A First!

"A first what?" you may ask. The first time I've taken a photo of anything I've cooked and posted it to my blog. You see, I'm not much of a cook, but I can cook a pretty good Christmas Pudding, and today seemed just the right sort of day to do that. I was going to cook two at the same time. After all, I might just as well keep topping up two saucepans with boiling water as one. Trouble was I only had one pudding basin. I didn't even have that a couple of years ago when I already had the fruit simmering, then realised that I'd have to switch the stove off while I drove to the shops to buy a basin. That's what happens when you start cooking before you've got everything ready.

Anyway, the first one is made. I've just taken it out of the basin and I'm becoming intoxicated on the rum fumes. Luckily Richard has gone to bed or he would be looking for a knife to cut it by now. Into the freezer it will go tomorrow where it will be safe until Christmas - I hope.

Recipe for STEAMED CHRISTMAS PUDDING.

500g mixed dried fruit, chopped

125g chopped dates

125g chopped raisins

1 cup water

1 cup brown sugar, lightly packed

125g butter

1 tsp baking soda

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 cup plain flour

1 cup self-raising flour

1 tsp mixed spice

1 tsp ground cinnamon

2 tbs dark rum

Combine fruit, water, sugar and butter in saucepan. Stir constantly over heat until butter is melted and sugar dissolved. Bring to the boil, reduce heat, simmer uncovered 8 minutes, stir in soda. Transfer mixture to a large bowl, stir in eggs, sifted dry ingredients and rum.

Place mixture into a well-greased 10 cup steamer or basin, steam for 5 hours. If your basin doesn't have a lid then cover with two sheets of foil and tie securely. Place the basin in a large boiler with enough boiling water to come halfway up the sides. Cover boiler with lid and replenish boiling water as necessary during cooking time. MERRY CHRISTMAS.