Issue #61 - Our Christmas Present; An Interview With Olivia Pendergast

[Witch Weekly]

An old family favorite that takes a little work, but is completely worth the effort!

Christmas Plum Pudding INGREDIENTS: 3 cups crumbs from good quality white bread lightly packed (about 1/2 loaf) 1 cup each of raisins,yellow raisins, currants chopped 1 1/3 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon each of mace cinnamon & nutmeg 8 oz butter, melted 4 large eggs lightly beaten 1/2 teaspoon almond extract 1/2 cup bitter orange marmelade FOR SERVING: 1/2 cup rum or bourbon heated slightly before serving 2 cups Zabaione Sauce Holly sprigs to garnish (optional) Christmas Plum Pudding is a tradition you can never go wrong with! Toss the crumbs in a large mixing bowl along with the two types of raisins, currants,sugar and spices. Then toss with the melted butter and all remaining ingredients except for the holly,rum/bourbon and zabaione. Taste for seasoning and add more if needed. Pack mixture into the container and cover with round of wax paper and lid. Set the container on steaming device and add enough water to come up 1/3 up the sides of pudding container. Cover kettle tightly bring to a simmer and let steam for 6 hours,checking water level now and then. Pudding is done when dark walnut brown in color and fairly firm to touch. Let pudding cool and then store in a wine cellar or the fridge. At least two hours before serving re-steam the pudding. Unmold onto a hot flameproof serving platter and decorate with the holly. Bring to table along with the warmed booze and pour booze around pudding. Ignite and let flame. Serve with the zabaione.

  

[Witch Weekly]

The Perfect Gift for That Special Gentleman Sometimes gift-giving can be more difficult than it sounds, especially when you are shopping for that special someone! Never fear, dear readers, Witch Weekly is here to help you find the perfect gift for your beau. 1. Where do the two of you most often go together? A. A stroll in the park B. The opera or ballet C. The library D. The country to hunt 2. Which house did he belong to at Hogwarts? A. Hufflepuff B. Slytherin C. Ravenclaw D. Gryffindor 3. What kind of shop does he most often visit? A. Pet shop B. Fine clothing stores C. Bookshops D. Quidditch supply stores

4. What is his occupation? A. Lawyer B. Gentleman, of course! C. Unspeakable D. Auror 5. What is his favorite hobby? A. Spending time with his family B. Catching up with his friends at the club C. Reading D. Sports The Results say… Mostly A’s: Your gentleman would love something practical and dependable, just like he is -- consider a sturdy pair of gloves or a scarf for the winter months ahead, or a new briefcase to serve him well in his career. Mostly B’s: Your beau appreciates the finer things in life. Consider a new pockewatch or cufflinks with a special flair. Mostly C’s: He is clearly the intellectual sort! A new book in his favorite genre or a fine quill and stationary set would likely please him. Mostly D’s: Active and dynamic, he can never sit still for long! Consider a piece of memorabilia from his favorite Quidditch team, or plan a day of sleigh rides and winter games (with proper supervision, of course!).

  

[Witch Weekly]

Our Christmas Present; An Interview With Olivia Pendergast You asked for an interview with Olivia Pendergast, and that’s what you will receive! First allow me to express how honoured I am to have you here. You are a respected woman in our society and I am sure that our readers will have a lot to learn from the interview. Tell me, what do you think makes people admire women? What makes an admirable woman? Mrs. Olivia Pendergast was a beautiful young woman. O: An admirable woman is, first and foremost, a lady. As such, she must be accomplished in areas such as music, dancing, and language. She must conduct herself appropriately regardless of circumstance, and her very presence should improve the quality of whatever conversation she partakes in. But it is not enough to simply be a lady, or else I suspect your publication would have ended up with more than two admirable women in your tie! Any woman can have contrary opinions or behave peculiarly, but an admirable woman can be a force of nature in tandem with being a lady. While I do not believe that women have any business in the political world, even I see that those who were most successful in these pursuits, like former Ministers Orpington and Flint, were ladies, not play-acting at being gentlemen. A woman who perceives the expectations upon her sex as limitations is a woman without vision. As an owner of a finishing school, you are tied to education. Tell me, what do you think of the education young females receive these days? Do you think something ought to be changed, ought to be improved?

Mrs. Pendergast -- one of the most respected women of our society. O: If I believed a Hogwarts education was suitable for the sorts of young ladies in demand today, I would not have opened Pendergast’s School for Young Roses. We are not all the same, and so should not all be educated the same. A girl destined for servitude would benefit from an education involving arithmetic, reading, and cooking. A young man set for politics should, I think, see more philosophical education than Hogwarts provides. And while a basic grasp of spellwork is necessary for any witch, particularly those who need intellectual stimulation to be content, a Hogwarts education is not ideally catered to the needs of a future wife. What is an advice you would give to a young girl? O: Consider each action before you make it. Mrs. Pendergast, you are the mother of four girls and all beautiful and admirable to boot. What difficulties did you face when raising your daughters? What advice would you give to mothers of daughters? O: Any difficulties I faced with my elder girls--for my youngest, I think, is not yet old enough to be a consideration in this regard--were external. You might recall that Miss Ellory Pendergast was kidnapped, for rather an extreme example. But both external and internal struggles can both be countered with vigilance. Know your daughters and their limitations. Know yourself and your limitations. Always watch for gaps in which malicious forces can take root and grow.. And that’s it for our interview! Thank you, Mrs. Pendergast.

@'Olivia Pendergast'

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   Odira Potter

[Witch Weekly]

Harmony Aidsworth is here to help with your holiday woes!

Ask Harmony Aidsworth Dear Miss Aidsworth, I know that many people are looking forward to the coming holiday, but I simply can't. My family is hosting this year, and while most of our guests are perfectly lovely, I am dreading having my husband's sister and her family with us. While most of my in-laws are--thankfully!--the very picture of polite decorum, my sister-in-law has always been a bit wild, and her husband is, I'm sorry to say, quite boorish. And their children are clearly suffering from lack of good role models! They left our nursery in quite a state last time they visited, and I can only imagine what will happen this time! My husband understands my feelings, but insists that, as family, we can't avoid inviting them. What should I do? Sincerely, Relative Misery Dear Relative Misery, Oh, you poor dear! It really is a shame how one bad egg can ruin things, and you seem to have your hands full! I would suggest keeping festivities as short as possible, to minimize the time they may be in your home. It may lessen then time you have with your less troublesome guests, but you can always invite them over for a less formal occasion where you can be more choosy. Stay strong, prepare your staff for the extra handful, and remember that at least it will be over soon! Harmony Aidsworth

  

[Witch Weekly]