European Christmas Recipe Exchange

What would Christmas be without an exchange of traditions and recipes? I love to hear about other families' customs, and I'm betting you do, too. Over the next few weeks, I'll be posting recipes from other parts of Europe -- Britain, Spain, France, Eastern Europe and Germany. Here are two fabulous and iconic recipes from Elaine Lemm, About.com's Guide to British & Irish Food. They make Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" come to life!

Christmas Cake - No British Christmas is complete without a Christmas Cake. This Christmas cake recipe may at first look complicated but is actually quite easy, all it needs for success is organization. Assemble and weigh all the ingredients and line the cake tin before you start and the rest is straightforward. The cake can be made up to two months before Christmas allowing time for it to mature and to be fed at regular intervals with brandy.

British Christmas Pudding - Despite reports that the traditional British Christmas Pudding has fallen out of favor for lighter desserts, it is as popular as it ever was. The pudding is best made well in advance, by several weeks to allow it to mature. Traditionally the Christmas Pudding is made on "Stir It Up Sunday," the Sunday before Advent around the end of November.

Here are some Spanish traditions and recipes from Lisa and Tony Sierra, About.com's Guides to Spanish Food.