Monday, November 13, 2006

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.Posted by Picasa


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.

21 comments:

  1. OH YUM! Does it have lots of fruit and good stuff in it? I so admire people who prepare early for Christmas.

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  2. It certainly does look delicious Alice!! Is Christmas Pudding similar to Christmas Fruit Cake or is it completely different? I made all my meatpies and chocolates...now I will be starting on my Christmas cookies and squares...I prefer to start early so that I can enjoy December and watch everyone else go crazy! lol

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  3. A Christmas pudding! Wonderful!
    That rembers me, that I was not in Britain this year, the first time since years.

    Sigrun

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  4. Alice, it looks delicious. Now, if you would only post the recipe!

    Aren't firsts wonderful? You're one step ahead of the Christmas game. I'm still working on Thanksgiving.

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  5. Anonymous5:31 am AEDT

    ohhh maaaan. look what we are missing out on. boo.
    Oh well, Enjoy!

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  6. Alice, Well done!! It looks just perfect. Hope it lasts till Xmas!

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  7. Anonymous7:34 am AEDT

    Mhm looks pretty and seems to taste very good.
    I will translate the recipe and try to bake the pudding also!!
    I wonder if its will be eatable ;-))

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  8. Thanks, Alice, for the recipe. I'm going to make this and they will love it!

    I don't have a steamer but I can sure improvise one. Will let you know how it comes out.

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  9. Oh what a wave of nostalgia! Thanks Alice. I'm very impressed with you :)
    Did you put any pennies or other coins in it? I guess they probably frown on that these days because it's not a very safe practice. My mum used to make them and we loved finding the coins hidden inside.
    Do you make a custard sauce to go over the top?
    Happy eating. Can I come over for Christmas dinner?

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  10. Anonymous3:58 pm AEDT

    Great pudding Alice. This is my all-time favourite and I can understand Richard's desire to polish some off a little early.

    Instead of the coins maybe we should be baking them with credit cards these days? Or at the very least, some of those nice polymer notes.

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  11. Kerri and Stuart - no coins, notes or credit cards, I'm afraid. Although perhaps I should put some in the puddings - at least that would ensure that we had some money left by Christmas Day ... lol.

    Kerri - we have a choice of custard, cream or icecream, or all three. I'll set places at the table for you and Ross.

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  12. I knew a lady who made a great Christmas pudding. It was so good she started selling it at Christmas time in California. It became so popular that she began exporting it to other states. She bought a large building and hired on some staff just to keep up with the demand. Today her Christmas Pudding is sold all over the US and Canada and she is a multimillionair. It was some good Christmas pudding.
    Sooooo pudding can make you millions if it is really good.

    Heheheh

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  13. Thanks for this recipe Alice- was looking for something to do early for Christmas!
    Can imagine the taste with the rum throughout- mmm.
    Bests for now

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  14. Oh wow Alice that pudding looks perfect!

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  15. What a spectacular Christmas Pudding Alice, its perfect! I can just imagine the wondrous smells in your kitchen during cooking. I love a nice warm kitchen on a winter’s day when such things are being cooked, but just thought, its not winter for you is it. Can’t get used to that you know!

    Mum used to put silver three-penny pieces in her puddings, that was before decimilisation of course and they were still currency. My brother and I were allowed to keep them and spend. I saved them for a while and had them put on a bracelet. Goodness, those were the days. I think Mums would be ill advised to carry out such a practice now due to health & safety, but we never came to any harm. Marion

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  16. I've never had Christmas pudding, but that looks very good.

    Do you really think it will last until Christmas? :)

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  17. Zoey - being rock hard in the freezer virtually guarantees that no-one will touch it before Christmas.

    Don't Americans have plum pudding (they don't have plums, just dried fruit) for Christmas? If not, what do they have?

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  18. Oh goody, we'll be there for Christmas dinner! I wouldn't mind finding a credit card in the pudding :)
    You have a good point there Alice. Rock hard frozen plum pudding wouldn't be all that good.
    It is rather a puzzle that they call it a plum pudding when there are no plums in it.
    Kylie and I were planning the Thanksgiving menu today. Yum!

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  19. oh man that looks great, am so hungry but tend not to keep it down at the moment but yumm I can almost smell it
    xx
    shona
    will try one out I think this year. thanks

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  20. Shall all your blog friends join you for Christmas so we can sample your baking?!?!? I love to see photos of food.

    Yesterday I made my cranberry-orange-walnut-cream cheese bread and put it in the freezer.

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  21. Alice is looks and sounds so yummy. I'm not a very good cook either. I'd rather be outside. *LOL*

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