunday before the season of Advent and when cooks should begin preparing their puddings. After the cookery class by hotel chefs, the puds will be part-cooked and you’ll take them home to mature for Christmas Day. Head chef Richard Booth said: “The art of making a Christmas Pudding from scratch is one that some have lost over generations and it really is quite easy.”
The Dickensian Christmas Festival (www.dickensianfestival.co.uk) – which has a Christmas Market, music, dancing, horse-drawn carriages, fancy dress and a traditional fairground – is being held the same weekend in the nearby market town of Ulverston.
Breaks, including breakfast, dinner on both nights and all equipment, ingredients and tuition, cost from £208 per person based on two sharing a double room. Visit www.lakesidehotel.co.uk or call 015395 30001.
