Title: Plum Pudding
Categories: Dessert
Yield: 16 Servings

1 1/2 c Dried currants
2 ts Finely grated lemon peel
2 c Seedless raisins
1/2 lb Finely chopped beef suet
2 c White raisins
2 c All purpose flour
3/4 c Finely chopped candied mixed
-fruit peel
1 c Dark brown sugar
1 ts Ground allspice
3/4 c Chopped candied cherries
1 c Blanched slivered almonds
1 md Sized tart cook apple;
-peeeled; quarter, cored and
-chopped
1 sm Carrot scraped and
-coarsely chopped
2 tb Finely grated orange peel
4 c Fresh soft crumbs; made from
-homemade-type white bread
1 ts Salt
6 Eggs
1 c Brandy
1/3 c Fresh orange juice
1/4 c Fresh lemon juice
1/2 c Brandy; for flaming
-(optional)

This makes 4 - you can easily half the recipe.

In a large, deep bowl, combine the currants, seedless raisins, white
raisins, candied fruit peel, cherries, almonds, apple, carrot, orange and
lemon peel, and beef suet, tossing them about with a spoon or your hands
until well mixed. Stir in the flour, bread crumbs, brown sugar, allspice
and salt.

In a separate bowl, beat the eggs until frother. Stir int he cup of
brandy, the orange and lemon juice, and pour this mixture over the fruit
mixture. Knead vigorously with both hands, then beat with a wooden spoon
until all the ingredients are blended. Drape a dampended kitchen towel over
the bowl and refrigerate for at least 12 hours.

Spoon the mixture into four 1-quart English pudding basins or plain molds,
filling them to within 2 inches of their tops. Cover each mold with a
strip of buttered foil, turning the edges down and pressing the foil
tightly around the sides to secure it. Drape a dampened kitchen towel over
each mold and tie it in place around the sides with a long piece of kitchen
cord. Bring two opposite corners of the towel up to the top and knot them
in the center of the mold; then bring up the remaining two corners and knot
them similarly.

Place the molds in a large pot and pour in enough boiling water to come
about three fourths of the way up their sides. Bring the water to a boil
over high heat, cover the pot tightly, redice the heat to its lowest point
and steam the puddings for 8 hours. As the water in the steamer boils away,
replenish it with additonal boiling water.

When the puddings are done, remove them from the water and let them cool to
room temperature. Then remove the towels and foil and recover the molds
tightly with fresh foil. Refrigerate the puddings for at least 3 weeks
before serving. Plum puddings may be kept up to a year in the refrigerator
or other cool place; traditionally they were often made a year in advance.

To serve, place the mold in a pot and pour in enough boiling water to come
about three fourths of the way up the sides of the mold. Bring to a boil
over high heat, cover the pot, reduce the heat to low and steam for 2
hours. Run a knife around the inside edges of the mold and place firmly
together, turn them over. The pudding should slide out easily.

Christmas pudding is traditionally accompanied by a hard sauce. Small
paper-wrapped coins (such as sixpenses and threepenny bits) are sometimes
pressed into the pudding as good luck pieces just before it is served.

If you would like to set the pudding aflame before you serve it, warm the
1/2 cup brandy in a small saucepan over low heat, ignit it with a match and
pour it flaming over the pudding.

REC.FOOD.RECIPES ARCHIVES

/DESSERTS

CHILL 3 WEEKS!!!

From rec.food.cooking archives. Downloaded from Glen's MM Recipe Archive,
http://www.erols.com/hosey.