HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-12-19, Page 13THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013. PAGE 13. Mitchell’s Christmas pudding starts holidays right
Pudding Christmas first
Gord Mitchell, who is seen her with his wife Julia, says he gets his extended family’s holidays
started when he makes Christmas pudding. Julia says it’s often best if she’s not in the kitchen
while Gord is at work because he makes quite a mess. Gord says he took on the tradition of
making Christmas pudding from his mother Phyllis, but proceeded with his own recipe. (Shawn
Loughlin photo)
At the Mitchell household, the
holidays just haven’t arrived until
Gord’s Christmas pudding has been
made.
Gord Mitchell, president of the
Brussels Lions Club, has been
making Christmas pudding for
everyone in his extended family for
about 15 years.
In an interview with The Citizen,
Mitchell says the pudding is a
tradition that was passed on to him
by 2006 Citizen of Year award
winner, his mother Phyllis.
However, when he took over making
the tasty treat, he proceeded with his
own recipe.
And while Mitchell would like to
say it’s a family occasion, he can’t
lie. For the most part, he jokes, when
he is at work making his famous
Christmas pudding, his wife Julia is
“barred” from the kitchen.
It’s just as well, he says, as he ends
up creating quite a mess by the time
he’s done.
Mitchell’s recipe starts with potato
and apple and by the time he’s done,
about 15 different ingredients have
been put into the bowl, including a
lot of different spices.
To go alongside the pudding,
Mitchell says, is a butterscotch
sauce, which he also creates from
scratch. The whole process, Mitchell
says, takes about four hours.
Strangely enough, Mitchell says,
the massive baking of Christmas
pudding, which usually takes place
about a week before Christmas, is
really the only time he finds himself
in the kitchen cooking all year.
Growing up on a farm just
southeast of Brussels, not far from
where he is now, which is where he
first fell in love with his mother’s
pudding, Mitchell says Christmas
Day was reserved for family time.
The holidays, however, didn’t end
with Christmas, Mitchell says, and
they still don’t. The days following
Dec. 25 have always been important
in the Mitchell family.
There is always a big Mitchell get-
together on New Year’s Day, he says,
which is a time to visit with
extended family they may not see as
often.
As a member of the Lions Club,
Mitchell says, he has made a
tradition of going to the Huron East
Christmas party every year.
Mitchell has been a member of the
club for 10 years. He says he looked
at the Lions as a way to reconnect
with his community.
When he worked as a road
technician out of Walkerton,
Mitchell says, he didn’t get out and
spend time with his neighbours in
Brussels as much as he would have
liked. Now a mechanic working out
of Exeter, Mitchell says he feels
much more connected to the people
in his community thanks to the
Lions Club.
This year, he says, the annual
Brussels Santa Claus Parade helped
get him in the Christmas spirit.
At the parade, the Lions were very
active, collecting eyeglasses and
wearing Lions costumes, much to
the delight of the crowds.
“We always take time off around
Christmas,” Mitchell says. “We
always have friends over after
Christmas and we still have a
New Year’s. It’s important to do
that.”
Holiday Greetings
Many Thanks!&Another Christmas will soon be here,
And we’d like to wish you much joy and good cheer,
Along with our gratitude, too–
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Season’s Greetings
to all our customers and friends
and a prosperous New Year!
In this time of joy our remembrance
of His birth, we join you in prayer
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We wish to extend a heartfelt
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Westfield 519-523-4356
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
See photos from the
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Parade
on our website at
www.northhuron.on.ca