Who doesn’t love a theme? The best themed events are those that aren’t forced and instead come together organically. I admit, I’ve had the idea of having a Christmas in July party for quite some time now–in fact, for about a year-and-a-half, ever since Chelsea’s English (figgy) pudding began curing in the refrigerator.
Right before Christmas 2008, Chelsea prepared two figgy puddings with the intention of steaming one for the upcoming Christmas and the other for the following Christmas. We steamed the first one for Christmas 2008. When July 2009 rolled around, I saw the pudding in the back of the fridge and suggested we steam it. When Christmas 2009 rolled around, once again I thought of steaming it up. But another Christmas came and went.
This July, my distant cousin Baz and his friend Lyndsay from Sheffield and Darbarshire England, respectively, visited America for the first time. They stayed with us for a long Fourth of July weekend, which allowed them to join in our neighborhood garden party with friends and food. I roasted a whole goat in the Caja China and guests brought dishes to pass. During the planning stages of the event I thought of other things to serve and the elusive figgy pudding again caught my eye. A fresh cucumber growing in the garden and a hankering by all for Pimm’s Cups helped to inspire a signature cocktail called the Stroppy Sheep.
English house guests, a box of leftover Christmas crackers, the makings of an English garden, fireworks, Stroppy Sheep, July, flambeed dessert. This was the perfect recipe for a Christmas in July.
flaming figgy pudding
Baz, Lyndsay, Chelsea
‘Twas the night of the Fourth and all through the garden
A goat had been roasted and Stroppy Sheep toasted.
Beer kegs blew and bottle rockets flew,
The streets were littered with shrapnel like World War II.
Friends were made, Ranchera was played
And at the darkest of night it was the moment of truth.
We’d douse the pudding with 101 proof.
Then out on the lawn there arose such a clatter.
As the figgy pudding glowed and the crackers snapped,
Everyone gathered proceeded to clap.
Christmas in July, what better way to celebrate the Fourth of July?
Link to the recipe for Stroppy Sheep here.
Hey, if you have a recipe for the goat roast, I’d love to add it (and give you credit) in my upcoming cookbook, “La Caja China Cooking.”
Let me know!
-Perry
http://www.burninloveblog.com
[...] am excited to announce that the recipe for my 4th of July goat has gone from our Pilsen garden to the pages of La Caja China Cooking: the Secret to Perfect [...]